China to Host First Commercial Site for U.S.-Developed IGCC Technology

Southern Co. plans to implement an advanced integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology developed in conjunction with the Energy Department, KBR Inc., and other partners at an existing fuel oil–fired power plant in China, the company said on Thursday.

The company said that a 120-MW power plant operated by Dongguan Tianming Electric Power Co. (Dongguan TMEP) in Guandong Province, China, would be the first commercial site of the Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIG) technology when operational in 2011.

Under the terms of an agreement, Southern Co. and KBR will provide Beijing Guoneng Yinghui Clean Energy Engineering Co. with licensing, engineering services, and proprietary equipment for the implementation of TRIG technology. TRIG technology will be added to an existing gas turbine combined-cycle plant at the facility so that it can use clean synthetic gas from coal as its fuel for generating electricity, rather than fuel oil, Southern Co. said.

Southern Co. Chair, President, and CEO David Ratcliffe said in a statement that the plant would demonstrate an example of advanced U.S. IGCC technology that is being developed in partnership between the DOE and industry. “This IGCC technology is compatible with carbon capture, and its deployment in China is an important step toward positioning IGCC for future integration with carbon capture technology,” he said.

Ratcliffe also noted that Southern Company subsidiary Mississippi Power currently is seeking regulatory approval to build a 582-MW plant using TRIG technology in Kemper County, Miss. That plant would include 65% carbon capture and sequestration.

Source: Southern Co.