Net Power, a joint venture between Exelon Generation, CB&I, and 8 Rivers Capital, has started construction of a 50MW clean energy demonstration plant in La Porte, Texas, US.
Featuring Toshiba-built supercritical CO2 turbine, the demonstration plant is said to be the first of its kind and is designed produce low-cost electricity from natural gas, with zero atmospheric emissions, including CO2.
In particular, the demonstration plant will assess Net Power’s Allam Cycle technology, which uses CO2 as a working fluid to drive a combustion turbine which would result in production of a pipeline-quality CO2.
The resulting CO2 can be sequestered or used in various industrial processes, including enhanced oil recovery.
The Allam natural gas power generation system will produce no air emissions and completely capture of CO2 without requiring expensive, efficiency-reducing carbon capture equipment.
Net Power CEO Bill Brown said: "Net Power is the first technology that allows policy and economics to work together, instead of against each other, to ensure the world meets our climate targets.
"Today marks a significant step for our world-class team, including Exelon, CB&I, 8 Rivers and Toshiba, towards delivering a technology that will be the cornerstone of a modern global energy infrastructure that is clean, affordable and flexible."
The $140m program involves technology development; plant design and construction; and a full testing and operations program.
Exelon will operate and maintain the plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2016.
CB&I is responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant while 8 Rivers will continue to advance the technology for the project.
The firm is designing and developing on the first 295MWe commercial-scale NET Power plant.
Image: Net Power has broken ground on demonstration plant for emissions-free, low-cost fossil fuel power technology in US. Photo: courtesy of PRNewsFoto/NET Power, LLC.