• Corpus ID: 552815

Accelerating the transformation of power systems Flexible Coal Evolution from Baseload to Peaking Plant

@inproceedings{Lew2015AcceleratingTT,
  title={Accelerating the transformation of power systems Flexible Coal Evolution from Baseload to Peaking Plant},
  author={Debra Lew},
  year={2015}
}

• D. Lew
• Published 2015

The experience cited in this paper is from a generating station with multiple units located in North America referred to here as the CGS plant. For commercial reasons, the station has not been identified. Twenty-first century power systems, with higher penetration levels of low-carbon energy, smart grids, and other emerging technologies, will favor resources that have low marginal costs and provide system flexibility (e.g., the ability to cycle on and off to follow changes in variable renewable energy plant output). Questions remain about both the fate of coal plants in this scenario and whether they can cost-effectively continue to operate if they cycle routinely. The experience from the CGS plant demonstrates that coal plants can become flexible resources. This flexibility —namely the ability to cycle on and off and run at lower output (below 40% of capacity)—requires limited hardware modifications but extensive modifications to operational practice. Cycling does damage the plant and impact its life expectancy compared to baseload operations. Nevertheless, strategic modifications, proactive inspections and training programs, among other operational changes to accommodate cycling, can minimize the extent of damage and optimize the cost of maintenance. CGS's cycling, but not necessarily the associated price tag, is replicable. Context—namely, power market opportunities and composition of the generation fleet—will help determine for other coal plants the optimal balance between the level of cycling-related forced outages and the level of capital investment required to minimize those outages. Replicating CGS's experience elsewhere will likely require a higher acceptance of forced outages than regulators and plant operators are accustomed to; however, an increase in strategic maintenance can minimize the impact on outage rates. Photo from iStock 72283000 2 Many power systems the world over are being reshaped by new economic and political landscapes, which have resulted in increased investments in renewable energy, distributed energy technologies, and natural gas. This transformation will likely yield a substantial reduction in coal-generated electricity. For example, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Ontario, Canada is phasing out the use of coal by the end of 2014. As power systems undertake this transition, questions remain about the fate of coal plants and how their operations may change in systems with increasing penetration levels of variable renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Future power systems may need more flexible generation resources. These resources can be characterized by the ability to cycle on and off and run at low minimum loads to …