Geosynthetic Lining Systems
Energy
In response to increased demand for electricity due to population growth and settlement of urban areas, many producers are looking for ways to boost production at existing power plants. In response to concerns over the environmental impact of power installations, GSE has developed products that have become proven solutions for power generation needs.
Geosynthetic Options for Power Plants
For superior protection and pinpoint leak detection, GSE Conductive is the best geomembrane choice. GSE Conductive allows the entire surface area of the liner to be spark tested after installation to ensure that the liner remains leak-free.
Our geomembranes are available with a black or white surface. GSE White offers reduced heat gain, which allows for faster installation due to decreased expansion and contraction, and wrinkling of the geomembrane during installation. Laboratory U.V. testing indicates GSE White can have a service life up to 50 years depending on environmental factors such as elevation and latitude.
Steam Generation Power Plants
GSE geosynthetics have been a trusted solution for pond liners for steam electric power facilities for more than 30 years. GSE geomembranes have been installed in containment ponds used for fly ash recovery and intermediate quality water storage. And our products have proven their endurance in extreme climates ranging from Alaska winters to Arizona summers.
Pumped Storage Ponds
Many utilities are turning to innovative methods to utilize their off-peak generating capacity. One alternative is to use pumped storage ponds. During overnight periods when demand is lowest, water is pumped into storage ponds at higher elevation. During the day when demand peaks, the stored water is released into a lower elevation pond through a hydroelectric turbine to generate extra energy.
These storage ponds are usually constructed through dammed waterways or natural reservoirs, but these approaches are limited to geography and increasingly coming under scrutiny due to their impact on the environment. But installation of manmade reservoirs lined with GSE geomembranes allow this approach to be used much more widely and with reduced environmental impact. Double-lined ponds with HDPE smooth or textured geomembranes have outstanding protection, and adding a geonet layer in the middle provides a leak detection system.
Case Studies
GSE's Pond Liner System Still Holding Up After Three Decades
One of GSE’s earliest projects was for a steam electric generation station in Colorado. For this power plant application, we lined eight containment ponds ranging in size from less than an acre to over 20 acres. The ponds are used to store intermediate quality water, for fly ash recovery and as brine ponds.
GSE Helps Launch of a New Arizona Power Plant
GSE GundSeal GCL was installed as the secondary composite liner system for six cooling and process ponds at the Springerville Power Plant in Northeast Arizona.