scholarly journals Evaluating net benefits of electricity generating technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 218-228
Author(s):  
Nisal Herath ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Wind Generation ◽  
Fuel Price ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Cost Benefits ◽  
Gas Fuel ◽  
Avoided Emissions ◽  
Net Benefits ◽  
Capacity Cost

Typically, the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) has been used to compare different electricity generation technologies. As LCOE does not account for intermittency and reliability, the updated net benefits methodology has been used. For various electricity generation technologies, with the use of the updated net benefits methodology, the net benefits of avoided emissions benefits, avoided energy cost benefits, avoided capacity cost benefits, energy costs, capacity costs and other costs at a per MW per year basis have been calculated. The results showed that nuclear generation had the highest net benefits in all of the scenarios considered. The net benefits of solar and wind generation increase when high coal and natural gas fuel price and with technological improvement which would increase the capacity factor and decrease the capital costs. Renewable and nuclear generation sources should play a significant role in the future electricity generation mix.

scholarly journals Application of Liquid Hydrogen Carriers in Hydrogen Steelmaking

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1392
Author(s):  
Joakim Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Process Integration ◽  
Direct Reduction ◽  
The Other ◽  
Liquid Form ◽  
Industrial Carbon ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Attractive Option ◽  
Thermochemical Processes ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Capacity Cost

Steelmaking is responsible for approximately one third of total industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Hydrogen (H2) direct reduction (H-DR) may be a feasible route towards the decarbonization of primary steelmaking if H2 is produced via electrolysis using fossil-free electricity. However, electrolysis is an electricity-intensive process. Therefore, it is preferable that H2 is predominantly produced during times of low electricity prices, which is enabled by storage of H2. This work compares the integration of H2 storage in four liquid carriers, methanol (MeOH), formic acid (FA), ammonia (NH3) and perhydro-dibenzyltoluene (H18-DBT), in H-DR processes. In contrast to conventional H2 storage methods, these carriers allow for H2 storage in liquid form at ambient moderate overpressures, reducing the storage capacity cost. The main downside to liquid H2 carriers is that thermochemical processes are necessary for both the storage and release processes, often with significant investment and operational costs. The carriers are compared using thermodynamic and economic data to estimate operational and capital costs in the H-DR context considering process integration options. It is concluded that the use of MeOH is promising compared to both the other considered carriers. For large storage volumes, MeOH-based H2 storage may also be an attractive option for the underground storage of compressed H2. The other considered liquid H2 carriers suffer from large thermodynamic barriers for hydrogenation (FA) or dehydrogenation (NH3, H18-DBT) and higher investment costs. However, for the use of MeOH in an H-DR process to be practically feasible, questions regarding process flexibility and the optimal sourcing of CO2 and heat must be answered.

Cost Optimum Parameters for Rock Bed Thermal Storage at 550–600 °C: A Parametric Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Allen ◽  
Lukas Heller ◽  
Theodor von Backström
Keyword(s):  
Parametric Study ◽  
Particle Diameter ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
United States Dollar ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Mass Fluxes ◽  
Rock Bed ◽  
Biot Numbers

A major advantage of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants is their ability to store thermal energy at a cost far lower than that of current battery technologies. A recent techno-economic study found that packed rock bed thermal storage systems can be constructed with capital costs of less than 10 United States dollar (USD)/kWht, significantly cheaper than the two-tank molten salt thermal storage currently used in CSP plants (about 22–30 USD/kWht). However, little work has been published on determining optimum rock bed design parameters in the context of a CSP plant. The parametric study in this paper is intended to provide an overview of the bed flow lengths, particle sizes, mass fluxes, and Biot numbers which are expected to minimize the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for a central receiver CSP plant with a nominal storage capacity of 12 h. The findings show that rock diameters of 20–25 mm will usually give LCOE values at or very close to the minimum LCOE for the combined rock bed and CSP plant. Biot numbers between 0.1 and 0.2 are shown to have little influence on the position of the optimum (with respect to particle diameter) for all practical purposes. Optimum bed lengths are dependent on the Biot number and range between 3 and 10 m for a particle diameter of 20 mm.

Assessment of Humid Air Turbines in Coal-Fired High Performance Power Systems

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianne M. Klara ◽  
Robert M. Enick ◽  
Scott M. Klara ◽  
Lawrence E. Van Bibber
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Humid Air ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Air Turbine ◽  
Net Power Output

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of incorporating a Humid Air Turbine (HAT) into a coal-based, indirectly fired High Performance Power System (HIPPS). The HIPPS/HAT power plant exhibits a one percentage point greater thermal efficiency than the combined-cycle HIPPS plant. The capital costs for the HIPPS and HIPPS/HAT plants with identical net power output are nearly equivalent at $1380/kW. Levelized cost of electricity (COE) for the same size plants is 5.3 cents/kWh for the HIPPS plant and 5.4 cents/kWh for the HIPPS/HAT plant; the HIPPS/HAT plant improved thermal efficiency is offset by the higher fuel cost associated with a lower coal/natural gas fuel ratio. However, improved environmental performance is associated with the HIPPS/HAT cycle, as evidenced by lower CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions. Considering the uncertainties associated with the performance and cost estimates of the yet unbuilt components, the HIPPS/HAT and HIPPS power plants are presently considered to be comparable alternatives for future power generation technologies. The Department of Energy’s Combustion 2000 Program will provide revised design specifications and more accurate costs for these components allowing more definitive assessments to be performed.

The competitiveness of nuclear energy in an era of liberalized markets and restrictions on greenhouse-gas emissions

2009 ◽  
pp. 37-62
Author(s):  
Luigi De Paoli ◽  
Francesco Gulli
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Markets ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Generation Costs ◽  
The Cost

- The debate on the benefits of nuclear energy revolves around the very competitiveness of this energy source. This article tries to show why it is not easy to answer unambiguously the question whether or not it is convenient to resort to nuclear power in a given country. After listing the factors on which the cost of electricity generation rests and discussing the range of probability of their value, the levelized cost of electricity generation from nuclear, coal and gas-fired plants is calculated using the Monte Carlo method. The results show that nuclear power is likely to be competitive, especially if policies to combat CO2 emissions will continue in the coming decades. There are, however, some margins of uncertainty, mainly related, to the one hand, to the cost of nuclear plants, that depends on the socio-institutional context, and on the other, to the fossil fuels cost, that are inherently difficult to anticipate even on average. Finally it is noted that the context of liberalized electricity markets may make it more difficult for investors to accept the risk of investing in nuclear power plants and for the community to socialize some of the costs associated with this technology.Key words: Nuclear energy, generation costs, Montecarlo method, environmental impacts.JEL classifications: G11, H23, L72, L94, Q31, Q40

scholarly journals Gasification of coal and biomass as a net carbon-negative power source for environment-friendly electricity generation in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (17) ◽  
pp. 8206-8213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Lu ◽  
Liang Cao ◽  
Haikun Wang ◽  
Wei Peng ◽  
Jia Xing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Negative Power ◽  
Near Term

Realizing the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 2 °C by the end of this century will most likely require deployment of carbon-negative technologies. It is particularly important that China, as the world’s top carbon emitter, avoids being locked into carbon-intensive, coal-fired power-generation technologies and undertakes a smooth transition from high- to negative-carbon electricity production. We focus here on deploying a combination of coal and biomass energy to produce electricity in China using an integrated gasification cycle system combined with carbon capture and storage (CBECCS). Such a system will also reduce air pollutant emissions, thus contributing to China’s near-term goal of improving air quality. We evaluate the bus-bar electricity-generation prices for CBECCS with mixing ratios of crop residues varying from 0 to 100%, as well as associated costs for carbon mitigation and cobenefits for air quality. We find that CBECCS systems employing a crop residue ratio of 35% could produce electricity with net-zero life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases, with a levelized cost of electricity of no more than 9.2 US cents per kilowatt hour. A carbon price of approximately $52.0 per ton would make CBECCS cost-competitive with pulverized coal power plants. Therefore, our results provide critical insights for designing a CBECCS strategy in China to harness near-term air-quality cobenefits while laying the foundation for achieving negative carbon emissions in the long run.

Does natural gas fuel price cause system marginal price, vice-versa, or neither? A causality analysis

Energy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeoungjin Chae ◽  
Myunghwan Kim ◽  
Seung-Hoon Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Causality Analysis ◽  
Fuel Price ◽  
Gas Fuel ◽  
Marginal Price

Techno-Economic Evaluation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electricity Generation Based on Anloga (Ghana) Wind Regime

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-69
Author(s):  
Amevi Acakpovi ◽  
Patrick Adjei ◽  
Nana Yaw Asabere ◽  
Robert Adjetey Sowah ◽  
David Mensah Sackey
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Water Electrolysis ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Hydrogen Fuel Cell ◽  
Hydrogen Fuel ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Annual Capacity

This paper assesses the performance of electricity generation using wind/hydrogen/fuel-cell technology. The intermittency of renewables, especially wind, and the need for storage of excess energy make them unattractive for continuous generation of electricity. This paper focuses on the wind resource of Anloga (Ghana) and the potential of hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The assessment of this system covers three main areas including the potential energy generation, environmental impacts, and economic impacts. The paper adopted analytical models of energy generation of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and further performs their assessment using HOMER software. It was revealed that the annual electricity production from the hydrogen fuel cell is 25,999kW/yr, with an annual capacity shortage of 392kW/yr representing a 10% capacity shortage. The levelized cost of electricity was 0.602$/kWh and the emissions have been completely minimized as compared to diesel generation plants.

scholarly journals The Fall of Coal: Joint Impacts of Fuel Prices and Renewables on Generation and Emissions

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harrison Fell ◽  
Daniel T. Kaffine
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Wind Generation ◽  
Unit Level ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Natural Gas Prices

Since 2007, US coal-fired electricity generation has declined by a stunning 25 percent. Detailed daily unit-level data is used to examine the joint impact of natural gas prices and wind generation on coal-fired generation and emissions, with a focus on the interaction between gas prices and wind. This interaction is found to be significant. Marginal responses of coal-fired generation to natural gas prices (wind) in 2013 were larger, sometimes much larger, than the counterfactual with 2008 wind generation (gas prices). Additionally, these factors jointly account for the vast majority of the observed decline in generation and emissions. (JEL L94, L95, Q35, Q38, Q42, Q53)

scholarly journals Decarbonizing the Galapagos Islands: Techno-Economic Perspectives for the Hybrid Renewable Mini-Grid Baltra–Santa Cruz

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Eras-Almeida ◽  
Miguel Egido-Aguilera ◽  
Philipp Blechinger ◽  
Sarah Berendes ◽  
Estefanía Caamaño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Levelized Cost Of Electricity ◽  
Battery Capacity

The fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands is being affected by population growth, intensive tourism, the exploitation of local resources and the high consumption of imported fossil fuels. This unsustainable development model makes the provision of services such as electricity a challenge. This research investigates the hybrid renewable mini-grid Baltra–Santa Cruz, which represents 62% of the electricity generation mix of the archipelago. This study aims to support the Galapagos Zero Fossil Fuel Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goal 7 through the reduction in diesel consumption and electricity generation costs. To do so, HOMER Pro, a specialized hybrid renewable mini-grid planning tool, is used to perform several techno-economic assessments, focusing on different electricity demand scenarios. Therefore, multiple pathways are compared to identify the most reliable alternatives towards the progressive decarbonization of this hybrid system. The results indicate that installing 18.25 MWp of photovoltaic and 20.68 MWh of battery capacity could reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) from 32.06 to 18.95 USc/kWh, increasing the renewable energy (RE) share from 18% to 39%. Additionally, the successful application of energy efficiency measures would even reduce the LCOE to 17.10 USc/kWh. What is more, distributed energy is considered the most attractive way to involve islanders in the energy transition process. Finally, this paper offers a comprehensive business model proposal to achieve a resilient energy supply, based on a combination of auctions and energy community models, which demands high political will, reliable and innovative regulations and social awareness about energy use.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document