SHINING STAR
850 X-Tier Dozer shines bright in the Lone Star State
According to the old song, the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. The sun shines bright, too. With abundant land and sunshine, Texas has emerged as a leader in alternative energy, including solar. The Lone Star State is already the largest energy producer in the United States, producing twice as much as Florida, the second-highest producing state. Texas is second only to California in solar energy generation.
Sustainable solar-project solution
Orion is one of the prominent constellations visible in the Texas sky. It's also the name of a massive utility-scale solar project.
Spanning 1,843 acres, the Orion II project offers enormous potential for delivering renewable energy. When complete, the 1,800-acre site will be covered by approximately 3,300 solar panels, generating 302 megawatts. That's enough energy to power over 450,000 households and to replace two large-scale coal-fired power plants that were recently decommissioned.
As the civil excavation contractor on the project, Spriggs Excavation of Durango, Colorado, is responsible for all of the site development and underground work. The company has completed three other large-scale solar projects in Texas. "The future is bright for the solar energy sector and for our company, no pun intended," says Sam Loughman, chief operating officer, Spriggs Excavation. "There is a substantial amount of activity in utility-scale solar development."
Orion II demands reliable iron capable of moving massive amounts of earth. Spriggs Excavation is running a large fleet of John Deere dozers, excavators, and motor graders to clear areas for solar arrays and build access roads, substations, and switchyard roads. This includes a hybrid John Deere 850 X-Tier Dozer that the company is demoing.
Designed with customer input, the 850 X-Tier features impressive horsepower and torque, along with innovative diesel-electric E-Drive technology. "The 850 X-Tier is a great sustainable alternative," says Loughman. "We're very in tune with sustainability. We're always looking at new technologies to help us reduce our carbon footprint."
The 850 X-Tier delivers multiple operating modes to tailor performance and fuel consumption to the specific jobsite. It features an electrified drivetrain with an engine as the primary power source. This E-Drive machine enables improved powertrain component life, stronger pushing power, and better fuel economy than traditional models. "We have to fuel up the other dozers every day," says Superintendent Scott Nugent. "I can go two days on a tank of diesel because it's hybrid."
Nugent has always been impressed by Deere dozers. "I've run similar-size competitor machines, and they run hot in this climate," he observes. "I've been pushing the Deere dozers through everything, and they hold their own."
The toughest job on the project is "mucking out" ponds. Deere dozers and excavators drain the ponds of water, then continue to dig until hard ground is found. The material is dried until it reaches the right consistency before the machines place it back to the desired height.
The 850 X-Tier is equipped to move full blade loads fast. Combining a whopping 225 horsepower with additional E-Drive torque enables 10-percent more productivity in high-load applications than conventional drivetrains. "When the dealer dropped it off, he told me to run the heck out of it," recalls Nugent. "So I did. I took it straight to the ponds because that is our hardest application."
He initially had his doubts about the 850 X-Tier: "Being electric, I thought it would be weaker than the hydraulic, but it really surprised and impressed me. It has more than enough power to push out all of the slop. And it's a great finish dozer. The blade control is phenomenal."
The 850 X-Tier has more than enough power to push out all of the slop. And it's a great finish dozer. The blade control is phenomenal.
Support across many states
In addition to the ability to move massive amounts of earth, the project demands accuracy. "Much of our work, such as electrical substations, must conform to high tolerances using very expensive rock," says Loughman. "SmartGrade™ grade-control technology helps us get to grade in fewer passes, saving rework and reducing wasted material and cost.
The John Deere suite of factory-integrated grade-management technologies are easy for operators of any experience level to master. These include standard EZ Grade and optional SmartGrade Ready Including 2D Grade Control, SmartGrade with Topcon, and SmartGrade with Leica. These technology solutions are fully supported by the John Deere dealer network and can be upgraded as an operation evolves.
"With the technology that we're running in the machines today, it's very important that we have access to local dealers with high-level technical support," says Loughman. "Keeping these machines up and running is critical. Support and service from our dealers have been phenomenal."
Working on large projects, often in multiple states, Spriggs Excavation depends on the vast John Deere dealer network. Fleet Manager Lake Leath manages around 200 assets, including over 30 Deere machines.
The John Deere Operations Center™ allows him to track equipment, see which machines are working, and determine whether they're being utilized at maximum productivity and efficiency. The system also helps Leath track preventative-maintenance schedules and machine locations while providing alerts about any machine issues. Using remote diagnostics, local dealers, including Honnen Equipment and RDO® Equipment Co., can warn him of any issues before they become a bigger problem.
"Operations Center allows my people to view the code, determine the issue, get the right parts ordered, and perform the necessary repairs," he says. "If the machine has trouble in the field, we can see that fault code live. We can often diagnose and resolve the issue over the phone without sending a technician to a site."
The system has also helped Leath deal with idle time. "Keeping that down helps us save money," he says. "If we have an underutilized machine, we can look at other jobsites and see where it would be more productive for us."
"Operations Center is great," he adds. "It provides the support we need as we grow and add more John Deere machines to handle all of this renewable-energy work ahead of us. In the future, hybrid equipment like the 850 X-Tier will help us reduce fuel consumption and boost productivity — and continue to help ensure a sustainable future for everyone."
Spriggs Excavation, Inc. is serviced on the Orion II project by RDO™ Equipment Co., Irving, Texas.
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Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe are just some of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for food, shelter and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial.
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* As of June 1, 2018, applies to purchases of new John Deere skid steers, compact track loaders, compact excavators, and compact wheel loaders from John Deere or authorized John Deere dealers. Warranty expires two years after the delivery receipt date or after 2,000 machine hours, whichever occurs first. Offer valid at participating dealers only. Some restrictions may apply. See your dealer for complete details.
Features and specifications are based on published information at the time of publication. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.