Big Greenhouse Gas Challenges for Coal-fired Power Plants- Hot Topic Hour – October 2

A very knowledgeable foursome led the greenhouse gas discussions in the Hot Topic Hour yesterday. Speakers were

Peter Spinney, NeuCo

Timothy Fout, U.S. Dept. of Energy

David Foerter, ICAC

Frank Princiotta, U.S. EPA

Peter told the attendees that low cost optimization technologies can reduce CO₂ emissions by as much as two percent. If coal allowances were selling for $25/ton this would result in a $2.4 million savings for a 500 MW coal-fired power plant.

Combustion Opt provides real-time optimization of fuel and air mixing. SootOpt optimizes performance by manipulating all the relevant sootblowing controls. MaintenanceOpt improves reliability, capacity and heat rate.

Tim supplied details on the comprehensive NETL program to further the carbon capture technologies. External research projects relative to solvents include ionic liquids, novel oligomers, reversible ionic liquids, and a vacuum carbonate absorption process. There is also funded research on sorbents including dry regenerable sorbents ([RTI], metal organic frameworks [UOP], solid sorbents [ADA-ES], and novel carbon sorbents [SRI]). The goal is a capture technology that can achieve 90 percent CO₂ removal at no more than 35 percent increase in cost of electricity. The target is commercial deployment by 2020.

Dave represents the group that will do the heavy lifting in the research and deployment of carbon capture systems. But in order for this group to accelerate development they need some assurance of a market which would include

• Uniform U.S. and International Program,
• Technology Neutral Approaches,
• Define “Carbon Capture Ready”,
• Flexibility in compliance: caps, averaging, safety valves,
• Allowance pricing that encourages controls on existing power sector,
• Funding for early technology adopters,
• Early start-up incentives and changes to regulatory barriers,
• Solutions to storage portion of equation,
• Consideration of new power as part of the solution?

Frank presented large amounts of data to demonstrate how difficult the problem is going to be. CO₂ emissions are rising at the same time that government budgets on R&D are declining. Frank believes that a massive R&D program is needed to provide any hope of even modest reductions in greenhouse gases.

The individual presentations are in the CO₂ Decision Tree as follows.

Peter Spinney – NeuCo – Using Low-Cost Optimization Technologies to Reduce the Carbon
                                           Footprint

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CO2_Decision_Tree/Description Text Links/Peter Spinney, NeuCo. - Oct. 2, 2008 Hot Topic Hour.pdf

Timothy Fout – NETL - Carbon Capture for Pulverized-Coal-Based Power Plants:

                                          DOE/NETL’s R&D Program

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CO2_Decision_Tree/Description Text Links/Timothy Fout - NETL - Oct. 2 Hot Topic Hour.pdf

David Foerter – ICAC – Greenhouse Gas Strategies 2008

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CO2_Decision_Tree/Description Text Links/David Foerter - ICAC - Hot Topic Hour Oct. 2, 2008.pdf

Frank Princiotta – US EPA - Global Climate Change and the Mitigation Challenge

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CO2_Decision_Tree/Description Text Links/Frank Princiotta, US EPA Hot Topic Hour Oct. 2, 2008.pdf

Frank Princiotta – US EPA - The Role of Technology in Mitigating Global Climate Change

http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/CO2_Decision_Tree/Description Text Links/Frank Princiotta - US EPA Hot Topic Hour Oct. 2, 2008.pdf