Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), and Denham Capital are looking to repurpose existing coal-fired power plant infrastructure to meet the energy demands of the technology sector.
Coal-fired power plant reconversion plans
The collaboration will focus on conversion of coal-fired plants to natural gas-fired generation facilities. This solution, which acts as a “crucial bridge” in the energy transition, offers a fast and economically viable response, something that renewables alone cannot yet match in terms of speed of implementation.
The rise of AI and Big Data has created a demand for power not seen in nearly two decades. Data center developers and hyperscalers need immediate, reliable and affordable power solutions. This is where the combined expertise of B&W and Denham comes into play.
“Power response time is a key factor for data center developers,” explained Justin DeAngelis, Global Head of Sustainable Infrastructure at Denham Capital. “This collaboration is a differentiating tool that will allow us to quickly meet the needs of the market.” DeAngelis added that Denham will not only invest substantially in these projects, but will also soon launch a portfolio company dedicated entirely to these solutions.
For its part, B&W brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the table. With nearly 160 years of experience, the company is an expert in converting coal-fired power plants to natural gas. Kenneth Young, president and CEO of B&W, highlighted his company’s unique ability to plan and execute complex projects, combining proven technologies with innovations to meet market demand.
“This alliance brings together two teams with extensive experience to quickly and effectively identify opportunities to leverage underutilized coal-fired power plants and provide affordable, reliable power to large-scale data centers,” Young said.
Source and photo: B&W
