Stratford helicopter maker Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has broken ground on a $26 million energy-efficient heat and power plant being built by a sister company.
Sikorsky chose Farmington-based Carrier Corp. to build the combined heat and power facility, also known as co-generation, at Sikorsky’s Stratford site.
Sikorsky and Carrier are both subsidiaries of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford.
Robert Araujo, manager of sustainable development and environmental health and safety programs at Sikorsky, said the traditional purchase of electricity from the region’s power grid is convenient, but is also inefficient. It wastes more than two-thirds of energy due to production and transportation losses, he said.
Co-generation captures unused heat generated from a typical power plant and transforms it into usable energy, Araujo said. Sikorsky can generate 10 megawatts, or 82 percent of its energy needs, and save 8,900 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, he said.
“This will make Sikorsky less energy-dependent and contribute to a healthier global environment,” Araujo said.
The construction project is expected be completed in 18 months. Sikorsky broke ground Sept. 5. (AP)
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Reader response:
“This is a very smart move by Sikorsky. Not only is it only 32% efficient to buy energy from the local utility, in addition 40% of their rate structure is taxes imposed at local and state levels. Also, their load factor justifies on-site generation. They will save millions with a very short payback period.” — Waldo 313, retireeÂ
