Air Liquide to Participate in Major U.S. Carbon Capture & Storage Project
Air Liquide Process & Construction, Inc. (Air Liquide), part of the Air Liquide
Engineering & Construction organization, has been named by the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) to participate in the development of FutureGen 2.0 -- the world's
first full scale oxy-combustion power plant incorporating permanent CO2
capture and storage (CCS).
The recently executed cooperative agreement between the DOE and Ameren
Energy Resources Company, LLC (AER) is part of a commitment by the DOE to
award 1 billion dollars in U.S. federal funding for the clean coal power project,
which includes sub-awards to Air Liquide and its technology partner Babcock &
Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc. (B&W PGG).
Capture and storage of CO2 is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from
power plants and making clean energy a reality. This project represents the first fullscale production initiative for clean coal energy using oxy-combustion
technology and CCS. The project is designed to capture and store approximately
1.3 million tons of CO2 each year, 90% of the plant's CO2 emissions.
The project began its first phase on October 1, 2010, which includes engineering
studies and economic analysis to re-power AER's Meredosia, Illinois 200 MW
power plant using clean-coal technology. Subsequent phases of the project will
address further engineering and construction activities.
The oxy-combustion process being deployed is a result of innovative technology
developed by Air Liquide and B&W PGG, which substitutes oxygen and recycled
flue gases for normal combustion air in coal-fired boilers and incorporates an
innovative CO2 purification process to produce a stream of CO2 suitable for direct
capture and storage. The process helps reduce greenhouse gases from
industrial activities that use carbon-based fossil fuels.
Air Liquide has been investing in oxy-combustion technology for more than a decade
through R&D and successful participation in pilot projects in the U.S., France and
Australia that demonstrate its technological viability. These include the operation of a 30 MW unit in collaboration with B&W PPG in Alliance, Ohio; the successful
implementation of natural gas oxyburners and key CO2 purification equipment for the
Lacq project with Total in southern France; and partnership in the Australian Callide
oxyfuel project, designed to demonstrate integrated CO2 purification. Oxy-combustion
is one of many innovations from Air Liquide designed to help meet the world's clean
energy needs, including products and technologies in biofuels, photovoltaics and
hydrogen.
Michael J. Graff, President & CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. and
member of Air Liquide Group's Executive Committee in charge of the
Americas, commented, "We thank the U.S. Department of Energy for the
opportunity to apply our clean energy technology. Air Liquide looks
forward to working with its partners and the State of Illinois on this
extraordinary project. Oxy-combustion is one of the main paths for
reducing CO2 emissions from coal and other combustion processes.
FutureGen 2.0 will help set the stage for future applications of this
promising carbon capture technology.
With the Environment as a growth driver for Air Liquide, we are proud to
contribute to helping the global industrial community meet its energy
needs while reducing its carbon footprint."
