Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: Electricity generation

Showing posts with label Electricity generation. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Comparing the costs of intermittent and dispatchable electricity generating technologies

http://econ-www.mit.edu/files/6317

ABSTRACT

Economic evaluations of alternative electric generating technologies typically rely on comparisons between their expected life-cycle production costs per unit of electricity supplied. The standard life-cycle cost metric utilized is the “levelized cost” per MWh supplied. This paper demonstrates that this metric is inappropriate for comparing intermittent generating technologies like wind and solar with dispatchable generating technologies like nuclear, gas combined cycle, and coal. Levelized cost comparisons are a misleading metric for comparing intermittent and dispatchable generating technologies because they fail to take into account differences in the production profiles of intermittent and dispatchable generating technologies and the associated large variations in the market value of the electricity they supply. Levelized cost comparisons overvalue intermittent generating technologies compared to dispatchable base load generating technologies. They also overvalue wind generating technologies compared to solar generating technologies. Integrating differences in production profiles, the associated variations in the market value of the electricity supplied, and life-cycle costs associated with different generating

technologies is necessary to provide meaningful comparisons between them. This market-based framework also has implications for the appropriate design of procurement auctions created to implement renewable energy procurement mandates, the efficient structure of production tax credits for renewable energy, and the evaluation of the additional costs of integrating intermittent generation into electric power networks.

Friday, January 7, 2011

US Nuclear energy generation for 2010 will be close to best years in 2007 and 2008

For the first 11 months of 2010, nuclear generation is 0.9% higher than the same period in 2009. For 2010, nuclear generation was 732.9 billion kilowatt-hours compared to 726.3 bkWh for the same period in 2009 and 734.5 bkWh in 2007 (the record year for nuclear generation). In 2007, nuclear power generated 806.5 billion kilowatt-hours (KWh) in the U.S.

NEI is reporting that 2007 was the peak for US nuclear generation but the World Nuclear Association information is that the peak was 2008 with 809 billion kWh.

For November 2010, nuclear generation was 62.3 billion kilowatt-hours compared to 59.1 billion kWh in November 2009. The average capacity factor for November 2010 was 85.9% compared to 81.4% in November 2009.

December capacity factors have been in the mid to high 90% range

2007 finished in December with 72 billion kWh for near 100% capacity. 2010 will probably have 69-72.5 billion kWh for about 801.8 to 805 billion kWh. This will be up from 799 billion kWh in 2009.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

US Renewables Now Neck-And-Neck With Nuclear Power

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/US_Renewables_Now_Neck_And_Neck_With_Nuclear_Power_999.html Washington DC (SPX) Dec 29, 2010 According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), "nuclear electric power accounted for 11% of primary energy production and renewable energy accounted for 11% of primary energy production" during the first nine months of 2010 (the most recent period for which data have been released). More specifically, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, and wind) accounted for 10.9% of domestic energy production and increased by 5.7% compared to the same period in 2009.
Meanwhile, nuclear power accounted for 11.4% of domestic energy production but provided 0.5% less energy than a year earlier.
Among the renewable energy sources, biomass and biofuels accounted for 51.95%, hydropower for 31.50%, wind for 10.52%, geothermal for 4.65%, and solar for 1.38%. Comparing the first three-quarters of 2010 against the same period in 2009, hydropower declined by 5.2% but geothermal expanded by 1.8%, solar grew by 2.4%, biomass/biofuels increased by 10.0%, and wind grew by 26.7%; combined, non-hydro renewables expanded by 11.5%.
Preliminary data also show that fossil fuels accounted for 78% of primary energy production. Overall, U.S. primary energy production rose by 2% compared with the first nine months of 2009.
"Members of the incoming Congress are proposing to slash cost-effective funding for rapidly expanding renewable energy technologies while foolishly plowing ever-more federal dollars into the nuclear power black hole," said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign.
"The numbers clearly show this would be betting on the obvious loser while ignoring the clearly emerging winner in the energy race."
And according to EIA's latest "Electric Power Monthly," renewable energy sources accounted for 10.18% of U.S. electrical generation during the first three-quarters of 2010. Compared to the same period in 2009, renewables - including hydropower - grew by 2.2%.
While conventional hydropower dropped by 5.2%, non-hydro renewable used in electrical generation expanded by 16.8% with geothermal growing by 4.9%, biomass by 5.5%, wind by 27.3%, and solar by 47.1%. Non-hydro renewables accounted for 3.9% of total electrical generation from January 1 - September 30, 2010 - up from 3.5% the year before.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Countdown to nuclear liftoff LIONEL FAULL, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

The pressure is on for the government to roll out the country’s nuclear strategy and decisions are expected to be made within a year about the technologies and vendors for the country’s R300-billion expansion of nuclear capacity.

The favoured option of the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010 calls for the first new nuclear station to come on stream in 2023. With a lead time of at least 12 years, decisions will have to be made soon.

The IRP 2010 calls for six new nuclear stations, each with a capacity of 1600MW. The government is understood to favour a "fleet strategy", meaning that a single vendor could supply the technology for decades to come.

Opinion remains divided on the suitability of nuclear for the country’s energy mix. Supporters say it can supply baseload power but opponents say that it continues to carry too many risks and is not preferable to renewables such as wind and solar.

Public participation in the draft IRP 2010 is winding down -- the deadline for written submissions on all electricity generating technologies under consideration expires on Friday.

The implementation of the new energy policy will then begin in earnest.

The IRP proposes that nuclear energy should provide 14% of South Africa’s total electricity generating capacity by 2030. Nuclear is seen as the best replacement for coal and the way to provide most of the country's baseload requirements when ageing coal-fired stations are decommissioned to meet South Africa's carbon emission reduction targets.

'Time is very tight'
The department of energy expects the IRP to be promulgated by February, after which the government's nuclear procurement process will begin.

"Time is very tight, but it would be equally inappropriate to rush into nuclear without public participation," said Ompi Aphane, the department's deputy director general for electricity, nuclear and clean generation. More at link.
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-12-10-countdown-to-nuclear-liftoff

Monday, December 6, 2010

Paks powers up for nuclear expansion

While the public debates the merits of renewables versus fossil fuels in power generation, Hungary is quietly preparing to build new units at the Paks nuclear power plant, making a significant – and carbon-free – contribution to the country's future energy supplies.

The state-owned Paks nuclear plant, Hungary's largest power plant with 2,000 MW generation capacity, plans to at least double its capacity by adding two new units in the 2020s. If the project clears financial, regulatory and political hurdles in the coming years, it may help Hungary achieve a sustainable and competitive energy mix.

More at:
http://bbjonline.hu/?col=1004&id=55109

Thursday, December 2, 2010

FuelCell Energy To Build Small Scale Direct FuelCell Power Plant

Diagram of a Proton exchange membrane fuel cel...

Image via Wikipedia

Due to their highly efficient power generation, lack of pollutants and quiet operation, fuel cell power plants are well-suited for commercial buildings located in urban environments.

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/FuelCell_Energy_To_Build_Small_Scale_Direct_FuelCell_Power_Plant_999.html Danbury CT (SPX) Dec 02, 2010 FuelCell Energy will jointly develop a small-scale Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant with its South Korean partner, POSCO Power. The power plant will target the fast-growing commercial applications market segment, particularly in Asia.
POSCO Power will fund the $5.8 million program in stages as performance milestones are reached, with an initial funding of $2.9 million for design and development of a smaller scale fuel cell stack.
Due to their highly efficient power generation, lack of pollutants and quiet operation, fuel cell power plants are well-suited for commercial buildings located in urban environments.
Fuel cells efficiently generate power using an electrochemical process that does not involve combustion. The lack of combustion results in virtually zero pollutants and quiet operation.
Fuel cell generated power can make use of available clean energy incentives, and can compete favorably with commercial and residential electricity rates in many regions of the world.
"FuelCell Energy's DFC products have been demonstrated as a dependable, ultra-clean solution," said Ben Toby, Vice President of Global Business Development for FuelCell Energy. "With this announcement, POSCO Power and FuelCell Energy seek to build on their partnership to enter into a previously untapped market segment, which has the potential to drive significant volume."
FuelCell Energy's core DFC power plant product line consists of the 300 kilowatt DFC300, the 1.4 megawatt DFC1500, and the 2.8 megawatt DFC3000. The DFC3000 is scalable for utility-size applications of multiple megawatts.

Monday, November 29, 2010

China Huaneng to Buy Stake in Power Company BY SATISH SARANGARAJAN

MUMBAI—China Huaneng Group agreed to buy India-based GMR Group's 50% stake in a U.S.-based power-generation company for $1.23 billion, expanding Chinese investment in overseas energy assets.

State-run China Huaneng Group is a major Chinese power producer with generation projects in China and abroad.
The deal for the stake in InterGen, announced Sunday, was one of several energy transactions in recent months involving Chinese ...http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704700204575643672807661734.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews

Friday, November 19, 2010

UAE Ambassador to IAEA pursues development of nuclear energy

By Dan Yurman
"In December 2009, the United Arab Emirates awarded a $20 billion contract to a consortium of South Korean firms to build four nuclear reactors on a remote desert location along the Persian Gulf. The consortium, led by state-owned Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), is committed to having the first reactor in revenue service by 2017. The change from fossil (natural gas) to uranium as a fuel source comes not a moment too soon as the UAE is now a net importer of gas for electricity generation and desalinization." More at:
http://ansnuclearcafe.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/uae-ambassador-to-iaea-pursues-development-of-nuclear-energy/

Thursday, November 18, 2010

SPECIAL REPORT RELEASE Updated Capital Cost Estimates for Electricity Generation Plants

SPECIAL REPORT RELEASE

Updated Capital Cost Estimates for Electricity Generation Plants
This paper provides information on the cost of building new electricity power plants. These cost estimates are critical inputs in the development of energy projections and analyses. They play an important role in determining the mix of capacity additions that will serve growing loads in the future and the response of electricity generators to the imposition of environmental controls on conventional pollutants or any limitations on greenhouse gas emissions.
See the full paper at:
http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/beck_plantcosts/

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Venezuela in Talks With China on Power Projects After Shortages

Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela is in talks with China for 3,000 megawatts of new electricity projects as it seeks to boost production capacity following a crisis earlier this year that forced power rationing to avoid a collapse of the national grid.

Chinese companies may work on at least five projects to build hydroelectric reservoirs and thermoelectric plants in Venezuela as the nation seeks to boost capacity by 18,700 megawatts, Electricity Minister Ali Rodriguez said yesterday in an interview in Caracas, without naming the companies involved.

Venezuela is strengthening ties with China and tapping Russia for help to build its first nuclear plant to diversify power sources. The El Nino weather phenomenon caused drought earlier this year, cutting water levels at the hydro dams that provide 73 percent of the country’s power. The dry period led to Venezuela’s worst power crisis in six years, prompting cuts to production lines at state-run aluminum and steel companies.

“A crisis like the one we had this year will not be repeated,” Rodriguez said. “All of these investments will allow us to respond to any new problem El Nino might throw up.”

Venezuela is in talks with China on reservoirs that could generate 1,000 megawatts on the Cuchiveros River in the south and the second stage of the development of the Uribante Caparo reservoir that would produce 500 megawatts, Rodriguez said.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-16/venezuela-in-talks-with-china-on-power-projects-after-shortages.html

Monday, November 15, 2010

GE Executive Outlines Opportunity For Transformation Of US Energy Future

The evolution of a smarter power grid in the United States and the resulting impact it could have on the economy and environment were highlighted in a keynote address by GE's Bob Gilligan at the Advanced Energy 2010 Conference. Gilligan explained how even conservative adoptions of technology solutions could enable Americans to sustain and improve their energy-dependent lifestyles. "While revolutionary energy technologies are developed each day, the way we apply them to modernize and nurture our electrical infrastructure is really more of an evolution than a revolution," said Bob Gilligan, vice president-digital energy for GE Energy Services.
"What's important is taking steps today to lay the foundation for our growing energy appetite. We can then sustain ongoing efforts to improve our energy landscape."
Using conservative technology growth estimates, Gilligan laid out a scenario where the total U.S. energy consumption and emissions saved between 2010 and 2030 could exceed the entire electrical consumption and electrical CO2 output for all of 2010.i "The net result would be like 2010 never happened," he explained.
In addition to the energy and pollution savings, Gilligan's scenario saw the creation of 140,000 sustainable new jobs and an electrical landscape that includes 3.3 billion fewer customer outage minutes. These power reliability improvements could result in savings of $65.7 billion from reduced power interruptions by 2030.
Gilligan supported his call for an energy evolution with a bevy of facts about the future of energy, including:
+ Growing cities that will house more than 60 percent of the world's population and consume a vast majority of its power by 2030 cannot rely on an infrastructure designed a century ago
+ Global electricity demand is forecasted to increase 75 percent by 2030
+ Energy costs are increasing worldwide; US rates increased an average of 42 percent between 2000 and 2007
+ More than 40 percent of current environmental emissions are from electric generation
+ Approximately half of the transformer assets in the U.S. electrical infrastructure are at or approaching the end of their design life
"The good news is that we are not talking gloom and doom," Gilligan said.
"Our electrical future can be a story of potential, opportunity and global competitive advantage. With increased reliability, efficiency and sustainability, we'll be able to power traditional economic growth and be ready for the next generation of life-changing technology. We can do it by taking measured, affordable evolutionary steps. However, we, as a country, must act today."
Gilligan cited electric cars, along with increasing levels of wind and solar energy, as examples of technology-enabled advances on the not-too-distant horizon.http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/GE_Executive_Outlines_Opportunity_For_Transformation_Of_US_Energy_Future_999.html

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

AES plans $15bn spending spree in India to raise power generation capacity

AES, the US utility with operations in 29 countries, plans to spend as much as $15bn to increase capacity in India and get 10 per cent of its revenue from the South Asian nation in five years.

“A big part of that would be financed by banks,” Chief Executive Officer Paul Hanrahan said in an interview in New Delhi, reported Bloomberg. “The equity piece would be about $4bn to $5bn.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government plans to tap private investments as it plans to double infrastructure spending in India to $1 trn in the five years ending 2017. Asia’s second-biggest energy consumer is adding electricity- generation capacity to reduce blackouts and fuel an economy that grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in the three months ended 30 June. More at:

http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/2325682286/articles/powergenworldwide/coal-generation/new-projects/2010/11/aes-plans__15bn_spending.html

Thursday, November 4, 2010

NRG CEO: A Republican-controlled House benefits nuclear power

The Republican takeover of the House presents opportunities for NRG Energy and Southern Co. because the majority of GOP lawmakers support nuclear power as part of a clean-energy bill. Mandated use of renewable sources may pass if nuclear facilities are considered, said David Crane, president and CEO of NRG. "A lot of the things we're trying to do in Washington to move forward with zero- and low-carbon generation is something that at least the mainstream of the Republican Party wants to support -- nuclear power in particular," he said. Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-03/nuclear-power-gains-clout-in-republican-house-takeover-nrg-says.html

Friday, October 22, 2010

Baker Institute studies wind, fossil fuel power generation

Posted on 10/20/2010
US wind power generating capacity primarily has displaced natural gas-fired generation so far, yet a recent study by the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University concludes that increased wind-generation capacity is likely to result in more investment in gas-fired generation capacity.

“A number of studies have shown that the expansion of wind has thus far displaced natural gas more than coal,” said a study entitled “Wind Power in the United States: Prospects and Consequences” by Peter R. Hartley, a Rice economics professor and scholar of energy economics for the Baker Institute.

But he sees this as being a short-term situation because gas is a good complement to renewable sources that are highly variable.

“In the longer run, the intermittency of wind and the fact that wind generation satisfies base-load demand more than intermediate or peaking loads should discourage investment in base-load coal and nuclear capacity,” he said.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Renewed TVA projects could spark business for Areva, B&W

Two utilities have commenced groundwork for reactors located in Georgia and South Carolina, which is an indicator that the development of new facilities is not delayed, said Mitch Singer, a spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute. These projects could secure approval from federal and state regulators during 2011, Singer added. The News & Advance (Lynchburg, Va.)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Facilitating Fusion Research

from IAEA Top News RSS Feed

IAEA has always played an important role in facilitating safe and environmentally responsible nuclear energy sources.
Commercial fusion reactors are yet a theoretical possiblity. To help overcome the challenges presented in demonstrating the technological and commercial feasibility of generating electricity using fusion power, the IAEA has been collaborating with the international fusion community, and in particular with researchers at the ITER organization. ITER's partners and experts are building the world’s first international demonstration reactor for fusion power in Cadarache, France.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Belgian consortium announces nuclear fuel deal with China

Belgian consortium announces nuclear fuel deal with China
Brussels (AFP) Oct 7, 2010 - A Belgian consortium said on Thursday that it had signed an outline agreement to make nuclear fuel in China for civil power generation. The deal concerns construction of "a pilot installation for MOX fuel fabrication in China and for the use of MOX fuel in Chinese nuclear reactors." It said that the agreement could lead quite quickly to "a commercial agreement including technology transf ... more http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Belgian_consortium_announces_nuclear_fuel_deal_with_China_999.html

Friday, October 8, 2010

Reverse Engineering the Future of Energy: Energy Sector Needs."

http://nucleargreen.blogspot.com/2010/10/reverse-engineering-future-of-energy_06.html

This post calls attention to further problems in renewable energy plans, problems which appear to limit the ability of renewable energy sources to keep the grid.stable. A renewable dominated grid appears likely to rely on carbon emitting natural gas power generation facilities, for peak power, and to respond to Summer and Winter temperature variations. While conventional nuclear power approaches do not appear to offer satisfactory solutions, Molten Salt nuclear approaches appear to offer attractive solutions to a number of post carbon energy options

Monday, October 4, 2010

Nukes 101: Up close and personal with nuclear power

Nuclear is vital to cleaner power generation
A visit to NextEra Energy's Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire underscores nuclear's growing prominence as the U.S. tries to curb greenhouse-gas emissions from electricity generation, writes Martin LaMonica. While public perception of nuclear energy is still mixed, some critics have softened their views on nuclear plants, which release no heat-trapping gases during operation, LaMonica adds.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

France's EDF designs reactor to challenge Areva: report

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Frances_EDF_designs_reactor_to_challenge_Areva_report_999.html Paris (AFP) Sept 28, 2010 French electricity generator EDF is working on two new nuclear reactor designs of its own which could rival those made by Areva, the world's biggest atomic energy company, the Expansion magazine said. In a report to appear Wednesday, Expansion said EDF is "looking at its own series of reactors," power rated at 1,000 and 1,500 Megawatts, which if finalised could be competition for Areva's third generation European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) and its Atmea design.
Developed with Germany, the EPR has a power rating of 1,650 Megawatts but the design has been dogged by problems. In July EDF announced there would be a two-year delay and cost increases for a plant being built by Areva at Flamanville, northern France.
An EPR under construction in Finland by Areva has also been hit by delays and cost over-runs.
"We are not dropping the EPR but we do not want to put all our eggs in one basket," Expansion quoted a source close to EDF head Henri Proglio as saying.
At the same time, "it is true seen from the outside that it could be interpreted differently -- we and Areva are unable to combine our engineering resources," the source added.
EDF declined to comment when asked about the report.
Relations between EDF and Areva have grown strained and on Monday, La Tribune daily reported that the government wanted EDF to increase its stake in Areva from 2.4 percent to 10-15 percent.
The French government wants to consolidate the French nuclear power industry, a key factor in the national economy, and the newspaper said that these efforts were being given new impetus.
The French state owns 85 percent of EDF which provides most of the electricity used in France generated from one of the world's largest nuclear power networks.