One of three projects undertaken by Ameren to reduce harmful emissions from coal-fired powerplants, the installation of two new wet flue gas desulfurization scrubber systems at Ameren's Sioux Energy Center in West Alton, Mo., required more than 2.2 million man-hours and as many as 550 craftsworkers during peak periods.
Ameren's power plant is one of the first U.S. installations to incorporate Hitachi Power Systems of America's spray tower scrubber—or wet scrubber—a technology expected to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 95%.