Energy technology and services provider Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) has secured a contract from NorthStar Clean Energy to perform a Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) engineering study.

According to the terms of the agreement, B&W will conduct the study to convert a coal-fired power station in Michigan to run on biomass fuel and equip the facility with B&W's SolveBright carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture system.

The study is the initial stage of a large-scale effort that is being financed in part by the US Department of Energy.

The mechanical and construction aspects of the study and commercial phases will be managed by B&W Construction.

By using biomass as fuel at the 75MW TES Filer City Station power plant in Filer City, Michigan, NorthStar Clean Energy intends to completely reduce CO₂ emissions from the facility.

NorthStar Clean Energy, a division of CMS Energy, and Tondu jointly own the plant.

B&W senior vice-president of clean energy Joe Buckler said: “Capturing CO₂ from biomass combustion allows a plant to generate energy and be a net-negative emitter of greenhouse gases. For post-combustion carbon capture, B&W offers pre-treatment technologies to clean the flue gas prior to carbon capture and our SolveBright process that can be tailored to support the preferred solvent of our customers.”

NorthStar Clean Energy president Brian Hartmann said: “NorthStar Clean Energy brings our expertise and creativity to help our clients reach their decarbonisation and business goals quickly.

“The Filer City carbon capture project is a prime example of how we can use innovation to make that happen.”