|
|
|
For Immediate Release Contact: BLACK & VEATCH, ENERGY PRODUCTS OF IDAHO AND NPPD
SELECTED TO PERFORM BIOMASS GASIFIER RETROFIT STUDY
Kansas City, Mo. (Dec. 12, 2001) – Black & Veatch, Energy Products of Idaho (EPI) and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) announced today that they have been selected by the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program (WRBEP), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to perform a feasibility study of an add-on fluidized bed biomass gasifier at an NPPD coal power plant. The study will examine the feasibility of integrating an EPI biomass gasifier with an existing coal boiler to replace up to 15 percent of the coal with gas produced from biomass composed primarily of waste wood. With partial funding from a WRBEP grant, the study will consider implementation at the NPPD Sheldon Station, a two-unit, 225 MW power plant near Hallam, Nebraska. The technology has the ability to produce green power, reduce emissions and lower fuel costs. By replacing coal or other fossil fuels at existing power plants, the biomass gasification technology produces power from a renewable energy source. Gas produced by the fluidized bed gasifier could potentially replace 100 percent of the heat input in existing boilers if sufficient biomass is available. In addition to sulfur, mercury and other emission reductions attributable to the clean biomass fuel, the gas can substantially reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by secondary combustion. Low-cost renewable biomass fuels or income from accepting biomass requiring disposal can enhance the profitability of existing fossil fuel assets. “The EPI biomass gasifier technology is well-proven and has the ability to utilize a wide range of biomass to replace large amounts of coal and significantly lower emissions at virtually every coal-fired boiler, both industrial and utility, throughout the United States,” said EPI General Manager LeRoy Pope. Ryan Pletka, study manager for Black & Veatch, added, “The proposed technology has a much lower cost than developing a greenfield biomass power plant and is a competitive, low-cost green power option. The Sheldon Station study hopes to demonstrate its technical feasibility and economic viability at a typical coal-fired utility boiler. This, in turn, will help promote cost-effective biomass use for green power and emissions reduction. To evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of the system, Black & Veatch, EPI and NPPD will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed gasification retrofit at the Sheldon Station. The analysis will feature the use of VISTA™, an evolution of the widely used Coal Quality Impact Model (CQIMTM) that Black & Veatch developed for EPI in 1989. The VISTA analysis will provide a complete examination of the effects of the biomass gas on the existing unit’s performance, availability, fuel costs, operation and maintenance costs and other parameters. This will be combined with other information to develop a comprehensive economic model of the proposed project. “NPPD is excited to undertake this project with EPI and Black & Veatch,” said Frank Thompson, team leader for Energy Market Planning at NPPD. “We take environmental issues very seriously and are considering options that could utilize waste wood to reduce emissions from a fossil-fired plant. We believe EPI and Black & Veatch bring unique technology and expertise to the table in the area of green power production and emissions reduction.” Biomass is any material of recent biological origin and includes fuels as diverse as wood waste, agricultural residues, and yard waste. The study is scheduled to take approximately five months to complete. For more information on WRBEP, visit its Web site at www.westbioenergy.org. About Black & VeatchBlack & Veatch Corporation is a leading global engineering, construction and consulting firm specializing in infrastructure development in the fields of energy, water and information. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch serves its clients with conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental and management consulting services. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked 80th on the Forbes “500 Top Private Companies in the U.S.” listing for 2001. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.
About Energy Products of IdahoWith nearly 40 years of system design and supply experience and over 80 fluidized bed energy system installations, Energy Products of Idaho (EPI) has quietly established itself as a leader in solid fuel thermal oxidation and gasification technologies. In 1973, EPI provided the first fluidized bed combustion (FBC) system in the United States to convert waste biomass into usable energy. In 1981, EPI commissioned the first retrofit of a stoker-fired boiler to fluidized bed. The first commercial fluidized bed biomass gasification power plant was built by EPI in 1985. The company continues to pioneer disposal of difficult waste materials and provide efficient, economical and environmentally favorable "green-energy solutions". About Nebraska Public Power DistrictAlways there when needed, NPPD is Nebraska’s energy leader, serving customers in 91 of Nebraska’s 93 counties with retail or wholesale electrical power through a 5,000-mile transmission system. Governed by a popularly elected Board of Directors, the public utility seeks to enhance the quality of life in Nebraska. Working in partnership with Nebraska’s rural power districts, cooperatives and municipalities, NPPD helps provide the state with electricity rates 20 percent below the national average. For links to information about NPPD, or to pull up an electronic version of this news release, visit its Web site at www.nppd.com
|
|
Energy Products of Idaho
|