Improvements to Conventional Technology
We are looking to implement better conventional power plant technology. Improved pulverized coal plants have extremely low sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury emissions and are 5-10 percent more efficient in converting coal to electricity, which leads to lower emissions. We are also adding bag houses, scrubbers, and SCRs to many of our existing plants.
Future Low Carbon Coal-Based Generation Technologies
Southern Company is working to develop and demonstrate carbon dioxide capture and storage (or sequestration) from coal-based generation into
deep underground formations. We have joined the Department of Energy-sponsored Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, which
plans to test the injection of carbon dioxide into a deep saline reservoir and an unmineable coal seam. The Department of Energy and Southern Company are also funding tests using carbon dioxide to enhance the production from oil wells in the Southeast. Plus, with the Electric Power Research Institute and others, we are working to evaluate ways to capture carbon dioxide from conventional pulverized coal plants. Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration costs are projected to be much higher than the costs to control nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide emissions. One of our goals is to reduce these costs.
