Nearing completion in Texas, a 50-MW power plant will demonstrate a first-of-a-kind natural-gas power system. Its developer claims the system, which uses supercritical carbon-dioxide working fluid, will produce low-cost electricity with zero atmospheric emissions. With the plant 90% complete, developers already are pushing ahead with plans for a 295-MW commercial facility, whose technology they expect to be validated.
Net Power LLC, a collaboration of Exelon Generation, CB&I and 8 Rivers Capital, is building the plant in La Porte, near Houston, to demonstrate the ability of its Allam Cycle operation to drive a custom-built Toshiba combustion turbine. Net Power says the operation eliminates atmospheric emissions without requiring costly, inefficient carbon-capture equipment and produces pipeline-quality CO2 for sequestration or industrial use. The $140-million program is funded by cash and in-kind contributions from Exelon and CB&I for demo plant design and construction, technology advancement, testing, operations and product development. 8 Rivers is the technology developer, Exelon provides operations and CB&I is EPC contractor. Net Power spokesman Walker Dimmig says the plant is set to operate this year.