Emerson Rehabilitates Longview Power Plant with Ovation

Emerson Electric Co. EMR achieved an impressive feat by completing the rehabilitation of Longview Power's 700-megawatt power plant in Maidsville, WV, in record time.

Emerson's automation team replaced Longview's existing control system with advanced Ovation technology that can manage operations across the plant. Emerson completed the automation work in just 13 months, almost twice as fast as it would normally take.

The power plant had previously been plagued by recurrent outages and poor performance. Emerson contributed to its remarkable turnaround with its automation technologies and services, such that Longview now delivers reliable, affordable electricity that can power over 500,000 homes.

The new Ovation controls have led to superior plant stability, enabling the delivery of more reliable power to the grid and thus helping generate more revenue. Also, availability has increased to more than 98% and net generation has risen by over a third, while fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have declined significantly.

In fact, Longview expects to generate savings of about $3 million annually by circumventing unplanned outages.

Longview now ranks among the cleanest and most efficient coal-fired plants in the U.S., thanks to Emerson's proven technological expertise.

Emerson has in recent times been rationalizing and restructuring its automation portfolio. The segment is also grappling with contracted demand and adverse macroeconomic factors, which have affected its financial performance.

Emerson currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader industrial products sector include ESCO Technologies Inc. ESE, Franklin Electric Co., Inc. FELE and Powell Industries, Inc. POWL, each holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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