| Location | East China, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Owner | Detroit Edison |
| Status | active |
| Fuel | subbituminous coal, natural gas, distillate fuel oil |
| Conveyance | barge and rail |
| Cooling Water | St. Clair River |
| Technology | steam, gas turbine, internal combustion |
| Turbines | 3 |
| Reciprocating Engines | 5 |
| Maximum Capacity | 1,664 MWe |
| Commissioned | 5 internal combustion generators: November, 1981 Unit 1 (coal): August, 1984 Unit 2 (coal): July, 1985 3 gas-fired turbines: September, 1999 |
Belle River Power Plant is a major coal- and natural gas-fired power plant owned by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy. It is located at 42°46′26″N 82°29′42″W / 42.77389°N 82.495°WCoordinates: 42°46′26″N 82°29′42″W / 42.77389°N 82.495°W in St. Clair County, Michigan, on the peninsula formed by the St. Clair and Belle rivers. The plant was built right next to St. Clair Power Plant in East China, Michigan, and shares the coal delivery terminal with it. The Belle River plant shares cooling water from the St. Clair River with its sister plant too. First, five oil-fueled internal combustion generators (named IC1, IC2, 3, 4, and 5) were built in 1981, with the total output 13.75 megawatt. Coal-fired unit 1 of the Belle River plant was completed in 1984, followed by a similar unit 2 in 1985. Each unit has a nameplate capacity of 697.5 MWe, however the coal-fired plant as a whole generates 1260 MWe all year around. In 1999, three natural-gas fired turbines (named 12-1, 12-2, and 13-1) were added, with the total name-plate capacity of 256 MWe.[1]
Belle River is Detroit Edison's third largest producer of power by fossil fuels,[2]but fourth overall. The power plant has a significant impact on the local economy, employing many residents.
Connection to the grid
The plant is connected to the power grid via numerous 345 and 120 kV transmission lines.
Environmental impact
All of the waste heat generated by the plant (about twice its electrical output) is released into the St. Clair River.
References
- ^ "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006" (Excel). Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ "Power Plants by State - DETROIT EDISON CO". www.powerplantjobs.com. http://www.powerplantjobs.com/ppj.nsf/PowerPlants2?Openform&cat=Detroit%20Edison%20Co&Count=500. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
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