Over the past two decades, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Innovations for Existing Plants (IEP) Program has played a crucial role in moving advanced emission control technologies from concept to commercial reality. The successes from the program have been many. In recent years, several advanced NOx control technologies, such as Praxair's oxygen-enhanced combustion and REI's ALTA NOx technology, have been commercially deployed on the existing fleet of coal-fired power plants. In addition, as a direct result of the IEP program, more than 40 gigawatts of an advanced mercury control technology - activated carbon injection - will be installed on new and existing pulverized coal plants, with more orders anticipated.

The IEP program has now taken on the critical challenge of climate change. In response to Congressional language in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget, the IEP program has shifted focus to R&D on carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies that can be retrofitted to existing pulverized coal-fired power plants. The program will also continue to address the important link between power plants and water use through its water management research.  

MORE INFO Learn more about DOE's program to retrofit the existing coal fleet with carbon capture technology

Coal-fired electric generating plants are the cornerstone of America's central power system. Currently, the existing U.S. coal fleet accounts for about half of all electricity generated domestically. Electricity demand is expected to increase dramatically over the next 30 years, and adding new generating capacity typically requires long lead time. In the meantime, the United States will continue to rely on existing plants to provide a substantial amount of affordable electric power for years to come.  

Geologic sinks in the United States [click here to view larger image]

There is vast potential for retrofitting carbon capture technologies to the existing coal fleet. In 2006, coal-fired power plants produced approximately 36 percent of the total U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In addition, over 40 percent of the existing U.S. coal generating capacity is located directly above potential geologic sequestration sites according to the Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada. This includes almost 150 electric generating sites, or nearly one-sixth of the total U.S. CO2 emissions. By retrofitting CO2 capture technologies to coal-fired plants near geologic sinks, billions of tons of CO2 can be permanently sequestered over the remaining life of the existing fleet. In addition, since very little R&D has historically been devoted to carbon capture systems for existing power plants, there is significant potential to reduce the cost and energy demand of CO2 capture processes through technological advancements. 

The IEP program is focused on R&D in post-combustion CO2 capture and oxy-combustion technology for existing plants. The program will also invest in R&D in the related areas of CO2 compression and the beneficial alternative uses of CO2.

MORE INFO Learn more about DOE's Water Management R&D

Water and energy are inextricably linked. Because thermoelectric generation and fossil fuel extraction can impact water resources, it is critically important to protect U.S. water supplies while providing the energy needed to power the nation into the future. Through integrated water and energy-related activities, the Office of Fossil Energy is responding to this challenge by developing and applying advanced technologies and supporting science.

There is continued uncertainty regarding the level of mercury reduction that will be required of the electric utility sector and the time frame for when the reductions will be needed. Of particular concern is the fact that existing commercially available technologies could be severely challenged to consistently meet increasingly stringent standards in the future. Therefore, DOE continues to support the development of technologies capable of dramatically reducing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. Current activities look to:

• Conduct bench-scale through pilot-scale field testing of mercury specific technology and enhancements to flue gas desulfurization technology to consistently achieve >90% mercury removal.
• Conduct research on the fate of mercury in fly ash, scrubber solids, and other solid and liquid effluents from coal-fired power plants.