Learn about career opportunities with Southern Research »
BIRMINGHAM, Ala . (Feb. 16, 2005) – Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been awarded a three-year contract from the U.S. Dept. of Energy to develop technologies that will clean trace metals from synthetic gas (syngas) generated through the biomass gasification process.
“We will be developing high-temperature sorbent-injection technologies to ensure that trace metals are removed from syngas, thus preventing toxic emissions and also removing alkali metals from the syngas,” said Thomas Gale, Ph.D., senior engineer in the Environment and Energy Dept. at Southern Research Institute.
Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants are projected to be one of the key technologies of the future for producing clean, sustainable, and economic electricity, while reducing or eliminating greenhouse gases.
Biomass gasification focuses on using renewable energy sources and advanced energy systems to produce energy more efficiently, and to reduce or eliminate adverse effects on the environment. Gas turbines are essential to achieving high efficiencies in IGCC systems. However, even very small amounts of alkali metal penetrating barrier filers as a vapor will cause significant damage to gas-turbine blades.
“This project addresses both environmental and operational problems associated with biomass gasification,” said Tom Johnson, research engineer at Southern Company Services. “The bottom line is that this research will help to further develop the advanced technologies needed to ensure clean and sustainable energy production for the future.”
During this three-year project, Southern Research will partner with the Research and Environmental Affairs group of Southern Company who will contribute funds and technical expertise to the project. The Gas Technology Institute and The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will also participate in the study.
Most of the work will be performed at Southern Company’s Power Systems Development Facility (PSDF) in Wilsonville, Ala. using the transport gasifier. Major funding of the PSDF comes from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
ABOUT SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Southern Research is an independent, not-for-profit organization that conducts scientific research at facilities in Birmingham, AL, Frederick, MD, and Research Triangle Park, NC. Southern Research provides contract research in the fields of engineering, environmental and energy-related research, automotive research and testing, chemical and biological defense, and preclinical drug discovery and drug development. The Institute is affiliated with The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB.) For more information, see
www.southernresearch.org
.
ABOUT SOUTHERN COMPANY SERVICES
With more than 4 million customers and nearly 39,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading U.S. producer of electricity. Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, a growing competitive generation company, an energy services business and a competitive retail natural gas business, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are 15 percent below the national average. Southern Company has been named three consecutive years No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s “America’s Most Admired Companies” list in the Electric and Gas Utility industry. Southern Company has been ranked the nation’s top energy utility in the American Customer Satisfaction Index five years in a row. Southern Company has more than 500,000 shareholders, making its common stock one of the most widely held in the United States. Visit the Southern Company Web site at
www.southerncompany.com
.
Media Contacts:
Rhonda Jung, Southern Research Institute, 205-581-2317,
jung@southernresearch.org
Tiffany Gilstrap, Southern Company Services, 404-506-5333 or 1-866-506-5333,
twgilstr@southernco.com