UKERC EDC: Publications

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Abstract:

This document is the final report for the project titled 'Coal-Fired Advanced Supercritical Retrofit with CO₂ Capture '.

The overall aim of the project (DTI Project 407) is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of retrofitting UK coal-fired power plants with advanced supercritical boiler/turbine technology (ASC BT) and carbon dioxide capture. Specific objectives were:

To establish optimum ASC BT retrofit solutions for the reference power plant site selected for study (Ratcliffe) judged to be typical of the majority of the UK coal fleet (500 MWe and larger).

To determine the relative benefits of alternative approaches to the possible staging of retrofits for the short-term (capture-ready ASC BT retrofit) or the long-term (ASC BT retrofit with CO2 capture).

To review the applicability of the optimum retrofit solutions for a range of UK coal fired power plant sites (including Drax and West Burton) and to provide an indication on the variances arising due to site conditions.

Retrofit of carbon abated clean coal technologies (CATs) is a practical solution with no technical or physical show stoppers being identified in the course of the study. Advanced supercritical boiler/turbine (ASC BTR) technology is available now with the appropriate guarantees for retrofitting to coal-fried power plant to improve efficiency, reduce costs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

When CO2 capture and storage becomes economic or mandatory the retrofit routes studies are likely to be amongst the best and most economic options for existing pulverised fuel power generation plant. The project consortium members (Doosan Babcock, Alstom, E.ON UK, Air Products, Imperial College London and Fluor Ltd) are well positioned to exploit the opportunities worldwide.

This report contains an executive summary, and is divided into the following sections: