160 MW IPP Project – Venezuela
For a U.S. project developer, PERI conducted a feasibility study to assess the technical, economic, and financing viability of a two-phase 160 MW natural gas-fired electricity generation plant. PERI developed capital and operating costs including, insurance and maintenance, for plants utilizing frame and aero-derivative machines and evaluated the project structure, legal and regulatory issues, projected demand, and projected tariff. PERI also evaluated available financing options and developed a strategy for the project debt and equity financing. In addition, PERI developed the plot, site plan, and equipment arrangement drawings; single line electric diagrams; plant functional specifications; and capital and annual operating costs and prepared and analyzed project financial statements. Furthermore, PERI evaluated the suitability of the proposed project site from the point of view of accessibility, availability of fuel and water resources, availability and capacity of transmission lines for power evacuation, and potential for future expansion and operations in combined cycle mode. This study was cost shared by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the power project developer.

Georgia Pacific's Big Island Mill Steam Reformer Project
PERI provided project management and procurement services to StoneChem, Inc., a supplier of proprietary chemical and energy recovery technologies, for its Georgia-Pacific Big Island Project. StoneChem provided the recovery technology and know-how for steam reforming 400,000 pounds per day of black liquor solids produced at Georgia Pacific's mill in Big Island, Virginia. PERI's project management services included scheduling and cost monitoring and control, quality control, and reporting as well as coordination of activities and client interactions. Procurement services included identifying, qualifying and short listing vendors, preparing bid documents, evaluating vendors’ proposals and selecting a vendor for fabrication and delivery of uniquely designed pulsed heaters, which are considered to be the heart of the steam reforming process.

Coal-to-Liquids Technology Assessment
For the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan commission, PERI conducted a study addressing technical, economic, and market issues facing electric power sector decision makers interested in increasing reliance on the nation's most abundant energy resource - coal - in a manner that significantly improves the sector's environmental profile and enhances the nation's energy security objectives. This study examined a potential configuration for coal gasification leading to production of electricity (via integrated gasification combined cycle or IGCC) as a primary product, and liquid transportation fuels secondarily, and provided an assessment of the IGCC and coal gas to liquid (CGTL) technologies along with a comprehensive analysis of the economics under various financial structures.
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Sappi's Stanger Mill Black Liquor Recovery Project – South Africa
For Sappi's Stanger Mill in South Africa, PERI prepared a proposal that was submitted to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for a technical, economic and financing feasibility study grant for replacing an existing Copeland fluidized bed reactor with TRI's black liquor gasification system for energy and chemical recovery. As a member of the feasibility study team, PERI also evaluated financing options and developed a strategy for project financing. A key element of PERI's effort was the development of documentation necessary for a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) grant application based on the environmental advantages of the proposed technology. PERI also prepared technical and financial documents required by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and GEF on behalf of Sappi and TRI (ThermoChemical Recovery International, Inc.), a developer and supplier of advanced chemical and energy recovery systems for the pulp and paper industry. This project was referred to Sappi’s board for approval and funding.

Biogas Co-firing Project
For a U.S. utility, PERI evaluated the viability of installing a biomass gasifier at an existing site. The objective was to generate biogas for co-firing in a coal-fired boiler. Upon completion of this pre-feasibility assessment study, PERI also prepared an action plan for implementing the project.

Co-firing Biomass in Maryland Coal-fired Utility Boilers
For the State of Maryland, Department of Natural Resources, PERI evaluated the feasibility of co-firing biomass in utility scale, coal-fired, boilers. This study assessed availability of resources within 50 miles from Maryland coal-fired utilities, the potential for co-firing in different types of coal-fired boilers, the technical and engineering issues that must be addressed, the capital and operating costs, and the environmental benefits. PERI evaluated the potential for solid biomass as well as biogas co-firing.

Small Scale Gasification Systems Study
For DOE's Office of Fossil Energy, PERI evaluated gasification technologies for integration with fuel cell and gas turbine systems. The objective of this study was to identify gasification integrated systems that could serve the 50 MW and less power generation market, and to assess R&D needs for accelerating commercialization of these systems. Following the completion of this assignment, PERI personnel authored a book, “Gasification Technologies - A Primer for Engineers and Scientists”, by utilizing the knowledge gained in conducting this study and other related assignments.

Independent Engineering Review of Char and Coke-Making Projects
For a project financing service provider, PERI personnel provided an independent engineer's review of the technical, economic, and financing feasibility for a char/coke making project. In addition to assessing the technical and economic viability of the technology and verification of potential market or the char and coke, the review included a due diligence evaluation of key project agreements on behalf of the client for tax-exempt and taxable municipal bond debt financing of the projects.

Independent Engineering Review of Steel-Making Project
For an international insurance company, PERI personnel conducted an independent review of the technical, economic, and financing feasibility for a proposed steel-making plant to be constructed in Buffalo, New York to meet a specific market niche demand. PERI personnel recommended against financing and construction of the proposed plant due to the projected market size, the number of existing market players, and their ability to respond to marked needs. Within a few months from completion of the study, the market was saturated due to capacity expansion by one of the existing producers.

IGCC Projects in India
PERI staff assessed market opportunities for advanced power generation technologies in U.S. Agency of International Development Agency (USAID) - supported countries around the world. PERI personnel conducted this study to assess the deployment opportunities for advanced technologies, to identify barriers to their deployment, to develop strategies for mitigating those barriers, and to conduct due diligence and feasibility assessment studies to evaluate technical and commercial viability of IGCC technology. This study identified the market potential for installing IGCC technologies and developed a strategy for technology implementation. PERI personnel identified specific project opportunities in India and proposed the two most promising IGCC project opportunities, a 125 MW coal plant and a 200 MW lignite plant, to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and USAID for further development. Upon completion of these studies, PERI presented the results to the Utilities' board of directors, USAID, USTDA, USDOE, and IFC and recommended further project development activities for one of the two projects. PERI personnel also planned, organized, and implemented a study tour of IGCC facilities in the U.S. for the Indian utility executives. Upon completion of this study tour, executives of the Indian utility and a U.S. engineering firm signed an agreement for further development and implementation of an IGCC project at an existing coal plant site in India.

Refinery, Chemical, and Petrochemical Projects – Central and Eastern Europe
In a Definitional Mission (DM) to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, PERI identified more than 50 refinery, chemical, and petrochemical projects; and evaluated their technical, economic, and financing viability. Considering these and other factors such as the project potential for the export of U.S. goods and services, the economic impact of the project on the local economy, the project impact on U.S. jobs, and the environmental impact of the project, ten (10) projects were recommended for USTDA feasibility grants. For these projects, PERI prepared Terms of References (ToRs) including schedules and costs for performing feasibility studies. The results of PERI's work, excluding the projects confidential information and ToRs, were summarized in a Project Reference Guide and presented at a USTDA sponsored Central and Eastern Europe Chemical Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana. PERI also developed the technical content of the conference, identified speakers including key note speakers and invited them, on behalf of the USTDA, to the conference.

Waste-to-Energy and Renewable Energy Projects – Central and Eastern Europe
In a Definitional Mission (DM) to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, PERI identified more than 50 waste-to-energy and renewable energy projects; and evaluated their technical, economic, and financing viability. Considering these and other factors such as potential for the export of U.S. goods and services, the economic impact of the project on the local economy, the impact on U.S. jobs, and the environmental impact of the project, ten (10) projects were recommended for USTDA feasibility grants. For these projects, PERI prepared Terms of References (ToRs) including schedules and costs for performing project feasibility studies. The results of PERI's work, excluding the projects confidential information and ToRs, were summarized in a Project Reference Guide and presented at a USTDA sponsored Waste-to-Energy and Renewable Energy Regional Conference held in Prague, Czech Republic. PERI also developed the technical content of the conference, identified speakers including key note speaker and invited them, on USTDA’s behalf, to the conference.

Municipal Solid Waste Gasification for Electricity and Liquid Fuel Production
For a Technology Development Consortium, and on the behalf of a regional solid waste authority, PERI personnel conducted a study to assess the technical and economic viability of converting 800 ton per day of municipal solid
waste (MSW) to steam, electric power, and/or liquid fuel by utilizing an indirectly heated gasifier. The study concluded that the project was technically feasible, and due to the limited market for the electricity in the study region and the greater value for liquid fuel, conversion of MSW to liquid fuel was economically more attractive. The overall goal of the project was to minimize the quantity of MSW requiring land filling in the region.

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