Transformative Power Generation Systems Analysis Studies

Cost and Performance Baselines for Fossil Energy Power Plants
Cost and Performance Baseline for Fossil Energy Plants: Overview and Future Work - Presentation	Presentation on current basis of the Volume 1 Performance Baselines and upcoming updates being planned for Revision 3 of Volume 1. July 2017
Volume 1a - Bituminous Coal (PC) and Natural Gas to Electricity	Establishes performance and cost data for fossil energy power systems, pulverized coal (PC) plants fueled with bituminous coal and natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants, all with and without carbon capture and storage. The analyses were performed on a consistent technical and economic basis that reflects current market conditions. The study serves as a benchmark to track the progress of DOE Fossil Energy R&D and as a baseline for analyzing fossil energy plant options. This is believed to provide the most comprehensive set of cost and performance data using bituminous coal available in the public literature to date. The cost and performance data were compiled from published reports, information obtained from vendor quotes and users of the technology, and data from designing and building utility projects. Final Report, Vol 1a, Rev 3, July 2015
Transformative Power Generation – Systems Analysis Studies
Plant Efficiency Evaluation at Navajo Generation Station	Summary report of a high-level technical and engineering assessment of opportunities for improving the heat rate (i.e., efficiency) of the three existing coal-fueled electric generating units at the Navajo Generating Station located near Page, Arizona. January 2018
Performance Baseline for Oxy-Coal MHD Power Plant with Carbon Capture	This presentation discusses the development of baseline Direct Power Extraction (DPE) plant designs incorporating oxy-coal combustion, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) topping cycle, a steam bottoming cycle, and a carbon dioxide purification unit for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Two MHD configurations have been developed; one representing the current state-of-the-art in MHD channel design, and a more advanced design capable of higher power density. The modeled performance of the two DPE plant systems are compared to IGCC and oxy-coal AUSC reference plants with CCS. May 2016
Impact of Load Following on the Economics of Existing Coal-Fired Power Plant Operations	This report evaluates the effects of increased cold starts on an existing 300 MW coal-fired unit operating and maintenance (O&M) and fuel costs resulting from reduced dispatchability in the market. Component level impacts on equipment are characterized and assessed to estimate changes in O&M costs resulting from 1, 6, and 12 cold starts per year. Report findings discuss the change in both O&M and fuel costs based on different number of cold starts and varying capacity factors. Results are presented in terms of impact to cost of electricity ($/MWh). June 2015
Guidance for NETL’s Oxy-combustion R&D Program: Chemical Looping Combustion Reference Plant Designs and Sensitivity Studies	An emerging, coal-fired power plant technology, chemical looping combustion (CLC), is assessed in this report. CLC technology is, in essence, an oxy-combustion technology being developed with focus on its potential for improved performance and reduced cost. Its benefits are measured against performance and cost of the conventional pulverized coal (PC) power plant using amine-based CO₂ absorption for post-combustion carbon capture. This study develops National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) reference CLC plant configurations and assumptions that are used to evaluate CLC system performance and cost. December 2014
Options for Improving the Efficiency of Existing Coal-Fired Power Plants	This analysis evaluates options for improving the efficiency of existing subcritical pulverized coal electric generating units. The cost impact and extent of CO₂ emission reduction are both presented. April 2014
Impact of Load Following on Power Plant Cost and Performance	This study performed a review of the public literature and interviewed industry experts to determine the impact on cost and performance of forcing fossil fuel power plants without and with carbon capture to load follow in response to changes in demand or output from renewable power generation sources. There is some information to quantify the impact of load following on NGCC and PC plants without capture, however there is little information either experimental data or theoretical analysis on the impact on IGCC, oxy-combustion, or any plants with carbon capture from load following. October 2012
Advancing Oxy-combustion Technology for Bituminous Coal Power Plants: An R&D Guide	The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is funding research aimed at improving the performance and reducing the cost of oxy-combustion. The objective of this study is to guide oxy-combustion research in areas that can provide the largest benefits in electricity cost and plant performance. The advanced oxy-combustion technologies evaluated in this study are categorized into four major areas: advanced boiler design, advanced oxygen production, advanced flue gas treatment, and innovative CO₂ compression concepts. April 2012
Fossil Energy RD&D: Reducing the Cost of CCUS for Coal Power Plants	DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy, NETL implements research, development and demonstration (RD&D) programs that are moving aggressively to address the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a climate change mitigation strategy. In partnership with both the Nation’s research universities and the private sector, RD&D efforts are focused on maximizing system efficiency and performance, while minimizing the costs of new Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies. Improving the efficiency of power generation systems reduces emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as well as other criteria pollutants while using less water and extending the life of our domestic energy resource base. January 2012
Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion as a Near-Term CO₂ Mitigation Strategy	Circulating fluidized bed combustion systems have the potential to meet strict air quality guidelines currently being proposed (SO2, NOx, mercury, particulate). In addition, their fuel-flexibility can also allow for co-firing carbon neutral opportunity fuels, such as biomass, therefore reducing the CO₂ footprint in the near-term. Building these plants with attention to the design considerations that will be needed to accommodate eventual CO₂ capture (capture-ready) can also help future integration of full-scale capture. September 2011
Cost Performance for Low-Rank Pulverized Coal Oxy-combustion Energy Plants	This report provides analyses on oxy-combustion of lignite and subbituminous coals in PC and CFBC power plants. Steam conditions examined are supercritical and ultra-supercritical. In addition, various CO₂ purification techniques were compared. September 2010
DOE NETL's Carbon Capture R&D Program for Existing Coal Fired Power Plants	A review and assessment of the DOE research and development (R&D) program directed specifically at post- and oxy-combustion CO₂ capture technologies that can be retrofit to existing coal-fired power plants, and designed into new plants. The strategic plan for this program includes the development of advanced CO₂ capture and compression technologies for both existing and new coal-fired power plants that, when combined, can achieve 90 percent CO₂ capture at less than a 35 percent increase in cost of electricity (COE). Such technologies could then be available for commercial use by 2020. February 2009
NETL Carbon Sequestration Program: US Perspective on CO₂ Capture and Separation	This presentation outlines the NETL Carbon Sequestration Program and the pre- and post-combustion technologies under which CO₂ capture is proposed. The presentation also discusses the modeling and assessment tools used to evaluate the performance of each technology. The final section reviews ongoing R&D projects and highlights their progress. April 2004