Press Releases
May 31, 2007
Contact: Megan Doern (202) 715-1546
Lawrence Pacheco (202) 715-1555
FutureGen Project Continues Moving Forward with Release of Initial Conceptual Design Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FutureGen Alliance today released the Initial Conceptual Design Report (ICDR) for the FutureGen project, a first-of-its-kind coal-fueled power plant with near-zero emissions that will produce hydrogen and capture and store carbon dioxide in deep geologic formations. The ICDR outlines a clear set of project objectives, a conceptual design basis, cost estimates and schedule for the FutureGen project. The document provides important insight into the rigorous, industrial project management approach that will be used to successfully complete this unique project.
"Today's release of the ICDR continues our commitment to ensure that the information gained through this project is shared with interested stakeholders so that they are informed about the design, and ultimately the operation of the FutureGen project and its role of researching and developing new technologies," said Michael J. Mudd, chief executive officer of the FutureGen Alliance. "The FutureGen project has global support from industry and government and is the only major U.S. investment which will research, test, develop and prove the integration of IGCC, carbon capture and sequestration in deep geologic formations on a commercial-scale."
Highlights of the ICDR include:
- A carbon sequestration strategy that will use cutting-edge technologies for modeling, monitoring, measuring and verification of CO2 injection into deep geologic formations, and third-party verification to assure that carbon sequestration is proven to be a viable and safe approach for future facilities;
- A power plant research strategy that will support the evaluation and improvement of emerging technologies projected to reduce both capital and operating costs of future plants leading to a significant reduction in the cost of electricity produced from future coal plants with carbon capture; and
- A project implementation strategy that incorporates clear objectives and management techniques to ensure that the plant is completed on schedule and within an inflation-adjusted budget.
The Alliance made the report available one week after the Department of Energy (DOE) released the draft environment impact statement (DEIS), which includes a review of all four candidate sites (Mattoon and Tuscola, Ill., and Odessa and Jewett, Tex.). All four sites will move forward in the site evaluation process with a final site to be selected by the FutureGen Alliance at the end of 2007.
The ICDR can be accessed on the Alliance webpage at www.futuregenalliance.org/publications.stm.
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About the FutureGen Alliance
The FutureGen Alliance, a non-profit organization, represents some of the world's largest coal companies and electric utilities including: American Electric Power Service Corporation; Anglo American Services (UK) Limited; BHP Billiton Energy Coal; Inc.China Huaneng Group; CONSOL Energy, Inc; E.ON U.S. LLC; Foundation Coal Corporation; Peabody Energy Corporation; PPL Energy Services Group, LLC; Rio Tinto Energy America Services; Southern Company Services, Inc.; Xstrata Coal Pty Limited These companies provide energy to tens of millions of residential, business, and industrial customers in North America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and South America. The Alliance is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build the facility. Learn more about FutureGen and the Alliance at www.FutureGenAlliance.org.