Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) and E.ON Energie AG (E.ON) announced today
that the two companies have formed a strategic partnership for the
development of a retrofitted pilot plant using Fluor’s
commercially-proven Econamine FG+ carbon capture technology. The pilot
plant will commence operation in 2010 at E.ON’s
coal-fired power plant in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
The primary focus of this partnership is to enhance the technology and
to demonstrate its application to safely separate carbon from the flue
gas of a coal-fired power plant. This will be the first demonstration of
the technology on a coal-fired power plant. Both companies, in applying
the Econamine FG+ process, will demonstrate an optimized adaptation of
the CO2 scrubbing process that complies with
U.S. and EU environmental requirements. E.ON brings essential experience
in the operation and engineering of coal-fired power plants to this
strategic partnership.
One advantage of the chosen CO2 scrubbing
technology is the ability to retrofit conventional power plants already
in operation. This creates an opportunity for a secure, affordable and
dependable low carbon power generation solution using coal as a fuel
source.
Fluor’s patented and proprietary technology
has been demonstrated at commercial-scale facilities for nearly 20
years. The technology uses monoethanolamine (MEA) as the solvent for
efficient capture of C02. Fluor’s
further technology development and improvements will become the basis
for the continued joint development with E.ON.
“We appreciate the opportunity to cooperate
with a partner that has a global reputation in this industry and
long-term carbon capture technology experience,”
said Bernhard Fischer, chief technology officer and executive board
member of E.ON Energie.
“Working jointly with E.ON Energie on this
project, we are seeking to enhance our technology for use with existing
and future coal plants,” said David Constable,
president of Fluor’s Power Group. “We
currently have 25 licensed Econamine plants already in commercial
operation, many to produce chemical or food grade CO2,
and an additional 10 Econamine FG+ licenses sold that will commence
commercial operations within the next 18 to 24 months.”
The next logical step, therefore, is to adapt this well-proven process
to the flue gas conditions of coal-fired power plants.
