Riverside Generating Station

Coordinates: 39°14′18″N 76°30′56″W / 39.23833°N 76.51556°W / 39.23833; -76.51556
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The Riverside Generating Station with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the background right

The Riverside Generating Station is a 261 MW electric generating station operated by Exelon that is located at 4000 Broening Highway in Dundalk, Maryland. The station is on Sollers Point on the Patapsco River.[1]

Plant description[edit]

Riverside consists of Unit 4, a natural gas-fired steam electric unit with a nominal capacity of 78 MW, Unit 5, an 85 MW steam generating unit, Unit 6, a 135 MW natural gas and fuel oil-fired gas turbine, and Units 7 and 8, each 25 MW natural gas-fired gas turbines.[1] Water from the Patapsco River is used as the heat sink of the condensers of the steam turbines.

History[edit]

Riverside Generating Station and adjacent electrical substation.

The site of the Riverside Generating Station was originally purchased by the Consolidated Gas and Light Company of Baltimore, a predecessor company to Constellation Energy, in 1922 for the location of a manufactured gas facility that was never built.[2] In 1942, the 60 MW steam turbine and boiler Unit 1 was installed at a cost of US$6.5 million.[2] Two additional 60 MW steam electric units, Unit 2 and Unit 3, were placed in service in 1944 and 1948,[2] and Units 4 and 5 entering commercial operation in 1951. Units 1, 2, 3, and 5 were shut down in 1993.[1]

In 2008, authorization was granted to modify and reactivate Unit 5 to operate only on natural gas[3] at an estimated cost of US$25 million.[1] Constellation Energy merged with Exelon in 2012. Exelon announced plans to shut down Unit 4 by mid-2016.[4]

Operations[edit]

Exelon normally operates the Riverside Generating Station as a peaking power plant. As the mid-Maryland region is a summer peaking load, most of the plant's operating time will be during hot summer days. The Riverside Generating Station is dispatched by the PJM Interconnection regional transmission organization.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Maryland Department of Natural Resources (April 21, 2008). "Environmental Review of Constellation Power Source Generation, Inc. Riverside Reactivation Project" (pdf). Maryland Public Service Commission Case No. 9132 docket. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  2. ^ a b c King, Thomson (1950). Consolidated of Baltimore 1816-1950: A History of Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore. Baltimore: Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Co. pp. 232, 282, 288, and 299.
  3. ^ Maryland Public Service Commission Order No. 82006 (May 12, 2008).
  4. ^ Hopkins, Jamie Smith (December 2, 2013). "Exelon wants to retire generation unit in Baltimore County". Retrieved 2013-12-02.

External links[edit]

39°14′18″N 76°30′56″W / 39.23833°N 76.51556°W / 39.23833; -76.51556