Natural Gas to Electric

How to create Naural Gas to Electriclty

Located in San Jose, the 602MW Metcalf Energy Center is now delivering power to northern California. Metcalf was the first large power generator in Silicon Valley, and is the cornerstone of energy supply and reliability for the region.

The natural gas plant was constructed by Bechtel Enterprises Inc. and is operated by Calpine Corporation. It was more than six years in the making, and cost close to $400m.

The Metcalf Energy Center lies at the southern base of Tulare Hill in northern Coyote Valley of South San Jose. The power plant itself occupies about 20 acres (half in Santa Clara County, half in the City of San Jose) of the project's 136 acres. Output can provide for the power needs of 600,000 area homes. Additional ambient air monitoring stations have also recently been installed.

COMBINED CYCLE TAKES 30% LESS FUEL
The power plant design has two combustion turbines generating up to 200MW, with steam injection power augmentation. There are two Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) with duct burners, and a condensing steam turbine generator that can generate up to 235MW. The combined-cycle design allows Metcalf to consume up to 30% less natural gas than older power plants in the region.