ECO^® (Electro-Catalytic Oxidation) Background

With over 50% of U.S. electricity generation derived from coal and over 40% of electricity worldwide, coal is an abundant and inexpensive fuel source for electric power. While economically beneficial, the use of coal is of concern due to the formation and release of various pollutants during combustion. To address these issues, several pollution control technologies have been developed and applied to coal-fired power plants.

These technologies, while effective at removing specific pollutants, are expensive to install and operate. Additionally separate systems are often required to address each regulated air pollutant. To achieve major reductions in SO2, NOx, fine particles and mercury using current technology, a power plant would need to retrofit wet scrubbers for SO2 reduction, catalytic devices for NOx removal, fabric filters for fine particle reduction, and activated carbon adsorption for mercury removal.

Recognizing the challenge of providing clean, competitive power from the existing coal-fired generating base, Powerspan developed and patented Electro-Catalytic Oxidation (ECO^®) technology. The ECO process:  

1. Provides the functionality of multiple control technologies in a single integrated system, and
2. Can be installed at costs below alternative technologies.

In 2004 Powerspan commissioned a 50-MW ECO^® (Electro-Catalytic Oxidation) unit at FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant in Shadyside, Ohio, and in 2005, successfully completed a 180-day performance and reliability test. Also in 2005, FirstEnergy announced plans to pilot test ECO's CO2 capture technology ("ECO2") at the Burger Plant. In 2007, FirstEnergy announced plans to install ECO at the Burger Plant Units 4 & 5 (312-MW). Design engineering for the unit 4 & 5 ECO system will begin in 2007 with an anticipated start-up during the first quarter of 2011.