XCEL ENERGY INSTALLS GORE® MERCURY CONTROL TECHNOLOGY IN ABSORBER AT SHERBURNE COUNTY GENERATING STATION
BECKER, MN – May 30, 2013 – A full scale installation of the GORE® Mercury Control System (GMCS) is being implemented at Xcel Energy’s (Xcel) Sherburne County (Sherco) Generating Station in Becker, MN.
The GMCS is a new mercury control technology for the coal-fired power industry developed by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. As the authorized integrator of the technology, URS Corporation will perform all engineering, procurement and commissioning and start-up activities for the project. Xcel Energy will be responsible for construction. A test program to monitor the performance of the technology is included as part of the project.
The installation at Xcel Energy’s Sherburne plant will demonstrate the ability of the GMCS solution to solve the power industry’s challenging mercury problems. It marks the first full-scale demonstration of this innovative technology. Sherco, located northwest of the Twin Cities, is one of Xcel Energy’s largest generating stations.
Based on a novel Sorbent Polymer Composite (SPC) material developed by Gore, the mercury control technology provides high efficiency and a high capacity for removing elemental and oxidized mercury from flue gas streams. Integrating the GMCS into an existing FGD system provides a cost-competitive solution for upcoming mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) compliance, while also offering a substantial reduction of SO2 emissions.
“One of the most intriguing aspects of the Gore technology is its simplicity,” noted Bob Henningsgaard, Principal Engineer, AQCS Subject Matter Specialist, Xcel Energy. “There are no rotating parts and it doesn’t require injection of activated carbon or bromine. Xcel Energy is encouraged by the results of the pilot programs and we look forward to helping URS and Gore apply their problem-solving technology to coal-fired generation.”
Jonas Klingspor, Vice President, URS Corporation stated: “The full-scale demonstration project at Sherco is the first in a group of full-scale installations planned over the next 12 months. Xcel is a great partner and we look forward to demonstrating the unique capabilities and distinctive values of the URS/Gore mercury control solution to the electric utility industry.”
About URS Corporation
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. The Company offers a full
range of program management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; information technology; and decommissioning and closure services. URS provides services for federal, oil and gas, infrastructure, power, and industrial projects and programs. Headquartered in San Francisco, URS has more than 50,000 employees in a network of offices in nearly 50 countries (for more information on URS’ Process Technologies business, please visit www.urs-processtechnologies.com).
About W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, fabrics, industrial and medical markets. Perhaps best known for its waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX® fabric, the company’s portfolio features a diverse array of innovations, including everything from guitar strings to life-saving cardiovascular devices. Gore is the inventor of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and has developed numerous high performance materials for industrial and other uses. Gore is headquartered in Newark, DE, posts annual sales of over $3 billion, and employs over 9,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. It is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings were introduced in 1984. (www.gore.com)