An overview of an electric utility’s combustion products utilization program

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of applied combustion products research progress at We Energies, an electric, gas and steam utility headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA on the utilization of fly ash, bottom ash, gypsum and wood ash for use in agriculture and construction. Environmental sustainability benefits are highlighted and include conservation of energy and natural resources as well as reducing CO2 and other environmental impacts. Economic and social benefits include development of construction technologies for longer life structures with reduced costs, the opportunity for shorter construction schedules, and reduced impacts for facility users. In 1980, utilization of We Energies coal combustion products stood at five percent. Landfill design standards and costs increased substantially since that time, and landfill facilities have also become more difficult to site. Significant research was conducted to identify and evaluate uses for combustion products to the point where full utilization has been achieved. Beneficiation technologies were also developed and sometimes patented for transformation of materials that were not being utilized into sought-after materials for construction and manufacturing.