News

EPA RCRA Rule Expands Refinery Gasification Opportunities (12/20/07)

The EPA has issued a final rule under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that allows the use of oily secondary materials in gasifiers in refineries. The GTC praised the EPA decision. See the linked GTC press release as well as the EPA website for more information.

Michigan Gives Green Light to IGCC as BACT (12/20/07)

In a letter to the GTC and other interested parties, the Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has indicated that, after lengthy deliberations, "... the MDEQ has concluded that the consideration of clean coal technology, specifically requiring IGCC, in a BACT review will be considered on a case-by-case basis within the context of an air use permit to install application."

Dow Signs MOU for Gasification Facility (12/13/07)

The Dow Chemical Company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunton Energy for the drafting of definitive agreements, which if executed, would result in the construction of a gasification facility in Freeport, TX. According to the non-binding MOU, Hunton would own, build and operate a petcoke gasification plant at Dow’s Oyster Creek property. Once the gasification plant is completed, Dow would purchase synthetic natural gas and steam from Hunton for its large Texas Operations manufacturing site also located in Freeport. See the Dow website for more information.

Luminant Issues RFP on IGCC Feasibility (12/5/07)

Luminant Generation Company is requesting proposals from companies offering coal gasification technologies with the ability to capture carbon dioxide emissions for the purpose of developing an IGCC plant. Luminant expects to select two or more competing IGCC or gasification technologies with CO ₂ capture that can be commercially deployed using lignite and/or Powder River Basin coals as their primary fuel sources. The deadline for responses to the RFP is January 14, 2008. See the linked press release for more information. The RFP is available on the Luminant website.

U.S. DOE Evaluates Projects for EPAct Tax Credits (12/5/07)

The U.S. Department of Energy is partnering with the IRS to evaluate five projects that have recently applied for tax credits under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. In June 2007, the Treasury Department and DOE released revised guidance on the procedures for awarding the tax credits authorized under EPAct 2005 for qualifying advanced coal projects and qualifying gasification projects. DOE received five applications for projects in five different states before the October 31 deadline. See the DOE's website for more information.

Indiana Utility Regulators Approve Duke Energy Edwardsport IGCC (11/20/07)

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission granted Duke Energy permission to construct a 630-MW IGCC power plant in Edwardsport, IN. It will be the first commercial-scale coal gasification power plant built in the United States in the last 10 years. Construction will begin upon approval of the permit, and operation could begin as early as 2012. See the linked press release for more information.

Great Northern Power Development, Allied Syngas Announce Coal Gasification Project at South Heart, ND (11/20/07)

The North Dakota Industrial Commission and representatives from Great Northern Power Development L.P. and Allied Syngas Corporation announced a $1.4 billion coal gasification project at South Heart, ND to produce pipeline quality natural gas. The facility will use the BGL gasification technology, jointly owned by Advantica and Envirotherm, to produce up to 100 MMCF/day of pipeline quality natural gas, and is being designed to capture CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. See the linked press releases from the North Dakota Industrial Commission and Great Northern Power Development for more information.

U.S. Department of Energy Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement on FutureGen (11/12/07)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the completion of its Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the FutureGen project. The plant is expected to be operational in 2012, and would produce both electricity and commercial-grade hydrogen gas from coal, while capturing and sequestering CO2. The EIS evaluated four potential sites to host the project: Mattoon, and Tuscola in Ilinois; and Jewett and Odessa in Texas. The EIS offers a comprehensive evaluation of potential environmental impacts of the project with respect to the design, construction, and operation of the FutureGen facility. DOE will issue a Record of Decision for this Final EIS no sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of this Final EIS in the Federal Register. See the DOE website for more information and the EIS.

Results of the 2007 Pre-Gasification Technologies Conference Survey Posted (11/12/07)

The survey, conducted by Fleishman Hillard, was given to all registrants before the conference to gauge their opinions on the state of the world gasification industry. View a presentation of the results.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement Issued for the Mesaba Energy Project (11/6/07)

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce have released the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Excelsior Energy's Mesaba Energy Project. The draft EIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of locating two 606 MW IGCC power plants at one of two sites currently under consideration in northeastern Minnesota. Hearings to solicit public input will be held in Taconite, MN and Hoyt Lakes, MN, the primary and alternate sites for the Mesaba Project, on November 27th and 28th, respectively. A final EIS is expected in March of 2008. See the attached press release for more information. The EIS can be found at the Minnesota PUC's website.

Study Finds Coal-to-Liquids Competitive with Petroleum (10/9/07)

A recent study by the Center for Forensic Economic Studies found converting coal to liquid fuel offered significant strategic economic benefits in meeting energy demand nationwide and helping depressed coal regions. See the attached press release and economic study for more details.

GE, Bechtel, TransCanada to Collaborate on Petcoke Polygen Facility (10/9/07)

GE and Bechtel have signed an agreement with TransCanada to build a polygeneration facility in Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan. The facility will gasify petroleum coke to generate 300 MW of electricity and will produce hydrogen, nitrogen, and CO2 for enhanced oil recovery. See the linked press release for more information.

U.S. DOE Announces Final Rule for Loan Guarantee Program (10/4/07)

The U.S. Department of Energy issued the final regulations for the loan guarantee program authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The DOE also invited 16 project sponsors, who submitted pre-applications last Fall, to submit full applications for loan guarantees. Among these projects are three IGCC projects and one biomass-to-liquids project. See the linked press release for more information and a list of the approved projects.

Baard Energy to use Shell Gasification Process for Coal/Biomass CTL Project (9/25/07)

Baard Energy LLC has acquired a technology license to use the Shell Coal Gasification Process in its proposed $5 billion coal-to-liquid project located in Columbiana County, Ohio. The facility will produce more than 50,000 barrels per day of jet and diesel fuel from coal and biomass feedstock. See the attached press release for more information.

GTC Challenges Findings in Carnegie Mellon Study (9/6/07)

The Gasification Technologies Council (GTC) strongly challenges the findings of a paper published by Carnegie Mellon University that misrepresents the environmental performance of gasification in producing power and substitute natural gas (SNG). See the linked press release for more information.

Synthesis Energy Systems, CONSOL Energy Sign Agreement to Develop SNG Plants (9/6/07)

Synthesis Energy Systems Inc. and CONSOL Energy Inc. have entered into an agreement to investigate the development of coal-based gasification facilities to produce substitute natural gas (SNG) from waste coal. The facilities will also produce methanol, ethanol, mixed alcohols, and ammonia and will likely be built near mine sites in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. See the linked press release for more information.

Presentations from COALGEN Gasification Session Available (8/9/07)

These presentations can also be found in the GTC Library :

• E-Gas Technology Project Updates Phil Amick, ConocoPhillips
• 2007 Project Updates Keith White, GE Energy
• The Gasification Industry: 2007 Status & Forecast Jim Childress, GTC
• Shell Gasification Update Ross Fava, Shell Global Solutions
• Siemens Global Gasification and IGCC Update Harry Morehead, Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

Comment Period Extended for Michigan IGCC BACT Proposal (7/30/07)

*** UPDATED STORY ***

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has extended the comment period until September 4, 2007, on their proposal to include consideration of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology as a part of the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) determination. See the linked press release for more information.

Eastman Announces Two Gulf Coast Projects (7/27/07)

Eastman Chemical Company announced key roles in two industrial gasification projects in the U.S. Gulf Coast, one in Texas, the other in Louisiana. The Texas facility, to be located in Beaumont, TX, is expected to be online in 2011 and will produce chemicals such as methanol, hydrogen and ammonia. Eastman also plans to participate in a project recently announced by Faustina Hydrogen Products LLC as an investor, service provider and customer. Faustina plans to build a plant which will use petroleum coke and high-sulfur coal as feedstocks to make anhydrous ammonia for agriculture, methanol, sulfur and industrial-grade carbon dioxide. See the linked press release for more information.

ConocoPhillips, Peabody Announce Plans for Joint Coal-to-SNG Facility (7/24/07)

ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy have entered into an agreement to explore development of a commercial scale coal-to-substitute natural gas (SNG) facility using ConocoPhillips' E-GAS technology. The plant would produce 50 billion to 70 billion cubic feet of pipeline quality SNG per year from more than 3.5 million tons of minemouth coal from a Peabody mine. See the linked press release for more information.

China International Coal & Energy New Industry (CICEN) Expo, Sept. 16-18 (7/18/07)

The China International Coal & Energy New Industry (CICEN) Expo will be held in Taiyuan, Shanxi from September 16-18. The full agenda for the event can be found at http://www.cicenfair.com/index.jsp. U.S. companies interested in participating in the event can register via Mr. Zhanglei Jinjun at international@cicenexpo.com or contact Shannon Fraser at Shannon.Fraser@mail.doc.gov, (202) 482-3609.

DOE Awards Diversified Energy Corporation Research Funding (7/13/07)

The Department of Energy awarded Diversified Energy Corporation (DEC) a Small Business Innovation Research grant for testing, design and planning activities focused on use of its HydroMax® gasification technology for industrial applications in partnership with CertainTeed Gypsum. See the linked DEC press release or visit Diversified Energy's website for details.

Denbury Signs CO2 Purchase Agreement with Rentech (6/25/07)

Denbury Resources Inc. has entered into an agreement with Rentech Inc. to purchase all of the CO2 captured from its planned Natchez, MS, Fischer-Tropsch diesel plant. Denbury is expected to purchase CO2 from Rentech and two planned gasification plants proposed by Faustina Hydrogen Products LLC for use in enhanced oil recovery operations in the Gulf of Mexico. By 2012, Denbury is expected to purchase between 750 MMcf/d and 850 MMcf/d of CO2 from these three projects. See the linked press release for more information.

GE Energy Acquires Stamet Technology (6/15/07)

GE Energy announced it has acquired high-pressure feeder pump technology from Stamet Inc. to broaden its feedstock offerings to sub-bituminous. See the linked press release for more information.

Florida Governor Signs Law Allowing IGCC Cost Recovery (6/13/07)

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law HB549 that would allow cost recovery for Tampa Electric's 630-MW expansion to their Polk County IGCC plant. See the linked article and Gov. Crist's transmittal letter after signing HB 549 into law.

Treasury, Energy Departments Release New Advanced Coal Project Tax Credit Applications for 2007-2008 (6/7/07)

The Treasury Department and the Department of Energy (DOE) released today new instructions for applying for the tax credits for advanced coal projects and gasification projects. The new instructions provide additional time to submit applications for the credits. For the 2007-2008 allocation round, applications for DOE certification are not due to the Energy Department until October 31, 2007.

In a departure from the first round of ITC awards the modified allocation method, according to the DOE, "will substantially favor projects that capture and sequester carbon dioxide emissions and will favor to a lesser extent projects optimized for future carbon dioxide capture."

More information can be found at the DOE Fossil Energy website.

Illinois EPA Issues Air Permit for Taylorville IGCC (6/5/07)

The Illinois EPA has issued an Air Construction Permit to Christian County Generation, LLC for the 630-MW Taylorville Energy Center. See the linked press release for more information.

GTI, UPM, Andritz/Carbona Team up for Biomass-to-Liquids Project (5/23/07)

Global forestry company UPM, international technology group Andritz and its associated company Carbona intend to develop biomass gasification technology for use in a Fischer-Tropsch based biodiesel production facility. The companies will test the process at Gas Technology Institute's pilot plant near Chicago, IL. See the linked press release for more information.

DOE Issues CTL Report; Includes Analysis of Federal Financial Incentives (5/01/07)

The U.S. DOE has issued a study assessing the technical and economic feasibility of a commercial 50,000 barrel per day (bbl/day) coal-to-liquids (CTL) facility. The scope of the study includes conceptual design development, process analysis, component descriptions, capital and operating cost estimates, and a comparative financial analysis.

Parts of the assessment were used for a presentation by GTC Executive Director James Childress at the 7th World Gas to Liquids Summit in London on April 24.

Air Liquide Purchases Lurgi (4/17/07)

Air Liquide has announced the acquisition of Lurgi. According to the Air Liquide press release , the purchase "will enable the acceleration of growth in the Large Industries World Business Line, strengthening the group's resources in hydrogen markets and giving it access to the Coal to Liquid and Coal to Chemicals sectors."

Gasification Expansion Set for ERGMED Priolo Refinery in Sicily (4/17/07)

ERG Raffinerie Mediteranee (ERGMED) has announced plans to add a third GE gasifier at its Priolo Refinery in Sicily. Foster Wheeler Italiana has been awarded the contract to provide EPC services for the expansion. The third gasifier will provide hydrogen for the refinery; the output of two existing gasification units is used to generate 550 megawatts of electricity for the plant. See the linked Foster Wheeler press release for more details about the expansion. For information on the originally configured, look under the gasification database for information on the ISAB project (search for plants in Italy) or search the GTC site for "ISAB" .

Nuon Awards Uhde Contract for Coal Gasification Plant (4/10/07)

The Dutch utility N.V. Nuon has commissioned Uhde to design a coal biomass gasification plant as part of the new Nuon Magnum 1200MW IGCC power plant. The plant is to be built in Eemshaven, Groningen Province, approximately 100 miles (180 km) northeast of Amsterdam and is scheduled for completion in 2011. For details, see the linked press release.

American Energy Security Summit (4/4/07)

The Southern States Energy Board is holding the American Energy Security Summit from April 16-18 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. Follow this link for registration, agenda, and speaker information. Follow this link for the associated press release.

Green Light for Orlando Transport Reactor IGCC (4/3/07)

Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman has signed a Record of Decision the clears the path for the 285 megawatt Orlando Utility Commission's coal-based IGCC plant which is receiving funding under DOE Clean Coal Power Initiative. The project will use the Kellogg Brown and Root/Southern Company transport reactor. For details see the linked press announcement or go to the DOE Fossil Energy web site.

Excelsior Energy, ConocoPhillips Reach Agreement on E-Gas Technology Process Design Package (3/14/07)

Excelsior Energy Inc. and ConocoPhillips reached an agreement releasing ConocoPhillips to provide an E-Gas Technology Process Design Package for the first unit of the Mesaba Energy Project. See the accompanying press release for more details.

Rentech Receives Zoning Approval for Illinois Gasification-based Polygeneration Plant (3/14/07)

Rentech Energy Midwest Corporation (REMC) has received zoning approval to convert its East Dubuque, IL, fertilizer plant into a polygeneration facility that will convert coal into Fischer Tropsch fuels, ammonia fertilizer and electricity. See the accompanying press release for more details.

EPRI Announces Completion of Pre-Design Specification for an IGCC (3/13/07)

The Electric Power Research Institute announced that it has used the design of Excelsior Energy's Mesaba Energy Project as the basis for its first pre-design specification for an IGCC plant. See the accompanying press release for more details.

Presentations available from the March 14, 2007, Gasification Technologies Workshop

The presentations can be found in the GTC Library.

TXU Announces IGCC Plans (3/9/07)

TXU has started the planning process for two IGCC demonstration plants to be located in Texas. They will develop the plants to use Powder River Basin and lignite coals with carbon capture. Download the press release.

GE Energy Financial Services Invests in ERORA Cash Creek IGCC (1/23/07)

GE Energy Financial Services has acquired a 20% equity interest in The ERORA Group LLC, developer of the Cash Creek IGCC in Henderson County, Kentucky. The plant will provide 630 net MW and substitute natural gas to Kentucky and the surrounding areas. Construction of Cash Creek is expected to begin in late 2007, with commercial operation planned in either 2010 or 2011. For more information, see the linked press release. Top of the page