TerraPraxis to Launch the First of its Applications to Help Coal Plants Decarbonize at COP27

TerraPraxis is making available for the first time on Nov. 7 its new EVALUATE application, which enables coal plant owners and investors around the world to evaluate hundreds of coal plants for fast, low-cost, and repeatable conversion to emissions-free power generation sources.

The non-profit seeks to accelerate solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, which includes the global fleet of 2,400 coal plants. 

Replacing existing coal boilers with a new generation of advanced fission, fusion, and geothermal heat sources would enable coal plants to stop burning coal—today the single largest source of global carbon emissions—and continue operation emissions-free for decades to come.

The application will be free and is designed to help every coal plant owner in the world, as well as potential investors, conduct an initial analysis of the business case, including estimated costs and schedule, for upgrading existing coal plants.

The target total cost for repowering is $2,000/kWe, with a target project duration of fewer than 5 years.

Repowering coal plants with emissions-free heat sources would save thousands of jobs by repurposing the facilities rather than shutting them down and would save millions of dollars of capital cost by reusing the existing infrastructure and transmission lines.

This has the power to radically accelerate a clean and equitable energy transition while providing secure, reliable, and clean energy to millions of people worldwide.

"Repurposing existing coal and gas plants with advanced nuclear technologies creates new opportunities to leverage existing infrastructure, transmission lines, industry knowledge, workforces, capital, and supply chains to support decarbonization of the global economy at speed and scale," said Eric Ingersoll, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, TerraPraxis.

"The world needs more energy, not less," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft. "To reach net zero, we must come together and develop new sustainable power sources, as well as transform what already exists. TerraPraxis' solution to transform coal-fired power plants into carbon-free energy sources is a great example of the innovation the world will need to create a sustainable future."

"Repurposing existing fossil infrastructure can also help ensure continuity for communities reliant on existing power plants for energy, jobs, tax revenue, and continued economic development. Leveraging the power of AI and cloud computing can further accelerate the cost-effective upgrading of coal and gas plant sites with new advanced heat sources," said Kirsty Gogan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, TerraPraxis.