Powerspan

About Powerspan

Powerspan Corp. was an energy technology company established in 1994 by founder, chairman, and CEO Frank Alix. The firm was situated in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and focused on developing and commercializing proprietary technologies for the electric power industry.

The company’s core offering was the patented Electro-Catalytic Oxidation (ECO) technology, a multi-pollutant control system designed for coal-fired power plants. This process was engineered to simultaneously reduce several key pollutants from smokestack emissions, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury, and fine particulate matter. A notable feature of the ECO system was its potential to convert captured pollutants into a marketable fertilizer byproduct, thereby avoiding the need for landfill disposal. Building on its foundational technology, Powerspan also developed ECO2, a complementary process for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas for subsequent sequestration or enhanced oil recovery.

Powerspan’s business model centered on partnering with major electricity-generating companies to integrate its technologies into their air compliance strategies. The company engaged in collaborations and pilot programs with several prominent energy firms, including FirstEnergy, Cinergy Corp., Allegheny Energy Supply, and BP Alternative Energy, to test and advance its systems. A significant pilot installation was conducted at FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant in Ohio. Despite raising approximately $150 million in funding over several rounds, the company ultimately ceased operations and is now considered deadpooled.