REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Procure, Negotiate and Execute Amendments, Change Orders, and New Agreements with Various Vendors as Required to Complete Emergency Repairs and Maintenance at the Gianera Generating Station, in an Aggregate Amount Not-to-Exceed $2,567,736
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's Electric Utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) operates three power generation facilities within the city limits: the Donald Von Raesfeld Power Plant, the City of Santa Clara Cogeneration Plant, and the Gianera Generating Station. The Gianera Generation Station consists of two General Electric Frame 5 gas turbines, each in simple cycle producing a combined 48 Megawatts (MW).
On October 13, 2020, staff began troubleshooting a series of protection system trips caused by excessive vibrations on the #2 generator at Gianera (Gianera Unit 2). Staff took several actions to remedy the vibration issue and ultimately secured support from one of SVP's existing specialty contractors, Electrical Maintenance Consultants (EMC), to evaluate whether this issue was under warranty. Another existing contractor, Reliability Optimization, Inc. (ROI), was brought on-site and confirmed that the excessive vibrations are real and not an instrumentation issue. ROI also identified potential causes and optional solutions. None of those solutions were successful in bringing Gianera Unit 2 online.
Subsequent vibration analysis and visual inspection has determined issues with both the Generator and Accessory Gearbox. As a result, Gianera Unit 2 is unavailable for dispatch to meet power and Resource Adequacy (RA) needs of the City due to the potential for further equipment damage up to and including catastrophic failure of major components of the Turbine, Generator, and Accessory Gearbox. SVP staff estimates that without Gianera Unit 2'...
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