HCS Group, Inc. > Introduction About Us

About Us:

HCS specializes in providing energy services for companies that have power and thermal needs within their facilities. This role is crucial today as energy costs and thermal efficiency have a major effect on the economics of plants and facilities. HCS is a Houston-based company whose personnel have over 25 years of experience in specific fields such as environmental, electrical, process designs and detail engineering. Knowledge in these fields has allowed HCS to assist in reducing energy operation costs at plants throughout the world.

HCS has assisted clients’ facilities by reducing their energy operation costs through the use of combined heat and power plants (CHP) located within their complex. Process design experience allows HCS to work with client’s operational and production engineers to establish the best configuration. HCS does more than “study” projects. The company is experienced in complete project execution, including complete engineering/design procurement and construction management.

Services:

HCS maintains many services that range from providing feasibility analysis to complete projects. Included within this is:
• Screening evaluations
• Detailed technical and economic evaluations
• Site specific proposals for projects’ which meet client’s goals
• Support client’s internal meetings
• Providing services for the new project including:
• Project Management
• Engineering and design
• Procurement
• Construction Management
• Construction using mutually agreed upon contractors
• Scheduling and cost management

Screening Evaluations:

Developed to assist companies in determining if their operational conditions are conducive to the installation of a cogeneration facility. The minimal information is listed on a form contained on the last page of this brochure. To determine if your facility is a candidate, please complete the form and fax to HCS.

CHP Driving Forces :

Past cogeneration facilities traditionally were driven by power costs. Today, companies are evaluating Combined Heating and Power plants as a method to provide the following:

Increased overall efficiency of energy production
Example: Improved systems from 73 percent to 90 percent overall efficiency
Self control of the cogeneration facility as it would be installed within their own facility
Example: Client choice of CHP over a commercial Independent Power Producer (IPP) due to concern over steam supply
Better managed forecast of total energy cost
Example: Large petrochemical facility is currently involved in extensive natural gas management practices (hedging, options, etc.) that allows better control of power fuel costs in a CHP unit
Design considerations to allow for systems to adjust to energy cost swings in competing fuels
Example: Dual fuel CHP systems allow for utilization of lowest cost fuels
Method to assist in complying with revised NOx compliance cost
Example: Company facing replacement of existing boilers may use CHP to comply with new NOx requirements
Reducing or elimination the need to expand the plant’s substation due to an upcoming expansion
Example: CHP allowed for elimination of a $7 MM capital expenditure by providing a design that combined the installation of the CHP downstream of the existing sub-station
Ability to integrate various thermal systems into the CHP facility (steam, chilled water, direct heating/drying, thermal oils, etc.)
Integration of plant waste streams into CHP configuration
Example: A waste gas stream currently being flared was utilized within an auxiliary burner in the waste heat recovery unit of the CHP
Increased reliability and quality of energy systems
Example: One client saved an estimated $1MM annually on lost production and maintenance due to quarterly power outages
Establish savings due to compliance with various deregulation options as states move forward
Example: Texas petrochemical facility will avoid twelve years of “stranded asset” charges by installing the CHP unit in 12 months as allowed by the new deregulation bill
Ability to establish a “risk management” of power costs by taking advantage of cost options available from local utilities, internal generation, and wholesale power
Example: An 80 MW industrial facility was provided a CHP unit that produces all plant steam and 20 MW of power (the remaining power will be provided by utilization of a 50 MW annual competitive contract, and 10 MW from the local utility with standby of 5 MW for on CHP train)