Carbon Capture Retrofits Being Studied by Five Coal-Fired Power Plants

The Associated Press (AP) reported this week that five coal-fired power plants in the U.S. and Canada are doing feasibility studies to determine how the plants could be retrofitted for carbon capture. The information came from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit industry group.

One of the five plants is the 1,100-megawatt Coal Creek Station near Underwood, which is owned by Great River Energy, based on Maple Grove, Minn. The other plants are in Illinois, Utah, Ohio and Nova Scotia.

The AP quoted a senior engineer from Great River Energy as saying the company will use an ammonia-based chemical in its research project. The official stated that, in addition to cost, major barriers to retrofitting the technology are the amount of space required (double the amount of the current site) and the drain on power output (up to 30% is required to power the capture technology).

According to a press release from EPRI, the five sites in the study were chosen to achieve diversity. "Each site offers a unique combination of unit sizes and ages, existing and planned emissions controls, fuel types, steam conditions, boilers, turbines, cooling systems, and options for CO2 storage," the press release stated.

The release went on to state that at the conclusion of the five studies, to be conducted in 2009, a report will be issued that

• assesses the most practical CO2 capture efficiency configuration based on site constraints;


• determines the space required for the CO2 capture technology and the interfaces with existing systems;
  
• estimates performance and costs for the post-combustion capture plant;
  
• and assesses the features of each plant that materially affect the cost and feasibility of the retrofit.

To read the AP article click here.
To read the EPRI press release, click here.