ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
Company subsidiary Mississippi Power today announced it had
achieved another major milestone with the first electricity
generated by clean syngas produced from Mississippi lignite at the company's
Kemper County energy facility.
This achievement was accomplished using a combination of clean
syngas and natural gas.
"After decades of research and years of hard work at the site,
we are thrilled that the Kemper
County energy facility, the world's most advanced coal
plant, has generated electricity using syngas," said Southern
Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas
A. Fanning. "The technology at the heart of the
first-of-its-kind facility provides a way forward for energy
companies in the U.S. and around the world to cleanly generate
electricity using an affordable and abundant resource."
The generation of electricity with syngas requires the
integrated operation of the plant's gas cleanup system and
associated gasifier, which has been operating since the middle of
September. The clean syngas is then sent to one of the plant's
combustion turbine electric generators, which have been operating
on natural gas since 2014. As part of the plant start-up process,
electricity generation will continue to involve testing on syngas,
natural gas or a combination of both as progress continues toward
commercial operation.
"Today's accomplishment is a testament to the hard work of the
Kemper team, and I am so proud of
the results they continue to deliver," said Mississippi Power
Chairman, President and CEO Anthony L.
Wilson. "The generation of electricity using syngas is just
the latest example of our company's commitment to deliver on our
promise that Kemper will provide
Mississippi Power customers with safe, reliable energy for decades
to come. Achieving this latest milestone means that we are
implementing innovative 21st-century technology right here in
Mississippi."
The next major milestones are expected to include the production
of electricity by the project's second gasifier, operating both
combustion turbines using all syngas, followed by complete
integration of the project's systems leading to full commercial
operation. Mississippi Power currently expects the remainder
of the project to be placed in service by Nov. 30, 2016.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion
cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput
volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through
its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric utilities in four states,
natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive
generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a
nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as
well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas,
renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and
services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has
been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer,
recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by
DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40
Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for
Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National
Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic
Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear
development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in
Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas
Utility rankings. Visit our website at
www.southerncompany.com.
About Mississippi Power
Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO),
produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for
more than 186,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power earned
the 2015 ReliabilityOneTM Award for outstanding midsize
utility for excellence in storm restoration and recovery efforts as
well as being a leader in reliability, customer service and safety.
Visit our websites at mississippipower.com and
mississippipowernews.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on
Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this press release is
forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans
that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information
includes, among other things, statements concerning the expected
future milestones related to, and projected schedule for
completion of, the start-up of the integrated coal
gasification combined cycle project in Kemper County, Mississippi (the Kemper IGCC)
as well as the expected future performance of the facility.
Southern Company and Mississippi Power caution that there are
certain factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking information that has been
provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this
forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future
performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company
and Mississippi Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that
such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in
addition to those discussed in Southern Company's and Mississippi
Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2015, and subsequent
securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially
from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking
information: changes in tax and other laws and regulations to which
Mississippi Power is subject as well as changes in application of
existing laws and regulations; the ability to control costs and
avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of
facilities, which include the development and construction of
generating facilities with designs that have not been finalized or
previously constructed, including changes in labor costs and
productivity, adverse weather conditions, shortages and
inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor
or supplier delay, non-performance under operating or other
agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator
training and required site safety programs, unforeseen engineering
or design problems, start-up activities (including major equipment
failure and system integration), and/or operational performance
(including additional costs to satisfy any operational parameters
ultimately adopted by the Mississippi Public Service Commission
("PSC")); the ability to construct facilities in accordance with
the requirements of permits and licenses, to satisfy any
environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax
credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the
Southern Company system upon completion of construction; advances
in technology; actions related to cost recovery for the Kemper
IGCC, including the ultimate impact of the 2015 decision of the
Mississippi Supreme Court, the Mississippi PSC's December 2015 rate order, and related legal or
regulatory proceedings, Mississippi PSC review of the prudence of
Kemper IGCC costs and approval of further permanent rate recovery
plans, actions relating to proposed securitization, satisfaction of
requirements to utilize grants, and the ultimate impact of the
termination of the proposed sale of an interest in the Kemper IGCC
to South Mississippi Electric Power Association; and the ability of
counterparties of Mississippi Power to make payments as and when
due and to perform as required. Southern Company and Mississippi
Power expressly disclaim any obligation to update any
forward-looking information.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080801/SOCOLOGO
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141211/163911LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-company-subsidiary-announces-first-tests-of-clean-syngas-to-produce-electricity-at-kemper-county-energy-facility-300343792.html
SOURCE Southern Company; Mississippi Power