DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: An Analysis of Thermal Plant Flexibility Using a National Generator Performance Database

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology

Grid integration studies are key to understanding our ability to integrate variable generation resources into the power system and evaluating the associated costs and benefits. In these studies, it is important to understand the flexibility of the thermal power fleet, including how thermal plants operate at part load. Without a comprehensive understanding of thermal plant operation, we may over- or underestimate our ability to integrate variable generation resources and thus draw incomplete or inaccurate conclusions regarding their potential economic and environmental effects. The only public data source for understanding many elements of the operational characteristics of the thermal fleet is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Markets database of historical power plant operation. However, though these data sets have been widely utilized, their use has proven to be difficult, and methods to clean and filter the data are not transparent. Here, we describe the database and a method to clean and filter it. We then use the cleaned database to demonstrate several characteristics of historical plant operation, including frequent part load operation. Finally, we provide a cleaned data set with heat rate curves and describe how to use it in general modeling activities and analysis.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1573963
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--6A20-72759; MainId:16731; UUID:6428d510-37e1-e811-9c19-ac162d87dfe5; MainAdminID:5209
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 53; ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English