Jun 13 2007
Washington Group International announced today that it has been selected by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance to provide architectural, design, and engineering support services for the FutureGen initiative, a public-private partnership to develop and build a first-of-its-kind, coal-fueled, near-zero emissions electric power plant.
The prototype project, estimated in excess of $1 billion, will also be the world's first integrated carbon sequestration and hydrogen gas production research power plant. The approximate 275-megawatt Integrated (coal) Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant will use cutting-edge technologies to generate electricity while capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, deep underground. The project will convert a variety of coal types to hydrogen gas for power generation and other potential industrial uses.
The project includes development of a large-scale engineering laboratory and research platform for evaluating and testing new technologies for the conversion of coal to fuel gases, for the capture of carbon dioxide, and for the clean production of power.
As the engineering and construction management provider, Washington Group International will assist the Alliance in the evaluation and selection of technologies for coal gasification and for gas and power generation, as well as integrate the selected technologies and packages for the processes across the facility.
"The FutureGen initiative tackles some of the most pressing issues in the energy industry today -- the use of our abundant coal resources, the control of greenhouse gases, and the development of new, clean, and reliable energy sources," said Stephen M. Johnson, Washington Group International's senior executive vice president and executive sponsor for this project. "Washington Group International's expertise in energy and industrial processes spans the needs of this showcase program, and we have committed some of our best talent to help develop a project that is extremely important to the United States and to the industrialized world."
"The FutureGen project is complex, incorporates a significant amount of first-of-a-kind technology, and is both cost- and schedule-sensitive," said Jerry J. Oliver, the FutureGen Industrial Alliance's senior vice president for project development. "To be successful, we needed a strong team with a broad level of capability. I am very pleased with both the outstanding team provided and with the willingness of Washington Group International to work closely with the Alliance as we move quickly forward."
The initial technology selection, design, and engineering work is scheduled for completion in March 2008.
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance is a non-profit industrial consortium representing the coal and power industries that is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build the prototype facility.
Washington Group International provides the talent, innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction, and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with more than $3 billion in annual revenue, the company has approximately 25,000 people at work around the world providing solutions in power, environmental management, defense, oil and gas processing, mining, industrial facilities, transportation, and water resources.