Environmental Benefits
The Kemper County IGCC facility will use state-of-the-art electric power plant technology that - simply put - this turns coal into a cleaner burning gas.
- Technology - The Kemper County IGCC Project will use the most advanced gasification technology in the world. Rather than burning coal directly to make electricity, the IGCC process sends coal through a device called a gasifier. While subjected to high temperatures and high pressure in the gasifier, the coal undergoes a chemical reaction that creates a synthesis gas.
- Fewer emissions - The cleaner "syngas" is then used in a gas turbine to generate power with fewer emissions* than traditional coal plants - "clean coal technology."
- 90 percent mercury removal
- 99 percent sulfur dioxide removal
- 99 percent particulate removal
- Carbon capture - The IGCC technology allows initial CO2 capture of 65 percent. One of the first in the country to provide carbon capture, the facility will lead the way to a lower-carbon electricity production.
- Climate change - This coal gasification technology, along with carbon capture and sequestration technology can be part of the climate change solution.
- Water - The site will be a zero-discharge facility. Therefore, no processed water from this plant is discharged into rivers, creeks or streams. Mississippi Power will use the best, least cost, and most environmentally-friendly option for supplying water to the Kemper County IGCC facility. Mississippi Power has signed a contractual agreement with the City of Meridian for the majority of its treated effluent supply, adding a significant economic impact on the City of Meridian and Lauderdale County.
* As stated in the Notice of Intent, found in the Federal Registry on September 22, 2008.