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Demonstration of a Coal-Based 

Transport Gasifier

Background

Coal is an abundant and indigenous energy resource and supplies almost 50 percent 

of the United States’ electric power. Demand for electricity, vital to the nation’s 

economy and global competitiveness, is projected to increase by more than 30 

percent by 2030. The continued use of coal is essential for providing an energy 

supply that supports sustainable economic growth. Unfortunately, nearly half 

of the nation’s electric power generating infrastructure is more than 30 years old 

and is in need of substantial refurbishment or replacement. Additional capacity 

must also be put in service to keep pace with the nation’s ever-growing demand 

for electricity. It is in the public interest for the nation’s energy infrastructure to 

be upgraded with the latest and most advanced viable technologies to achieve 

greater efficiencies, environmental performance, and cost-competitiveness. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, through the National 

Energy Technology Laboratory, is charged with the implementation of the DOE’s 

Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI). The intent behind the CCPI is to leverage public 

and private investment to secure low-cost energy production and protection of 

the environment. The specific missions of the CCPI are as follows: (i) to develop 

promising, advanced clean coal power generation technologies; (ii) to accelerate 

PROJECT FACTS

Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI 2)

CONTACTS

Ralph Carabetta

Director

Office of Major Demonstrations

National Energy Technology Laboratory

626 Cochrans Mill Road

P.O. Box 10940

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940

Phone: 412-386-5729

ralph.carabetta@netl.doe.gov

Diane Revay Madden

Project Manager

National Energy Technology Laboratory

626 Cochrans Mill Road

P.O. Box 10940

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940

412-386-5931

diane.madden@netl.doe.gov

PARTICIPANT

Southern Company Services Inc.

Birmingham, AL 

PARTNERS

Mississippi Power Company

Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR)

PROJECT DURATION

Start Date

1/30/2006

End Date

5/1/2018

COST

Total Project Value

$2.67 Billion*

DOE/Non-DOE Share

$270 Million / $2.4 Billion

*Note: The cost above represents the total project 

cost including costs not covered by CCPI.

Plant Ratcliffe TRIGTM Facility
these new coal power generation systems into the market 

by conducting full-scale technology demonstrations; and 

(iii) to generate substantial economic and environmental 

benefits to ensure a secure energy future as these 

technologies are commercialized by the industry.

Project Description

DOE awarded Southern Company Services a cooperative 

agreement under the CCPI Round 2 Program to provide direct 

financial support for the development and deployment of 

the Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIGTM) technology 

that is being utilized by the Project. The Project will be the 

first commercial scale integrated gasification combined cycle 

(IGCC) plant in the United States to use TRIGTM air blown 

technology in the gasification process. Plant Ratcliffe will 

be built in Kemper County, Mississippi, adjacent to viable 

lignite reserves. The lignite reserves will be developed 

and mined by North American Coal Corporation and will 

be used as the primary feedstock for the IGCC plant. The 

IGCC plant will utilize state-of-the-art emissions controls, 

including carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, and will be 

owned and operated by Mississippi Power Company.

The Project will utilize two transport gasifier trains, each 

with its own coal feed and ash handling systems. Coal is first 

heated in a specialized process vessel with air and steam to 

extract synthesis gas (syngas) from the coal. The gas is then 

cleaned and used to fire a gas turbine to generate electricity. 

The hot exhaust gas leaving the turbine is then used to 

heat water to produce steam which is then sent to a steam 

turbine to generate additional electricity. Using the two 

different power generation cycles is a very efficient way of 

increasing the amount of electricity that can be generated 

from a ton of coal in an environmentally friendly manner. 

Goals/Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to demonstrate 

the operation of a commercial-scale, air-blown Transport 

Gasifier technology and integrate it with a combinedcycle island. Other objectives of the project include:

NT0042391, May 2011

• To operate an advanced syngas cleanup system that 

includes sulfur removal and recovery; high temperature, 

high-pressure (HTHP) particulate filtration; ammonia 

recovery; and mercury removal.

• To demonstrate high availability, high thermal efficiency, 

low cost, and low emissions of the IGCC in commercial 

operating mode.

• To operate an integrated CO2 capture and compression 

system with the intent to capture and geologically 

sequester 65% of the CO2 via enhanced oil recovery. 

Benefits

The TRIGTM technology offers a simpler and more robust 

method for generating power from coal than other 

alternatives. It is unique among coal gasification technologies 

in that it is cost-effective when handling low rank coals and 

when using coals with high moisture or high ash content. 

These coals make up half the proven reserves in both the U.S. 

and the world. Moreover, the transport gasifier is capable of 

both air- and oxygen-blown operation. This inherent flexibility 

will allow future applications of this technology to be readily 

adapted to other applications beyond power generation, such 

as the production of chemicals used in industrial operations

Moreover, the inclusion of CO2 control as part of the project 

is critical to the future deployment of coal-based power 

generation not only in the United States but also around the 

world. Installation of facilities of this nature is an important 

part of the strategy to become energy independent.