The technology is being developed to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from existing coal-fired boilers. The existing 1,100 power plants generate 320 GWs of electricity and represent the single largest US man-made source of carbon dioxide. The project will advance carbon capture technology based around regenerable solid sorbents and equipment. Most competing technologies use liquid solvents such as ammonia and amines to accomplish this task. Solid sorbents offer potential advantages over competing technologies including lower costs and less parasitic energy.
Dr. Michael Durham, President and CEO of ADA-ES, Inc., commented, "We are excited about this business area because of its high visibility and potential growth. Bills pending in Congress could increase funding for clean coal by up to a billion dollars per year."
Dr. Durham continued, "We are pleased that DOE and utilities have confidence in ADA which has established a reputation built around its proven capabilities for developing and commercializing innovative solutions for reducing emissions and meeting environmental standards. These organizations recognize that ADA is dedicated to clean coal as a means to keep coal as a low-cost, abundant, and secure fuel capable of supplying at least half of the nation's electric power needs."