ECO^® Performance & Reliability

Performance and reliability of the ECO (Electro-Catalytic Oxidation) technology has been demonstrated at the 50-MW ECO unit at FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant in Shadyside, Ohio. In addition, independent engineering assessments of the technology have been conducted by outside organizations. The following summarizes the key findings of these efforts.

50-MW ECO Unit at FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant

180-Day Performance and Reliability Test at 50-MW ECO Commercial Unit
The 50-MW ECO commercial unit has been operating since February 2004. In March 2005, Powerspan initiated a 180-day performance and reliability test, which was successfully completed in September 2005. The unit met commercial performance objectives and demonstrated the capability to control outlet emissions to best available control technology standards. Operations during the 180-day test were documented three ways:

1. Daily logs recorded the operating status of the plant;
2. An automated data aquisition system recorded plant operating parameters continuously (flows, temperatures, pressures, pH, densities, and CEM (continuous emissions monitoring) system results); and
3. A spreadsheet tracking the key performance factors was updated and issued daily.

Thirty-day rolling averages for SO2 and NOx emissions were calculated in accordance with U.S. EPA requirements.

The 50-MW unit performed steadily, achieved predictable results, and met all performance objectives over the continuous six-month period. At the end of the 180-day test, performance was essentially unchanged from the start of the run. Post operating run internal inspections support this conclusion. A summary of the unit's performance is as follows:

• Met all specified performance requirements for SO2, NOx, and particulate matter removal.
• Demonstrated 85 percent mercury removal (across the ECO system).
• Operated continuously for 180 days, with on-line availability greater than 98 percent even though not designed with redundancy.
• Maintained performance through load following, system transients, and plant upsets.
• Generated and sold over 20,000 tons of liquid ammonium sulfate fertilizer (200 railcars).

Independent Engineering Assessments
The ECO process has been evaluated by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and several independent engineering companies. In 2005, EPRI commissioned the engineering firm, Burns & McDonnell, to perform a process reliability analysis for full-scale applications of the ECO technology at coal-fired utility power plants. The analysis was based on the preliminary design of an ECO system for a 650-MW pulverized coal-fired unit. The study, completed in September 2005, indicated the ECO equipment is at least as reliable as conventional equipment, predicting better than 99 percent availability.