EES Featured in POWER Magazine: Fuel Chemistry and Coal’s Revival
EES’ perspective on improving existing coal-fired generation is featured in POWER magazine’s “Coal’s Revival: From Maintenance Mode to Market Necessity.” Published November 3, 2025, the article was written by P. Robert Santangeli, PE, EES’ Vice President of Engineering and Operations.
The first installment in the series examines how electricity demand from artificial intelligence, data centers, and industrial reshoring is renewing attention on coal plant availability. For operators facing extended service requirements, the article explores targeted fuel chemistry as an approach to recovering performance from existing assets.
Examples include a 750-MW boiler that increased output by 3% after CoalTreat® addressed reheat-section slagging. A separate case study describes a 500-MW-class unit that avoided more than 9,000 MWh of slagging-related derates during its initial treatment period. These examples highlight the potential value of addressing ash-related operating constraints as part of a plant’s reliability strategy.
Supporting Boiler Performance and Fuel Flexibility
CoalTreat is EES’ customized fuel treatment technology for mitigating furnace slagging and heat transfer surface fouling in coal-fired utility and industrial boilers. Applied before combustion, the treatment program is matched to each facility’s fuels and specific operating objectives.
EES’ approach supports plants seeking to improve heat transfer, strengthen sootblower effectiveness, and reduce slag-related limitations on generating output. Fuel flexibility is another important objective, particularly when operators are considering alternative coal sources or blends.
For facilities with changing treatment needs, EES offers CoalTreat On Demand, a modular delivery system designed to support treatment during periods of elevated slagging risk. This provides an additional option for incorporating fuel treatment into plant operations.
Read the full article in POWER magazine for the operating examples and broader industry discussion.
Learn more about CoalTreat and EES’ approach to boiler performance optimization.