The DOE selected Consol’s project as well as seven others to further investigate. The Pittsburgh-based company’s technology will focus specifically on the country’s small coal-burning energy facilities.

The project, developed to lessen strain on the country’s electricity needs, was established by the DOE and Congress to bring forward methods that would “improve the efficiency, reliability and environmental performance of the nation’s coal-fired power plants”, the federal agency said.

Consol’s project entails the installation of various technologies at New York’s AES Greenidge Unit 4, including the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) through a hybrid method and sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury and acid gas emission reduction via an advanced flue gas scrubber. The site was selected as the host site due to its representative qualities to other small energy producers, which in total make up about one-quarter of the country’s generation capacity.

The producer is working in conjunction with AES Greenidge and Babcock Power on the $US33 million endeavour, and will provide the balance of the project’s cost (the DOE has earmarked $14.5 million).

The company expects to show the advantages of the systems in the improvement in and reduction of mercury, fine particles and acid gasses as well as a higher cost-efficiency for NOx and SO2 compared to what it calls “conventional” techniques.

“This award represents yet another step forward in advancing clean coal technologies for the future,” DOE assistant secretary for fossil energy Jeffrey Jarrett said.

“With more than half of America’s electricity coming from coal, this resource is vital to our nation’s energy security.

“The success of this project will translate into improved environmental performance and reduced energy costs for nearly 500 small coal-fired plants throughout the United States,” he added.