The U.S. Energy Department issued a request for proposal for innovative designs to build coal-fired plants as part of its new “Coal FIRST” initiative which envisions future plants to be “Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small and Transformative.”

• As part of the solicitation, the department encourages teaming arrangements involving engineering companies, technology developers, equipment manufacturers, and end users, and provides an option for preliminary studies.
• The move stems from request for information issued in May to develop modular coal-based power plants built with advanced methods to meet the requirements of the evolving electric grid.
• The department expects the small-scale design to be cheaper, more efficient, low-emitting, and operationally flexible. Proposals will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2019.