AEP Moves Foreward on IGCC Plant

American Electric Power (AEP) signed an agreement with GE Energy and Bechtel Power on 9/29/05 to do the front end engineering design (FEED) on a 629 MW integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant.  AEP, the nation's largest electricity generator, would own and operate the plant, to be built at a site in Meigs County, Ohio.  The FEED process is expected to take 10 to 12 months. Procurement and construction would begin after certain milestones are achieved over the next year. Startup of the plant is targeted for 2010. This would be the first IGCC plant built in the US since Tampa Electric's Polk Power Station came online in 1996.

GE Energy and Bechtel Power had previously completed a scoping study for this project.

A recent post discussed the possibility of this project.

GE Energy press release, 9/29/05

Technocrati tags: IGCC, coal, energy, electric, power

Comments

[JesseJenkins]

Man, five years is some serious lead time for a plant like this! I hope that, as more IGCC plants are built and designs are hopefully standardized, that this lead time decreases to something like 2-3 years.

Jessie,

I am afraid the realities are that the maze of regulations, proceedures, permits, etc are such that 5 years is a short time for such projects. Before much of anything, except education of authorities, can proceed the currrent phase of engineering must be completed. Then the environmental issues relating to permiting could take 1-2 years alone. After the first few plants have been permitted this proceedure can be shortened in most states. Congress can waive some proceedures if is deemed in the national (or lobbyist's) interest. Lead time on capital items can easily be two years on the big items and construction can be a year. Some of the long lead items can be advance ordered under certain conditions. Unfortunately "standardized unts" are difficult to build because of local siting conditions, more from an environmental view that a plant process view. Maybe 3-4 years can be achieved at some time.

That is why we must move ahead on such projects now if they are going to be implemented in time to prevent any severe energy shortages.

Jim for The Energy Blog

[Engineer-Poet]

Prevent severe shortages?  It might be too late for that (though the production dip/plateau from Katrina may have been the wake-up call which kicks us into action a year or two before geology would otherwise hit us smack between the eyes).

We really needed action ten years ago.  We didn't get it.