Fluor has been selected to begin limited engineering for Tenaska’s Trailblazer Energy Center, a supercritical coal-fired plant development equipped with carbon capture technology in Sweetwater, Texas. The proposed facility is expected to be the first conventional commercial coal-fuelled power plant in the US to produce electricity while being designed to capture 85% to 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions and providing for its use in enhanced oil recovery and geologic storage. The plant’s advanced air quality control system will also minimise release of other emissions.  

Fluor and Tenaska have signed a memorandum of understanding that will be the basis of a joint Tenaska-Fluor limited engineering phase of work. If Tenaska goes forward with the construction of Trailblazer, Fluor expects to proceed with implementing design requirements, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and start-up of the 600 MW plant.  

The limited engineering phase will last approximately 12 months and will produce the preliminary design and the cost to build the plant. Although Tenaska’s final decision on Trailblazer construction will likely be made in 2010, the plant is already in an advanced stage of development. Tenaska has acquired all necessary property and signed tax abatement agreements with local authorities. Trailblazer has received a draft air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and has received a screening study from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

When constructed, Trailblazer would produce approximately 600 MW, which could supply power to as many as 600,000 homes. Fluor’s experience in this power sector covers all aspects of pulverised coal including supercritical facilities like Trailblazer.

Dave Dunning, President of Fluor’s Power Group: “We believe Trailblazer will set a new standard for clean coal electricity generation globally by using advanced carbon capture technology, and we are delighted to be part of this innovation in clean energy production.”

“Fluor is one of a select group of engineering and construction firms capable of designing, engineering and constructing a plant the scale of the proposed Trailblazer plant,” said Michael Lebens, Tenaska’s Engineering and Operations President and CEO. “Fluor is known and respected for its expertise and experience in building power plants across the globe and has experience with coal-fuelled facilities and advanced carbon capture technology.”