Business Briefs: wind power, emission cuts, heavy metal remediation, and hydrogen

TXU Energy, based in the US, has announced that it has reached an agreement which will result in the construction of a 240MW wind farm in West Texas – and will be one of the US’s largest. The farm will be constructed by Cielo Wind Power, with TXU will purchasing the power.

Also in the US, Environmental Elements Corporation based in Baltimore has won a US$4.5 million contract for the design, supply and installation of a new electrostatic precipitator for Arkansas Kraft, a division of green Bay Packaging, a leading pulp and paper company. The technology will be used in the company’s existing recovery boiler and is intended to provide dramatic improvements to the outlet emissions and opacity, while allowing the plant to burn high solid liquor and improve the efficiency of the process.

Canadian heavy metal remediation company Keeco has announced that it has treated over 1.5 million gallons of process waters from electroplating companies and radiator repair shops in British Columbia and Alberta. As well as meeting legislation requirements, the company’s clients are also seeing significant cost reductions for disposal of their treated sludge products that have been classified as non-hazardous, says Keeco.

Energy company Shell’s subsidiary, Showa Shell, has announced that it is to build Tokyo’s first hydrogen refuelling station in partnership with Iwatani International Corporation and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Shell Hydrogen, Shell’s global hydrogen business, will be providing technological know-how for the refuelling station, due for completion in 2003.

Shell has also announced that Shell Renewables has acquired project development company Whitewater Hill wind park in the San Gorgonio Pass in the US, bringing Shell WindEnergy’s capacity in the US to 230MW.