The role of competitive repowering in integrated resource planning
- Advanced Energy Research, Inc., Delray Beach, FL (United States)
Many electric utilities are using an integrated resource planning (IRP) process to optimize the investments required for meeting their future business needs. IRP processes weigh demand-side strategies and third-party power bids against the addition of new utility-owned power generation facilities. Utilities have sometimes determined that certain load management options are less costly than building new power plants. They have also concluded that there are many energy conservation projects that are more cost-effective than any of their new power generation opportunities. And, even when new power generation facilities are required, utilities often have found that they cannot compete with new third-party power generation or cogeneration projects (NUGs). What many utilities may be missing, however, are opportunities to selectively repower existing utility power generation assets to achieve highly competitive alternatives to load management, conservation, and new third-party power generators. Well-planned and well-designed topping cycles, bottoming cycles, selective boiler modifications or replacements, and low-cost fuel options will often be the optimal strategy for utilities facing increasing future competition and more stringent environmental regulations. Fortunately, the IRP process can be used to compare power plant repowering options on a level playing field basis if the features of the various repowering options are accurately integrated into meeting system-wide utility needs. Selective repowering can provide the lowest capital cost option for meeting system load, can result in the greatest savings in fuel use and fuel cost, and can result in the greatest environmental benefits when compared to other options.
- OSTI ID:
- 103690
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950414--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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