Peabody Honors Leadership in Clean Coal Technologies

“Coal remains an essential part of the energy mix, and technology will continue to play an important role in meeting the world’s emissions goals,” said Peabody President and CEO Glenn Kellow. “Peabody has advocated clean coal technologies for two decades and we are proud to recognize companies that are advancing these technologies to help achieve energy security, economic progress and environmental solutions.”

Honors are based on the best environmental performance for reducing key criteria emission rates and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Categories include leadership in reducing sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and improving efficiency as measured by heat rate, which results in a lower carbon footprint. In addition, Peabody recognized a new coal plant and an industry pioneer advancing carbon capture and storage technologies. A distinguished panel of international experts in high-efficiency, low-emissions (HELE) and carbon capture technologies selected the award recipients following a comprehensive review process.

The award honorees included:

• Dynegy’s Duck Creek Power Station: Honored for SO₂ Leadership and Performance. The 425-megawatt (MW) Duck Creek plant operates in Canton, Illinois, and virtually eliminated SO₂ emissions. The SO₂ achievement is attributed to the wet flue-gas desulfurization technology paired with low-sulfur Powder River Basin coal.

• Shenergy’s Shanghai Waigaoqiao No. 3: Honored for NO_X Leadership and Performance and Heat Rate Leadership and Performance. The 2,000-megawatt (2 units x 1,000 MW) Waigaoqiao No. 3 power plant located in Shanghai has one of the lowest global NO_x emissions profiles at 0.11 lb/MW-hr. The power plant’s heat rate of 8,141 Btu/KW-hr is among the best in the world. Waigaoqiao No. 3 was designed to achieve high-efficiency operation and the plant’s operators have made retrofit improvements to further boost the annual average net efficiency to as high as 44.5%, lower heating value (LHV).

• Kyushu Electric Power’s Matsuura No. 2: Honored for New Coal Plant Leadership and Innovation. The 1,000-MW ultra-supercritical plant located in Matsuura, Japan, is currently under construction and expected to come online in 2019. It is designed to have an efficiency of more than 45%, LHV, which will make it one of the most efficient coal-fueled power plants in the world, reducing CO2 and regulated emissions.

• U.S. Department of Energy’s National Carbon Capture Center, managed and operated by Southern Co.: Honored as Carbon Capture and Storage Pioneer. The National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama, is a world-class neutral test facility working to advance technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and natural gas-based power plants. The center works with third-party technology developers to bridge the gap between laboratory research and large-scale demonstrations. In addition, the National Carbon Capture Center chairs the International Test Center Network to accelerate research, development and deployment of carbon capture technologies.

Nabha Power Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen and Toubro, was also recognized as an honorable mention in the Heat Rate Leadership and Performance category. The 1,400-MW power plant in Rajpura, Punjab, is among the most efficient supercritical plants in India, and last year notably achieved its lowest auxiliary power consumption of 5.2% at 77% plant load. In addition, the plant implemented a number of environmental controls, including Mitsubishi Advanced Combustion Technology burners for NO_X emissions reduction, 100% washed coal, a zero-water discharge system and utilization of 100% of its dry fly ash on a sustainable basis.

HELE coal-fired generation, available today, includes multiple technologies capable of reducing the vast majority of SO₂, NO_x, particulate matter, mercury and other emissions. Advanced HELE technologies result in a smaller environmental footprint, achieving as much as a 25% reduction in a plant’s CO₂ emissions rate. Longer-term investments in next-generation carbon capture technologies are necessary to transition to the ultimate goal of near-zero emissions from coal-fired power.