Electrical Capacity & Distribution Capability (ECDC) Virtual Tour

As Argonne continues to grow and expand its scientific capabilities, the infrastructure/utility demands and capacities must grow as well. Specifically, the growth of major initiatives such as advanced computer science created the need for strengthening the high-voltage electrical infrastructure onsite.
The Electrical Capacity & Distribution Capability (ECDC) project provides Argonne a reliable, redundant, maintainable, and flexible electrical transmission system. Without Argonne's high voltage transmission system, science at Argonne cannot exist.
Argonne has eighteen core capabilities, all of which are relevant to the ECDC's mission need, however; most directly affected are those related to large-scale user facilities/advanced instrumentation that further enable chemical and molecular science, condensed matter physics and materials, advanced computer science, visualization and data and nuclear physics capabilities.
ECDC project scope included the installation of:
New 45 MVA transformer at Substation 551
The expansion of 551 to accommodate additional future growth
A new ComEd substation located in the Waterfall Glen forest preserve
New 138kV circuits connecting Substation 551 to the new ComEd substation
New substation 547 providing more reliable power to the 200 area and growth capabilities in Argonne’s east area
Replacement of the overhead 138kV Z-Line between Argonne’s Substation 549 and ComEd’s substation