Progressing the Texas Clean Energy project

Summit Power Group LLC is moving forward with the financing and construction of the Texas Clean Energy project (TCEP) – a large commercial power and chemicals project near Odessa, Texas. It is a leading carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) project for the US.

On 8 December 2015 in Beijing, Summit signed the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Corp. (HQC) and SNC-Lavalin Engineers & Constructors Inc. (SNC-Lavalin).

TCEP will capture more than 90% of its CO₂ emissions from coal while producing 400 MW of clean power and enough urea to reduce annual US imports by more than 10%. The captured CO₂ will be permanently sequestered geologically in West Texas oilfields.

The recently signed contract covers engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and performance testing of the chemical and carbon capture block for the project, which will be integrated with a Siemens combined cycle power block. Siemens is also expected to supply the coal gasification equipment for the chemical block.

“HQC is excited to work with Summit and SNC-Lavalin to pursue this project, which is a leading example of the clean, low carbon use of domestic coal for the production of chemicals and power,” said Wang Xinge, CEO of HQC. “In particular, we look forward to partnering with SNC-Lavalin in implementing such an important project.”

SNC-Lavalin and HQC have entered into a consortium agreement for the project.

SNC-Lavalin’s major responsibilities include engineering and procurement for the balance of plant activities outside the licensed technology areas as well as construction for the entire chemical block portion of the project.

“We see great potential for the principles of the Texas Clean Energy project to reduce carbon emissions in the US and around the world,” commented Neil Bruce, CEO of SNC-Lavalin. “SNC-Lavalin has been active in carbon capture for years and has implemented real-world deployment of these technologies, including retrofitting power facilities. Partnering with HQC and Summit provides a great opportunity for SNC-Lavalin.”

The signing comes 16 months after HQC and Summit launched an effort to improve the design of the TCEP with a goal of reducing project costs, which rose sharply in 2013 as a result of soaring Texas labour rates due to the oil and gas boom. With the completion of updated engineering work and the addition of SNC-Lavalin to the team, this contract brings that effort to a successful conclusion.

The TCEP’s financial closing is targeted for spring 2016.

“The US and China have a shared opportunity and responsibility to develop and deploy solutions that help the world transition to lower carbon energy,” stated Summit CEO, Jason Crew. “TCEP will demonstrate that through thoughtful design, proven technologies and best practices. Sino-US cooperation not only delivers low carbon power and chemicals but also supports economic growth and thousands of jobs in both countries. We are excited to work with HQC and SNC-Lavalin, and grateful to the US Department of Energy for its continued support. We look forward to achieving financing soon and commencing construction shortly thereafter.”

The US Department of Energy has awarded TCEP more than US$450 million as part of the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI). The project is also the recipient of US$811 million in investment tax credits (ITCs) under section 48A of the Internal Revenue Code, awarded to qualifying advanced coal projects that generate at least 400 MW of power and capture a minimum of 65% of their CO₂.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/09122015/progressing-the-texas-clean-energy-project-3260/