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| New coal gasification advanced technology center GE Energy has signed a letter of intent with the University of Wyoming, countersigned by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, for the development of an advanced gasification research and technology center to be located in Wyoming. The proposed center would consist of a small-scale gasification system that would enable the University of Wyoming and GE researchers to develop advanced gasification technology solutions for Power River Basin (PRB) and other Wyoming coals. GE has been operating at the 230-megawatt TECO Polk I Station in Florida for more than 10 years. The company currently offers a 630-megawatt commercial-scale plant that produces 75% less SOx, 33% less NOx, 40% less particulate matter, captures 90% more mercury, and uses 30% less water than a pulverized coal plant. Utilities in the eastern U.S. (Duke Energy, AEP and others) have committed to using GE's integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology in proposed projects. "GE Energy and the University of Wyoming recognize that IGCC provides a cleaner alternative for power generation and has significant cost and efficiency advantages when integrated with carbon capture and sequestration. As part of the effort to accelerate IGCC technology, GE Energy is working to expand its proven gasification technology from bituminous coals to PRB and other Wyoming coals," said John Lavelle, general manager of GE Energy's gasification business. "This facility will aid in the accelerated adoption of IGCC and gasification for use on higher moisture coals such as PRB." Wyoming is uniquely positioned in the nation's energy landscape and has vast coal reserves capable of supporting a substantial portion of the nation's energy needs. In 2006, Wyoming's coal industry produced 420 million tons of coal, fueling more than 30 percent of the national electrical power generation needs. "This advanced research facility has the potential to position the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources, in close collaboration with the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Western Research Institute, as the global center of excellence in coal gasification research, building a pipeline of scientists and engineers with significant expertise in cleaner coal technologies," said Tom Buchanan, President of the University of Wyoming. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |