NET Power building world’s first emissions-free natural gas power plant in Texas

NET Power uses a novel process – an oxy-fuel, supercritical CO₂ power cycle – to produce electricity efficiently with no air emissions

La Porte, Texas will be the site of a new, innovative power plant that uses natural gas and oxygen to produce low-cost electricity with zero emissions, according to proponent NET Power, LLC.

Net power conceptual image.

NET Power says its Allam Cycle technology uses oxy-fuel and a “supercritical CO₂ power cycle” to produce electricity efficiently while eliminating all air emissions.  The system burns natural gas with oxygen, as opposed to air, and uses high-pressure carbon dioxide, as opposed to inefficient steam like most power plants, to drive a turbine.

NET Power produces only electricity, liquid water and pipeline-ready CO₂, while operating as efficiently as the best natural gas power plants available today. The CO₂ can be sequestered or used in industrial processes, including enhanced oil recovery.

For a small reduction in efficiency, the technology can operate without water, actually becoming a net water producer.

“NET Power is the first technology that allows policy and economics to work together, instead of against each other, to ensure the world meets our climate targets,” said NET Power CEO Bill Brown.

From Left to Right: Lee Elder, Board Member, NET Power; Takashi Sasaki, Chief Fellow, Power Systems Company, Toshiba Corporation; Corey Hessen, Vice President, Exelon Generation Development; Ron DeGregorio, President, Exelon Power; Bill Brown, CEO, NET Power; Charlie Bowser, President, NET Power; Dan McCarthy, Executive Vice President and Group President – Technology, CB&I; Sean Sexstone, Vice President, CB&I; Peter Lange, Professor and Provost Emeritus, Duke University; Mike Adams, Principal, 8 Rivers.

NET Power’s 50MW pilot plant will be a fully operational unit that will generate power to the grid while demonstrating all key aspects of the Allam Cycle.

The company says commissioning is expected to begin in late 2016 and be completed in 2017.  The plant will also provide the validation to begin constructing the first 295MWe, commercial-scale NET Power plants.

Executives from each of the companies gathered on the site Monday to mark the start of construction of the demonstration plant.

NET Power is a collaboration between Exelon Generation, CB&I, and 8 Rivers Capital.

“Today marks a significant step for our world-class team, including Exelon, CB&I, 8 Rivers and Toshiba, towards delivering a technology that will be the cornerstone of a modern global energy infrastructure that is clean, affordable and flexible,” said Brown.

The $140 million program – which not only includes demonstration plant design and construction, but also ongoing technology advancement, a full testing and operations program, and commercial product development – is funded by a combination of cash and in-kind contributions from Exelon and CB&I. Toshiba has developed and is now manufacturing a new supercritical CO₂ turbine and combustor for the project.