Biomass IGCC Project Gets Final Air Permit

Rentech Inc.’s proposed St. Joe Renewable Energy Center—one of the world’s first biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) projects—last week received a final air permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and will now begin construction of the planned project.

The proposed 55-MW project in Port St. Joe, Gulf County, will use a Rentech-SilvaGas biomass gasifier to provide synthesis gas to an advanced high-efficiency combined cycle plant from about 930 dry tons of woody biomass per day. Progress Energy will buy power from the plant under a power purchase agreement approved by the Florida Public Service Commission.

Rentech said in a statement that it has signed a detailed term sheet with White Construction for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work that is intended to serve as a basis for a definitive lump-sum turnkey EPC contract. White Construction and Ford, Bacon & Davis LLC are finalizing the engineering work necessary to enter the EPC phase of the project. The proposed project site in Northwest Florida has access to barge, rail and highways as well as close proximity to feedstock.

Sources: POWERnews, Rentech