The natural gas repowering market and technology options

Conference · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:376130

Bautista, P J ^[1]

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1. Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (United States)

The term repowering refers to a modernization of a primary element of an existing power plant, while retaining some existing equipment. This integration of existing plant equipment and new equipment results in significant improvements in output, efficiency and emissions. Repowering is expected to represent an important source of new gas load for electric power generation over the next 10--15 years. In the restructured utility environment, decision makers will strive to compete and profit by minimizing marginal operating costs of power production. Generating investments will no longer be guaranteed a rate of return, and consequently there will be a need to minimize capital investment and maximize utilization of existing capital assets. The age of the existing US plant population also implies that post-2000, a significant amount of reinvestment will be required in these aging facilities to maintain competitive operating costs. Such plants are excellent candidates for low-cost gas-based repowering options. This paper addresses the size of the potential repowering market and some market development issues. It will also provide a perspective on technical options and development needs for repowering projects which are likely to be pursued in the US in the year 2000--2010 timeframe.

• OSTI ID: 376130
• Report Number(s): CONF-960426--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AUGMENTATION
CAPACITY
ECONOMICS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
NATURAL GAS