Design of "Reference Plant" Using IGCC Technology Moves Forward
Preliminary design is beginning for the first coal-fueled powerplant in the U.S. in nearly a decade to use integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) operation. GE Energy, Bechtel Power Corp. and American Electric Power Co. have agreed to proceed with the project, which would be built on one of three sites on the Ohio River, including one in Meigs County, Ohio, if AEP receives regulatory recovery from the Ohio Public Utilities Commission. The plant is scheduled for commercial startup in 2010.
The $1.2-billion project is the first fruit of an alliance formed last October between Atlanta-based GE and Frederick, Md.-based Bechtel to develop a �reference plant� IGCC design that can be replicated for other customers with minimal customization for the site and coal type. The announcement gives the team the lead in a race with at least two other teams of engineer-constructors and technology providers (ENR 6/20 p. 16). The Bechtel-GE team will perform as an engineering and construction consortium under contract to Columbus, Ohio-based AEP, says Bruce D. Moreton, Bechtel Power IGCC operations and business development manager.