Babcock & Wilcox to Support Development of TerraSpark’s 1.6 GW Energy Campus in West Virginia
Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), a long-established provider of energy and environmental technologies, has announced a collaboration with TerraSpark to support the development of a major energy infrastructure project in West Virginia. The initiative, known as the TerraSpark Energy Campus, is designed to combine large-scale power generation, industrial development, advanced materials research, and workforce training into a single integrated complex.
At the heart of the proposed project is a 1.6-gigawatt coal-fired power plant that will serve as a cornerstone of the campus’s energy production capabilities. The development is intended to provide dependable baseload electricity while supporting emerging industrial activities and economic growth across the region. In addition to the power generation facility, the campus will include a multi-industry business hub and a specialized Coal Innovation & Training Center focused on rare earth element extraction, advanced materials research, and workforce development initiatives.
The project has already received significant federal backing. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded TerraSpark an $18.5 million grant to assist with development activities, highlighting growing interest in technologies and projects that aim to modernize traditional energy resources while improving environmental performance and economic competitiveness.
Under the anticipated partnership framework, Babcock & Wilcox is expected to play a central role in the engineering and technology components of the project. The company’s planned responsibilities include the design and supply of four supercritical boilers, each with a generating capacity of 400 megawatts. These advanced boilers are expected to provide higher efficiency compared with conventional coal-fired systems, enabling the facility to generate electricity more effectively while reducing fuel consumption and emissions intensity.
In addition to boiler technology, B&W would also provide a comprehensive package of emissions control systems designed to meet stringent environmental standards. These systems are expected to address a range of pollutants associated with coal-fired power generation and support the project’s goal of operating as a next-generation energy facility.
Construction activities are also expected to involve Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co., LLC, the company’s construction services division. The unit would contribute engineering, procurement, and construction expertise to support the buildout of the energy campus and associated infrastructure.
A significant aspect of the project involves carbon capture technology. To advance this component, B&W plans to work closely with Mantel, a company developing innovative carbon capture solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial facilities and power plants. The collaboration seeks to integrate advanced carbon management systems into the project, helping to position the facility as a lower-emissions coal generation asset.
Jimmy Morgan, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Babcock & Wilcox, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative and its alignment with the company’s ongoing support for the U.S. coal-fired power sector.
According to Morgan, coal-fired generation continues to represent a dependable and secure source of electricity for the nation, particularly as demand for reliable energy increases. He noted that B&W remains committed to supporting the existing coal fleet while also helping develop new projects that incorporate modern technologies and environmental controls.
Morgan stated that the TerraSpark Energy Campus represents an opportunity to demonstrate how advanced coal technologies can contribute to future energy requirements. As industries such as advanced manufacturing, data centers, and large-scale industrial operations require increasing amounts of electricity, dependable baseload power sources remain an important consideration for energy planners and policymakers.
He further explained that projects of this scale can help address growing power demand while supporting broader national energy priorities focused on reliability, resilience, and domestic resource utilization. By combining advanced power generation systems with modern emissions reduction technologies, the project seeks to demonstrate a pathway for coal-based energy infrastructure that aligns with evolving environmental expectations.
Morgan also highlighted B&W’s long history in boiler design, emissions control systems, and power generation technologies. The company’s portfolio includes solutions aimed at improving plant efficiency, extending operational life, and enhancing environmental performance for both existing and new generating facilities.
The executive expressed optimism about the opportunity to collaborate with TerraSpark as project planning and development activities move forward. He noted that B&W’s technologies are intended to help customers achieve dependable energy production while meeting increasingly demanding environmental requirements.
TerraSpark representatives also underscored the importance of partnering with experienced industry organizations as the project progresses toward development and eventual construction.
Bill Tolpegin, a partner at TerraSpark, described the initiative as an ambitious undertaking that requires expertise from across the energy sector. He said the company is assembling a highly experienced project team capable of delivering a large-scale energy and industrial complex that can serve regional and national needs.
Tolpegin noted that Babcock & Wilcox’s extensive experience in power generation technology made the company a valuable addition to the project team. With more than 160 years of innovation and industry experience, B&W brings a deep understanding of energy infrastructure development and advanced power generation systems.
According to Tolpegin, the collaboration is expected to support TerraSpark’s objective of delivering reliable, around-the-clock electricity while advancing a new generation of energy infrastructure in West Virginia. The project is also anticipated to create economic opportunities through construction activities, workforce development programs, and industrial investment associated with the broader campus.
Mantel’s leadership also expressed support for the initiative and emphasized the role carbon capture technologies can play in the future of energy production.
Cameron Halliday, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mantel, stated that coal is likely to remain a significant component of global electricity generation for many years. As a result, he believes it is important to ensure that coal-fired facilities operate with the most effective emissions reduction technologies available.
Halliday explained that Mantel’s carbon capture solutions are designed to enable power plants and industrial facilities to maintain operational efficiency while substantially reducing emissions. By integrating advanced carbon management systems into projects such as the TerraSpark Energy Campus, developers can improve environmental performance without sacrificing reliability or generating capacity.
He also praised Babcock & Wilcox’s expertise in boiler engineering and air pollution control technologies, describing the company as a trusted partner with extensive experience in delivering advanced energy solutions. Halliday noted that B&W’s technical capabilities are expected to play a critical role in helping move the project forward and supporting the development of lower-emission power generation systems.
As development activities continue, the TerraSpark Energy Campus is emerging as a notable example of efforts to combine traditional energy resources with advanced technologies aimed at improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and supporting industrial growth. Through the integration of large-scale power generation, carbon capture capabilities, rare earth processing initiatives, and workforce training programs, the project seeks to create a multifaceted energy and industrial hub that could contribute to West Virginia’s economic development while addressing evolving energy needs across the United States.
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