Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy Advanced Turbine Program for Coal Based Power Systems With Carbon Capture

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy Turbine Program is implementing a new research program to develop turbines for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems that capturer CO2. On September 8, 2005 the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy announced a $130 million investment of government money in turbine related technology to promote the development of IGCC power systems that can capture CO2 and minimize the emissions of criteria pollutants. These funds will be matched at various levels by the industry partners. In part through this investment the FE Advanced Turbine Program is designed to attain three primary goals: 1) By 2010 develop advanced coal based power systems capable of 45–50% efficiency at < $1000 / kW, 2) By 2012, develop technologies for capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide that result in less than 10 percent increase in the cost of electricity and 3) By 2015 demonstrate coal based energy plants that offer zero emissions (including CO2) w/ multi product production. The program has an additional primary objective to provide turbine based technology for the FutureGen Project. To attain these goals the program is organized into four areas: H2 fueled turbines for IGCC and FutureGen applications, Oxy-fuel turbines for IGCC and FutureGen applications; MW-scale H2 fueled turbines and CO2 compression technology. The paper will report on the program goals, status of these new projects and early progress towards these goals and objectives.