Alstom and American Electric Power Sign Agreement to Bring C02 Capture Technology to Commercial Scale by 2011

  
    
  
  
    
      Regulatory News:
    
    
      Alstom (Paris:ALS) and American Electric Power (AEP) today signed a 
      Memorandum of Understanding to bring Alstom’s 
      chilled ammonia process for CO2 capture to full 
      commercial scale of up to 200 MW by 2011. This is a major step in 
      demonstrating post-combustion carbon capture. The technology has the 
      great advantage versus other technologies of being fully applicable not 
      only for new power plants, but also for the retrofit of existing 
      coal-fired power plants.
    
    
      The project will be implemented in two phases. In phase one, Alstom and 
      AEP will jointly develop a 30 MWth product validation plant that will 
      capture CO2 from flue gas emitted from AEP’s 
      1300 MW Mountaineer Plant located in New Haven, West Virginia. It is 
      targeted to capture up to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) 
      per year. The captured CO2 will be designated 
      for geological storage in deep saline aquifers at the site. This pilot 
      is scheduled for start-up at the end of 2008 and will operate for 
      approximately 12-18 months.
    
    
      In phase two, Alstom will design, construct and commission a commercial 
      scale of up to 200 MW CO2 capture system on one 
      of the 450 MW coal-fired units at its Northeastern Station in Oologah, 
      Oklahoma. The system is scheduled for start-up in late 2011. It is 
      expected to capture about 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 a 
      year, commercially validating this promising technology. The CO2 
      captured at Northeastern Station will be used for enhanced oil recovery.
    
    
      Alstom’s post-combustion process uses chilled 
      ammonia to capture CO2. This process 
      dramatically reduces the energy required to capture carbon dioxide and 
      isolates it in a highly concentrated, high-pressure form. In laboratory 
      testing sponsored by EPRI and others, Alstom’s 
      process has demonstrated the potential to capture over 90% of CO2 
      at a cost that is far less expensive than other carbon capture 
      technologies. The isolated CO2, once captured, 
      can be used commercially or stored in suitable underground geological 
      sites.
    
    
      Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power Systems, said: ”We 
      are extremely proud that AEP has chosen Alstom’s 
      clean coal technology for this major project. Our partnership with AEP 
      will result in the world’s first clean coal 
      power plant and will be applicable not only for new plants but also for 
      existing power plants”.
    
    
      Websiteswww.alstom.com, www.power.alstom.com