[Federal Register: December 6, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 235)]
[Notices]
[Page 72650-72652]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de02-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Availability of
a Financial Assistance Solicitation
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL).
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Financial Assistance Solicitation.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-03NT41719 entitled ``Innovative
Water Management Technologies and Concepts for Coal-Fired Electric
Utility Boilers'' to solicit applications for cost-shared research
projects directed at innovative water management technologies and
concepts for coal-fired electric utility boilers. Specifically, the
solicitation will provide for the development of cost-effective
solutions to emerging regulations and restrictions on water use and
impacts on water quality associated with the generation of electricity
by coal-fired power plants. Applications will be solicited in four (4)
technical areas of interest: (1) Non-Traditional Sources of Process and
Cooling Water; (2) Innovative Cooling Technology; (3) Advanced Cooling
Water Intake Technology; and (4) Advanced Pollutant Measurement and
Treatment Technology. Applications are being sought for applied
research at the bench-scale to field-scale level for time periods of
one (1) to three (3) years.
The solicitation supports the overall goal of the Department of
Energy/Office of Fossil Energy's Innovations for Existing Plants (IEP)
Program to develop advanced technology and knowledge products that
enhance the environmental performance of the existing fleet of coal-
fired power plants. The solicitation is part of the path forward of the
Energy-Water Management component of the IEP roadmap (http://www.netl.doe.gov/coalpower/environment
). The goal of this research is
to reduce water consumption per kWh of electricity produced by 25% by
2010, and reduce
[[Page 72651]]
impacts of electricity production on water quality.
DATES: The solicitation will be available on the ``Industry Interactive
Procurement System'' (IIPS) webpage located at http://e-center.doe.gov
on or about December 13, 2002. Applicants can obtain access to the
solicitation from the address above or through DOE/NETL's Web site at
http://www.netl.doe.gov/business.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna J. Jaskolka, MS 921-107, U.S.
Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box
10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940, E-mail Address:
jaskolka@netl.doe.gov, Telephone Number: (412) 386-6016.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electric utility boilers are the second
largest user of water in the United States, ranking only slightly
behind irrigation in terms of total annual water use (USGS, Circular
1200, 1998). The majority of the water used by power plants is for
cooling. The steam cycle requires a large amount of water to condense
the low-pressure steam from the turbine. Recent regulations proposed
under section 316(b) (http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/316b/) of the
Clean Water Act (http://www.epa.gov/region5/water/cwa.htm) to protect
against the impingement and entrainment of aquatic organisms in cooling
systems could restrict the amount of water that power plants can
withdraw for cooling and/or require the installation of new intake
structure technology. Retrofitting from once-through cooling systems to
recirculating cooling towers can negatively impact plant efficiency due
to increased turbine back pressure. Power plant operations can also be
disrupted due to the colonization of Zebra mussels and other types of
bio-fouling on cooling water intake grates and screens.
Water quality issues will also continue to receive attention in
terms of coal power systems. Coal utilization byproducts (CUBs) such as
scrubber solids and fly ash must be managed properly in order that all
current and future surface and groundwater regulations are met.
Concerns about the fate of mercury, arsenic, and other trace metals in
CUB leachates could negatively impact the commercial use and disposal
of these materials. More stringent control of air emissions under the
Clean Air Act could result in cross-media transfer of pollutants from
air to water. For example, pending mercury regulations could bring
about the need for additional monitoring, processing, and treatment of
scrubber liquors and other aqueous streams associated with air
pollution control equipment. In addition, coal pile runoff and other
plant-wide discharges may come under further scrutiny in response to
future Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
DOE-NETL held a workshop in July 2002 with key stakeholders from
industry, government agencies, regional and state regulators, research
organizations, and academia to obtain input on the need for a private-
partner research effort to address these emerging issues. A summary of
the workshop proceedings can be found at http://www.netl.doe.gov/coalpower/environment.
The workshop participants identified a number of
near-, mid-, and long-term research opportunities directed at reducing
the impact of coal power generation on water availability and quality.
In response, DOE-NETL is issuing a solicitation focused on four areas
of interest related to coal-based electric utilities and water. Details
concerning the solicitation are described below. This solicitation will
serve to help ensure the continued availability of low-cost electricity
from coal while meeting growing demands for clean water.
The objective of this solicitation is to solicit applications for
cost-shared research projects directed at innovative water management
technologies and concepts for coal-fired electric utility boilers.
Specifically, the solicitation will provide for the development of
cost-effective solutions to emerging regulations and restrictions on
water use and impacts on water quality associated with the generation
of electricity by coal-fired power plants. All applicants should
clearly describe how the technology, if successfully developed and
applied, would impact the cost of operating a coal-fired power plant in
terms of impacts on COE (cost of electricity) relative to existing
technology. The applicant should also provide a projection of the
market penetration of the proposed technology or concept in terms of
both existing and new coal-fired electric utility boilers. Applications
will be solicited to address four technical topic areas:
(1) Non-Traditional Sources of Process and Cooling Water
Applications are being sought to evaluate and develop cost-
effective approaches to using non-traditional (i.e., not from
freshwater or saline surface water supply) sources of water for cooling
and other power plant needs. Examples include surface and underground
mine pool water, coal-bed methane produced water, and industrial and/or
municipal wastewater. The technical, cost and permitting issues
associated with collecting, treating, transporting, storing, and
discharging/disposing of these non-traditional waters should be
considered.
(2) Innovative Cooling Technology
Applications are being sought to improve both wet and dry
recirculating cooling tower systems. Innovative methods of plume
abatement are desired to reduce water loss and minimize visual impacts
from cooling towers. Improvements in the energy penalty associated with
wet and dry cooling versus once-through cooling are also sought.
Research to reduce the higher capital and operating costs associated
with dry cooling versus wet cooling and the development of hybrid wet-
dry systems that optimize the advantages of wet and dry cooling towers
is also sought.
(3) Advanced Cooling Water Intake Technology
Future regulations to protect aquatic organisms under Section
316(b) of the Clean Water Act may impact the operation of cooling water
intake structures on new and existing power plants. Applications are
sought to meet performance standards for intake structures that would
be required by section 316(b) regulation. Specifically, advanced intake
structure technologies such as intake screen systems, passive intake
systems, diversion or avoidance systems, and fish handling systems are
sought. Innovative methods to control bio-fouling of intake structures,
which will be more of a problem with the lower intake water velocities
required to reduce fish impingement are also sought.
(4) Advanced Pollutant Measurement and Treatment Technology
Future controls on the emission of mercury and possibly other
hazardous air pollutants (e.g. selenium, arsenic) have raised concerns
about the ultimate fate of these contaminants once they are removed
from the flue gas. Preventing these air pollutants from being
transferred to surface or ground waters will be critical. Applications
are sought for advanced technologies to detect, measure, and remove
mercury, arsenic, selenium and other pollutants from the aqueous
streams of coal-based power plants such as blowdown water, wet scrubber
effluents, and ash pond waters. Advanced technologies are also sought
for removal of chemicals used in treatment of cooling water.
It is anticipated that there will be five to seven (5-7) Financial
Assistance (Cooperative Agreement) awards with
[[Page 72652]]
performance periods ranging from 12 to 36 months. The total estimated
award value for all projects selected under this solicitation is
approximately $4.8 million; this amount includes the mandatory minimum
recipient cost share of 20%.
Eligibility for participation in the Program Solicitation is
considered to be full and open. All interested parties may apply,
except as noted herein. Applications submitted by or on behalf of (1)
Another Federal agency, (2) a Federally Funded Research and Development
Center sponsored by another Federal agency; or (3) a Department of
Energy (DOE) Management Operating (M&O) Contractor will not be eligible
for award under this solicitation. However, an application that
includes performance of a portion of the work by a DOE M&O contractor
will be evaluated and may be considered for award subject to the
provisions to be set forth in Program Solicitation DE-PS26-03NT41719
(Note: The limit on participation by an M&O contractor for an
individual project under this solicitation cannot exceed 25% of the
total project cost.).
Once released, the solicitation will be available for downloading
from the IIPS webpage (http://e-center.doe.gov). At this Internet site
you will also be able to register with IIPS, enabling you to submit an
application. If you need technical assistance in registering or for any
other IIPS function, call the IIPS Help Desk at (800) 683-0751 or E-
mail the Help Desk personnel at IIPS_HelpDesk@e-center.doe.gov. The
solicitation will only be made available in IIPS, no hard (paper)
copies of the solicitation and related documents will be made
available.
Prospective applicants who would like to be notified as soon as the
solicitation is available should subscribe to the Business Alert
Mailing List at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. Once you subscribe,
you will receive an announcement by E-mail that the solicitation has
been released to the public. Telephone requests, written requests, E-
mail requests, or facsimile requests for a copy of the solicitation
package will not be accepted and/or honored. Applications must be
prepared and submitted in accordance with the instructions and forms
contained in the solicitation. The actual solicitation document will
allow for requests for explanation and/or interpretation.
Issued in Pittsburgh, PA on November 20, 2002.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 02-30916 Filed 12-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P