getting your feet wet when trying to stay dry: an exercise in brainstorming

WE 13: The Annual Conference for Women Engineers

Getting Your Feet Wet When Trying to Stay Dry:

An Exercise in Brainstorming

Presented by Natasha Jones

CIVIL

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

MINING & METALS

OIL, GAS & CHEMICALS

POWER

Contents

� Project Highlights

� The Environment

� Overview of the Challenge

� Light at the End of the Tunnel

� Turning Ideas into Innovation

� Brainstorming Tips

� Putting the Pedal to the Metal

� Conclusion: Reflection Time

Project Highlights

• Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating

System

• Located in San Bernadino County,

California

• World’s largest solar thermal power

system under construction – 392 MW

• BrightSource Energy’s Luz Power Tower

550 technology

• 600 football fields worth of mirrored

surface area

• Completion scheduled for 2013

© Bechtel | 3

The Environment

© Bechtel | 4

Overview of the Challenge

• Extremely limited water

availability

• Water quality considerations

• Key equipment temperature

limitations

• Unknown needs of supporting

solar operation

• Uncharted operational territory

© Bechtel | 5

Light at the End of the Tunnel

• Combination of dry and wet

technologies

• Materials suitable for service

and environment

• Modifications to proven

technologies to address modern

challenges

• Subcontractors with a

collaborative attitude

© Bechtel | 6

Turning Ideas

Into Innovation

© Bechtel | 7

Brainstorming Tips

• Know where to go: prep

• First agree on the problem

• Facilitation is key

• Plan your players

• Individual and group brainstorming

• Methodology

• Follow the rules

• Don’t limit to one session@

© Bechtel | 8

Putting the Pedal to the Metal

• Consider a field trip

• Deeper discussion

• Decision-makers

• Use experts

• Create and implement

© Bechtel | 9

Conclusion: Reflection Time

• Our unique experience on

Ivanpah project reminded

us of the importance of

effective and correct

brainstorming

• Tackle one issue at a time

• Input from various

disciplines

• Not always necessary to re-

invent the wheel

• Know how to implement

and follow through

© Bechtel | 10

Questions?nljones@bechtel.com

© Bechtel | 11