Panda Energy

The Panda Sherman NGCC Carbon Capture FEED Study evaluated a large-scale post-combustion carbon capture retrofit at Panda Power’s 758 MW natural gas combined-cycle power plant in Sherman, Texas. The design captures approximately 85% of CO₂ from a flue gas slipstream equivalent to 420 MW of plant output, producing about 129 tonnes per hour of captured CO₂. The system uses a conventional absorber-stripper configuration MEA solvent and multi-stage centrifugal CO₂ compression, delivering pipeline-ready CO₂. The FEED estimated a total installed capital cost of approximately $477 million, including owner’s costs and interest during construction, with a construction duration of about 30 months from notice to proceed. The largest cost components were CO₂ absorption equipment, flue gas conditioning and ducting, solvent regeneration systems, and CO₂ compression and conditioning. Annual operating costs were estimated at roughly $20 million per year, driven primarily by energy use, staffing, maintenance, and solvent makeup. Based on 5,000 operating hours per year, the total cost of capture was estimated at approximately $114.50 per tonne of CO₂, including both capital recovery and operating expenses. The study also identified a net power output penalty of about 67 MW due to steam and electricity requirements for the capture system. The FEED concluded that large-scale post-combustion capture at a modern NGCC plant is technically feasible using commercially available equipment and solvents, while highlighting the importance of high utilization rates to improve economics. A pilot testing program was recommended to validate long-term solvent performance, emissions behavior, corrosion rates, and transient operating impacts before advancing to full commercial deployment.