Metso will modernize the automation systems at Xcel Energy’s Sherburne County Generating Plant in Becker, Minn. This is the first phase of a multiphased renewal project that will span six years. The work, done in stages, will coincide with major plant outages and not impair the plant’s long-term 95% availability factor. Sherco’s three units have a combined generating capacity 2400MW. The automation systems being modernized are located in Units 1 and 2, and include combustion controls for two drum-based boilers, controls for flue gas desulfurization, scrubber make-up water, and data acquisition. Metso’s first delivery in the Phase No. 1 will cover new automation system hardware and software, including workstations for operators and engineers, process management tools, an OSI-PI link, links to a third-party optimization software, a link to Xcel Energy’s generation dispatch center and links to PLCs throughout the plant. Metso will also participate in rebalancing the load on the plant control networks.