American Electric Power Energy Solutions

Energy Supply Solutions

• In August of 2004, AEP announced that it is committed to accelerating IGCC deployment by building one, or more, commercial-scale, base-load IGCC plants (up to 1,000 megawatts) as soon as 2010. IGCC technology converts coal into a gas and passes it through pollutant-removal equipment before the gas is burned. The process is more efficient and results in fewer emissions of NOx, SO2 and mercury, in addition to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon capture and sequestration is also expected to be easier and more cost-effective from an IGCC plant than from a pulverized coal plant because the IGCC process creates a high-pressured CO2 waste stream.
  
  
• American Electric Power's second major wind farm, the 160-MW Desert Sky project, was dedicated in May 2002.  This project brings the company's total wind generation to over 300 MW, making it one of the largest wind generators in the United States.
  
  
• Almost 125 schools participate in AEP’s Learning from Light! and Watts on Schools programs, in which AEP partners with learning institutions to install solar photovoltaic systems and to track energy use.
  
  

• AEP’s Learning from Wind! program provides education on wind power and is used for renewable energy research. Online data from five 10 kW wind turbines allows consumers to monitor real time and historical data on both the local wind conditions and the operation of the turbines, to evaluate whether a small wind turbine might be able to meet their energy needs.

• AEP has constructed a 900 MW state-of-the-art natural gas cogeneration facility for Dow Chemical Company to provide energy and steam to its Plaquemine, LA site.

• AEP has been co-firing biomass at 4,000 MW of coal-based power generation in the United Kingdom (Fiddler’s Ferry and Ferry Bridge) since 2002.

• AEP has begun testing biomass co-firing at some smaller power plants in its U.S. service territory to evaluate potential reductions in CO₂ and GHG emission levels.

Energy Demand Solutions

• AEP is implementing energy efficiency plans to offset 10 percent of the annual energy demand growth in its Texas service territory.
  
  
• In 2003 alone, AEP invested over $8 million to reduce more than 47 million kWh by installing energy efficiency measures in customers’ homes and businesses. AEP plans to increase its level of investment in energy efficiency over the next three years. Total investment over that time period will exceed $43 million, achieving over 247 million kWh of energy efficiency gains.

To view the energy solutions of all BELC members, visit What's Being Done in the Business Community section of this site.