The project, under the auspices of the DoE's Technology Demonstration program, involved the conversion of the JEA's Northside Generating Station at a shared cost of $US320 million.
It was the largest demonstration to date of circulating fluidised bed combustion by three-fold, with the installation of a 300MW combustor, and its completion confirmed its environmental efficiency and its readiness for commercial use.
The system replaced a more expensive, less reliable component that was fired by natural gas and oil.
Throughout the technology's production the innovation earned accolades, including Power magazine's "2002 Power Plant Award" and a Florida Engineering Society award, "Technical Achievement Award 2002".
The success of the project makes plain the potential for energy generators to use the technology with diverse fuels, including mid- to high-sulphur coal, while still operating within environmental mandates.
JEA said the plant would remain running as a commercial, baseload facility, and utilised during periods of low customer demand due to its environmental and economic efficiency.
