CALGARY – Canada's New Government and the Province of
Alberta will partner with EPCOR Utilities Incorporated and the Canadian Clean
Power Coalition (CCPC) in a $33 million research and development project that
promises to make Canada a world leader in clean coal technology. The Honourable
Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, joined Alana Delong, Member of the
Legislative Assembly for Calgary Bow, and Dr. David Lewin, EPCOR's Senior
Vice-President, IGCC Development, for today's announcement.
"This is the very first project to be supported by our ecoENERGY Technology
Initiative, and it is a perfect example of the clean technology partnerships
that will keep our economy growing and protect our environment," said Minister
Lunn. "The clean-coal technology we are developing is going to help Canada and
countries around the globe in reducing greenhouse gases and pollution."
Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology and
Minister Responsible for the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI) said this
study could be a historic step in energy development. "When we decided to
support EPCOR through this study in 2006, Alberta recognized the importance of
producing power from our vast coal reserves with reduced environmental impact.
We're very pleased to see the federal government join us in this project, which
is designed to realize the benefits of clean coal technology."
This front-end engineering design project is an important step before
construction of a full-scale coal gasification power plant that will demonstrate
this advanced clean coal technology to Canadians and the world. The Government
of Canada is investing $11 million in the project through ecoENERGY Technology,
and both EPCOR and AERI will contribute equal amounts.
"The application of this technology, on this scale, with this type of coal,
has not been used anywhere else in the world," said Dr. Lewin, who is also Chair
of the CCPC. "By converting coal into synthesis gas, and capturing and
sequestering CO2, we can create electricity that's cleaner than the best natural
gas facility operating today."
In addition to further reducing emissions of air pollutants associated with
coal-fired electricity generation, the technology is designed to take advantage
of opportunities for carbon capture and storage, which will reduce greenhouse
gas emissions to almost zero.
The project will be located at EPCOR's Genesee Generating Station west of
Edmonton. The Genesee plant is already the most technologically advanced and
cleanest coal-fired generating station in Canada. Researchers will conduct
front-end engineering design work for a power plant that would turn
sub-bituminous coal into synthesis gas and hydrogen. This gasification process
could virtually eliminate smog-related air emissions.
The work is scheduled for completion in 2009, and if subsequent investment
and construction decisions go as planned, a 500-megawatt generating station
using the new technology could be in operation in Alberta as early as 2015.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn today announced a new partnership
with the Province of Alberta and EPCOR Utilities that could make Canada a world
leader in clean coal technology. The $33-million front-end engineering design
project is expected to lead to the construction of a full-scale coal
gasification power plant that will produce almost zero greenhouse gas
emissions.
Media may contact:
Louise GirouardDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the
MinisterNatural Resources CanadaOttawa613-996-2007
Kevin DonnanCommunicationsAlberta Advanced Education and
Technology780-427-0405
Mike LongManager External CommunicationsEPCOR Utilities
Inc.Edmonton780-288-4124http://www.epcor.com/
The general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDTTelephone: 613-995-0947TTY:
613-996-4397(teletype for the hearing-impaired) E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
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