Case Study: FirstEnergy Corp. achieves major emissions reductions with Babcock & Wilcox environmental retrofits

FirstEnergy cuts emissions at W.H. Sammis with Babcock & Wilcox’s 2 SCR systems and 3 wet FGD absorbers

FirstEnergy Corp, a major electric utility, faced the challenge of significantly reducing emissions at its largest coal-fired plant, the W.H. Sammis facility, to meet environmental regulations. The project was complicated by an extremely congested site with limited space for new equipment. Babcock & Wilcox was selected to provide and install selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems and wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment.

Babcock & Wilcox engineered a solution that included demolishing old equipment to make space for new SCR systems and installing three shop-fabricated FGD absorbers that were barged to the site. Despite the complex logistics, the project was completed on schedule by the end of 2010. The commissioned systems met all performance guarantees, enabling FirstEnergy to achieve substantial reductions in nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions. The project was recognized as the 2010 Construction Project of the Year by Platts Global Energy.

FirstEnergy Corp