Management of Southern California Edison`s NOx reduction program in a changing regulatory environment

The Southern California Edison Company (Edison) is a privately owned electric utility serving customers in a twelve county area of Southern California. Beginning in 1989, Edison initiated a major effort, within the Los Angeles air quality basin, to significantly reduce generating station emissions of the oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Since this program began, there have been numerous changes to the local, state and regional air quality regulations under which Edison operates. As a result, the program has evolved and expanded to include most of the fossil fuel generating units within the Edison service territory. Edison has attempted to meet these regulatory changes in the most cost effective manner. Using a variety of NOx control mechanisms, implemented throughout the period, Edison has taken a flexible approach to incorporating the latest technological developments. At the same time, lessons learned during each phase have been factored into succeeding phases of the program. Now that most of the NOx control devices have been installed and several years of operating experience have been gained, Edison would like to share that experience so that others might gain additional knowledge which may help in their NOx control programs. The major areas which will be addressed include (1)more » new developments, (2) contracting strategy, (3) project management and (4) an overview of operating experiences and results with Urea Injection (SNCR), Low NOx Burners (LNB), Flue Gas Recirculation and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems.« less