DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Invests $3.6 Million to Modernize America’s Coal-Fired Power Plants

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) today announced $3.6 million for nine design and engineering projects that will support the refurbishment or retrofit of existing coal power plants with transformational technologies that address wastewater systems and improve the efficiency, reliability, flexibility, and performance of coal and natural gas use. By upgrading our nation's existing coal facilities, these initiatives will help strengthen the backbone of America's power grid and ensure all American's have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy when they need it most.

These efforts help to advance President Trump's Executive Orders Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid to restore common-sense energy policies that prioritize dependable power, affordability, and American workers.

"America's coal fleet is an undeniable pillar of our energy dominance and economic strength, but for too long, policies have undermined this vital industry and the dedicated workforce behind it, threatening our grid's stability and driving up costs for everyday Americans," said DOE Acting Assistant Secretary of the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office Curt Coccodrilli. "With the project investments announced today, we are decisively moving to champion our existing coal plants, ensuring they continue to deliver affordable, reliable power, keep the lights on, and fuel America's progress for generations to come."

Projects have been selected under three topic areas to provide a path forward to rapidly and cost-effectively restore the stability of the nation's bulk power system while also finding beneficial uses for wastes generated by coal-based energy production. The projects will be executed in three phases, with design and engineering completed in Phase I, final engineering and detailed design completed in Phase II, and technology implementation and validation completed in Phase III. Selectees to receive Phase I funding include:

• Baker Hughes Energy Transition LLC (Houston, Texas), Heartland Water Technology Inc. (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington, Kentucky), and University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyoming) will examine innovative systems to treat and manage wastewater from coal-fired power plants to reduce operational costs, increase water reuse, and enhance commercial byproduct recovery.
  
• Hallador Power Company LLC (Terre Haute, Indiana) will advance engineering, design, and implementation for a natural gas dual-firing retrofit, which will allow the power plant to switch between coal or natural gas based on cost or availability.
  
• East Kentucky Power Cooperative Inc. (Winchester, Kentucky), Hallador Power Company LLC (Terre Haute, Indiana), The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Champaign, Illinois), and Zolo Carbon Smartech Inc. (Louisville, Colorado) will develop and test transformational boiler systems that will enable plants to simultaneously co-fire natural gas and coal for improved operational flexibility.

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory, under the purview of HGEO, will manage the selected projects. View a detailed list of the selected projects here.

Visit our website to learn more about how DOE is working stabilize, optimize, and grow the coal industry value chain and restore coal as a cornerstone of the U.S. energy mix.

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