Edwardsport Power Station

Edwardsport Power Station was a 160-MW coal-fired electrical power plant in Vigo Township, Knox County, near the town of Edwardsport, Indiana. An integrated gasification combined cycle power plant (Edwardsport IGCC) is being constructed by Duke Energy at the site.

Existing units

Existing Units 2, 3 and 4, rated at 42.5, 42.5 and 75 MW respectively, were placed into service in 1944, 1949 and 1951.[1] The smaller, older units were retired when the new 618-MW plant comes online.

The old Edwardsport plant was officially taken offline in late 2011, and deconstruction began in mid-2012. The old Edwardsport plant was demolished in late October 2012.

IGCC units

In 2007, Duke Energy Indiana began construction of a 618 megawatt (MW) integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. This plant was to be the first of its kind of its size. The gasification process at the new plant involves converting coal into a combustible syngas that will be used in a combustion turbine. The exhaust gases are routed through a large heat recovery steam generator that will be used in conjunction with a steam turbine to further increase the plant's efficiency.The new plant is slated to be a base-load station. The construction of the plant has reserved the necessary space required for carbon capture and storage if Duke Energy decides to add this component to the plant at a later date.[2] However, when the plant was originally planned, it was thought the site was ready for carbon injection. After conducting further research, it was determined that the site is actually not geologically suitable for underground storage of carbon. Instead, Duke Energy Indiana would need to seek approval to construct a pipeline to transport carbon to a more suitable site.

Edwardsport's pollution per unit of energy produced will be greatly reduced, as particulate matter and mercury will be removed from the syngas. The coal-derived synthetic gas is much cleaner than conventional coal combustion to begin with, and it is easier to clean to greater extent. Coal gasification allows carbon capture to occur before the fuel is combusted — a much easier and economically feasible operation than carbon capture of exhaust gases.

Edwardsport IGCC began commercial operations in June 2013.[3]

Cost overruns and controversy

The construction of the Edwardsport IGCC has been clouded in controversy and legal troubles for both Duke Energy Indiana and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Thus far, the legal issues have resulted in the firing of the second highest ranked executive for Duke Energy, the dismissal of the Chairman of the IURC, David Lott Hardy, and Hardy's subsequent indictment for three felony counts of official misconduct in cases concerning Duke Energy,[4] although the charges were dismissed on 12 August 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006" (Excel). Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  2. ↑ "Duke Energy Reports Costs of Edwardsport IGCC". Compass Coal Services LLC. Retrieved 1/7/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ "Edwardsport Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Station Project Overview". Duke Energy. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
  4. ↑ "Ex-IURC chairman indicted in Duke ethics scandal". IndyStar. Retrieved 1/7/2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

Coordinates: 38°48′24″N 87°14′49″W / 38.80667°N 87.24694°W / 38.80667; -87.24694

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