Edwardsport Power Station
| Company type | Power station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | June 2008 |
| Headquarters | Edwardsport, Indiana , United States |
Area served | Indiana, United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Duke Energy |
Edwardsport Power Station is a coal-fueled Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) facility with a capacity of 618 MW, located in Vigo Township near Edwardsport, Indiana. Developed by Duke Energy beginning in June 2008, it succeeded an older coal plant with a 160 MW output that was retired in 2010.
Commercial operations for the Edwardsport IGCC commenced in June 2013, marking a substantial investment of approximately US$3.4 billion dedicated to advanced clean coal technology.
Older units
The initial power station started generating electricity in 1918. Additional generating units—Units 2, 3, and 4—were installed between 1944 and 1951, with capacities of 42.5 MW, 42.5 MW, and 75 MW respectively. These smaller units were phased out as the new IGCC plant became operational. The original facility was fully shut down by late 2011 and dismantled by October 2012.
IGCC units
In 2007, Duke Energy Indiana initiated construction of a pioneering 618 MW IGCC power plant—the first of its scale. The gasification technology transforms coal into synthetic gas (syngas) through reactions involving pure oxygen and steam. Syngas combustion is cleaner compared to direct coal burning and serves as fuel for combustion turbines. After combustion, exhaust gases enter a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) connected to a steam turbine to enhance overall efficiency. The facility is engineered for continuous base-load operation.
Although space was allocated for potential carbon capture and storage (CCS), geological assessments determined the site unsuitable for underground carbon sequestration. Consequently, Duke Energy would require regulatory permission to develop pipelines transporting captured carbon dioxide to viable storage locations.
The Edwardsport plant achieves significant emissions reductions per unit of electricity by removing particulate matter and mercury from syngas before combustion. The gasification process facilitates pre-combustion carbon capture, which is more cost-effective and efficient than post-combustion methods.
Technology
The station incorporates two General Electric radiant quench gasifier trains, each feeding a GE 7FB combustion turbine rated at 236 MW. Exhaust from each turbine passes through Doosan-manufactured two-pressure HRSGs. Both HRSGs supply steam to a single GE G13 four-flow reheat steam turbine with a capacity of 326 MW, creating a combined cycle configuration of two gas turbines to one steam turbine (2 x 1). Although the gross output reaches approximately 800 MW, syngas production consumes a notable portion of energy, resulting in a net capacity of 618 MW. Cooling needs are met by a mechanical draft cooling tower consisting of 20 cells designed for water-efficient operation.
Cost overruns and controversy
The construction phase of Edwardsport encountered considerable controversy and legal disputes involving Duke Energy Indiana and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). These challenges led to the resignation of Duke Energy’s second-highest ranking executive and the removal of IURC Chairman David Lott Hardy, who faced official misconduct charges related to Duke Energy matters; these charges were later dropped in August 2013. The project has drawn criticism due to budget overruns and performance shortfalls, which have affected customer electricity rates and attracted regulatory attention.
Production
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 54,406 | 119,268 | 272,509 | 138,340 | 195,973 | 124,650 | 147,071 | 1,052,217 | |||||
| 2014 | 81,316 | 21,697 | 148,195 | 164,869 | 302,967 | 256,362 | 308,374 | 283,701 | 66,419 | 122,085 | 315,521 | 107,302 | 2,178,808 |
| 2015 | 305,460 | 287,843 | 350,543 | 85,979 | 116,476 | 307,236 | 368,309 | 278,768 | 361,116 | 242,372 | 61,803 | 341,566 | 3,107,471 |
| 2016 | 342,873 | 376,695 | 351,127 | 230,299 | 152,651 | 361,110 | 347,328 | 385,398 | 276,943 | -6,819 | 19,815 | 255,127 | 3,092,547 |
| 2017 | 310,090 | 365,765 | 402,040 | 297,422 | 247,705 | 372,725 | 359,305 | 366,476 | 268,135 | 228,520 | 393,360 | 357,749 | 3,969,292 |
| 2018 | 363,080 | 340,008 | 395,881 | 197,941 | 266,860 | 323,412 | 399,371 | 397,584 | 269,421 | 272,865 | 330,772 | 404,823 | 3,962,018 |
| Aggregate (2013–2018) | 17,362,353 | ||||||||||||