Net Power has tapped San Antonio-based contractor Zachry Group to build its initial utility-scale clean power plant near Odessa, Texas, the energy company announced in an April 11 press release. Zachry Group was selected to provide front-end engineering design services, or FEED, eventually followed by engineering, procurement and construction services.
The FEED process includes “the development and optimization of the design and scope of the project,” said a spokesperson for Durham, North Carolina-based Net Power, who said the cost of the project is estimated between $750 million and $950 million.
The plant is expected to be operational in 2026.
Net Power claims that the plant will be the world’s first large-scale gas-fired power facility with near-zero emissions. The company also claims its standard modularized utility-scale design approach will drive down capital costs for subsequent plants and enable it to produce more plants each year, according to the release.
“We look forward to working with NET Power and contributing to a cleaner energy future,” said John B. Zachry, chairman and CEO of Zachry Group.
Net Power is building on its experience and testing at its La Porte, Texas, demonstration facility. While the facility uses a gas-powered energy generation process, the company’s method “inherently captures virtually all emissions,” said the spokesperson.
Industrial projects similar to Net Power’s new facility have taken over the energy conversation in Texas. While some companies have invested into the state’s clean energy projects, the state Senate recently passed a $10 billion plan that emphasizes gas plants.
