Fire Water Cistern
A 250,000-gallon fire water cistern abuts Renewable Energy Facility 2. The cistern is a large tank containing an emergency supply of water used to extinguish fires should they occur. Surrounding the cistern is a living wall of sky vine, which helps dampen noise and improve aesthetics.
REF 2 Stack
A 320-foot tall stack (including the underground base) sits aside Renewable Energy Facility 2. The stack is more than 28 stories high and 25 feet across. To keep our emissions low, we invested more than $50 million in the most advanced emission control technology at the time.
Controlling Emissions
A 500-foot skybridge connects the Education Center with Renewable Energy Facility 2. Along the bridge,is a window that looks into the Pollution Control System. Renewable Energy Facility 2 benefits from the best pollution control technology available. Carbon powder is used to remove mercury and volatile organic compounds from the ash after combustion. Then, lime slurry neutralizes acid gasses, which are the main components of acid rain. Next, the baghouse filters collect fly ash, lime and carbon powder and prevents the release of particulates into the air. Finally, aqueous ammonia is used to turn harmful nitrogen oxide into inert nitrogen gas and water vapor using the selective catalytic reduction system. Renewable Energy Facility 2 is the first waste-to-energy facility in the United States to reduce NOx emissions using the selective catalytic reduction system.
Collecting Rainwater
Renewable Energy Facility 2 features a unique rooftop rainwater collection system that includes a two-million gallon cistern. This system provides a portion of the water necessary to operate the facility, and helps to reduce the use of groundwater or treated water at REF 2.
Recycling Water
On the other side of the bridge is an air-cooled condenser. Giant fans are used to cool the steam down after it runs through the turbine and condenses it back into water. This water is recycled back into the system.
