Eaton, TVA Turning Retired Bull Run Coal Plant into Critical Grid Asset

Intelligent power management company Eaton is working with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to repurpose the utility’s retired Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tennessee, into a critical asset supporting reliable and clean energy.

The two groups on June 25 noted the importance of maintaining grid stability as more electricity comes from variable renewable energy resources, and as electricity demand increases. The closure of baseload power plants, including coal-fired facilities such as the 865-MW Bull Run, present challenges for power grids. Synchronous condensers help balance grid inertia by replacing decommissioned power generation equipment, increasing power reliability and redundancy. Eaton is providing the electrical and mechanical solutions needed to convert one machine comprised of two generators into two 605 mega-volt amperes reactive (MVAR) synchronous condensers. This will enable the Bull Run plant to add increased stability to the power grid.

“Synchronous condenser conversions are complex technical projects that require a high degree of specialized knowledge and project management capabilities,” said Igor Stamenkovic, senior vice president and general manager for Eaton’s Electrical Engineering Services and Systems Division. “Through our approach and proven success helping other utilities across North America to support reliable and affordable power, we are confident this transformation will help enhance reliability and grid stability in the region.”

Eaton has a broad portfolio of utility solutions and services designed to help utilities support resilience, performance and decarbonization. In addition to turnkey engineering support, the company is supplying essential electrical distribution and control equipment for the Bull Run project, including medium-voltage variable-frequency drives, motor control centers, panelboards, relay panels and network automation hardware.

Bull Run, which was decommissioned in December 2023, also is the site of a fusion energy initiative between TVA and Type One Energy Group. Type One last year announced the Infinity One project, which involves construction of a stellarator fusion prototype machine at Bull Run.

—POWER edited this content, which was supplied by the media relations team for Eaton.