Site Near Gillette Chosen for Demonstration Project Involving UW, Partners

A pilot-scale demonstration project aimed at reducing emissions and the cost of electricity will proceed at Black Hills Energy’s Wyodak coal mine near Gillette. The University of Wyoming is part of the project team collaborating to advance flameless, pressurized oxy-fuel, or FPO technology. According to a news release from the UW, Thursday’s announcement of the site at Black Hills Energy’s Gillette complex will enable the project to proceed into Phase 3 — large-scale testing of FPO technology — pending approval of an application to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The project’s objective is to test FPO technology to improve coal-fired system performance, enhancing efficiency and reducing emissions and cost of electricity. The project team is led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and includes SER, General Electric, Sargent and Lundy, and the Electric Power Research Institute — and is now supported by Black Hills Energy. From support in Cheyenne, to research at UW, to collaboration near Gillette and beyond, this project is an example of a growing partnership on technology research and development in Wyoming for Wyoming.