“Balance of Plant” – or BoP – is term we’ve become very familiar with over the decades.
But it’s a complex concept.
BoP refers to a power plants supporting components, which are critical to keeping the plant running smoothly and safely. Backup generators, transformers, switchgear, turbine support, building management systems, circuit breakers, security systems – these all are part of BoP.
The BoP equipment might differ from plant to plant within the energy sector. For example, a wind farm might include crane pads, foundations, grid connections, and a substation.
A more traditional power plant’s BoP could include the transformers, surge arresters (which provide over-voltage protection), fire protection, and fuel conditioning systems.
Basically, BoP is the sum of all equipment. It’s anything supporting the main generation unit.
A control building is typically centrally located within the BoP infrastructure, ensuring optimal connectivity with the plant’s various systems and equipment. It interfaces with other BoP components like switchgear, transformers, and auxiliary power systems, making it a critical node in the plant’s overall operation.
All of the components we’ve described here? We design buildings around them.
Parkline has hundreds of clients in the power transmission industry. We know how to tailor the buildings for collector stations, substation control houses, and switchgear enclosures. We can tailor buildings to their specific needs. And we can enhance those buildings as needs change.