THE BIG PICTURE: China’s Power Glut
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District Energy Systems Improve Efficiency and Reduce Carbon Emissions
Although it’s not widely publicized, a majority of the energy used to generate electricity is wasted in the form of heat discharged to the environment. For better or worse, that’s just the way a typical thermal power plant works.
Fuel, such as coal, biomass, natural gas, or uranium (in the case of nuclear plants), is used to heat water, producing high-temperature and high-pressure steam. The steam is admitted into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. However, not all of the energy stored in the steam is converted to useful work through the process.
In order for the cycle to continue, the steam exhausted from the turbine must be returned to its liquid form inside a condenser. In a fairly standard arrangement, the condenser is cooled by river, lake, or ocean water. The cooling water from the condenser is often simply released back to its source, and with it, the energy that was transferred inside the condenser.
Waste Not, Want Not
The average U.S.…
U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Closures [Slideshow]
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nuclear power has accounted for about 20% of electricity generated in the U.S. each year since 1990. In fact, the U.S. nuclear fleet out produced France—the country with the next highest nuclear generation—by more than two to one in 2012. Russia was a distant third, generating less than a quarter of the U.S. total.
But times of late have been tough for U.S. nuclear generators. Natural gas prices are at historic lows, leading to cheap gas-fueled generation. Even with climate concerns and a worldwide movement to reduce CO2 emissions, the market is not rewarding nuclear power’s zero-carbon generation. In competitive markets, nuclear power is not competitive.
Since October 2012, U.S. nuclear plant owners have closed or announced closure of 14 reactor units at 11 plant sites. Many of the units had already gone through the lengthy process of obtaining 20-year license extensions, which would have allowed them to operate until the 2030s in some cases.…
Utility Paradigm Changing Globally in Response to Distributed Energy and Digitization
Enrico Viale, head of global thermal generation for the Italian energy company Enel, kicked off an international power industry event yesterday with a keynote presentation describing the “needs” of utilities in the future.
Enrico Viale, head of global thermal generation for the Italian energy company Enel, gave the keynote presentation at Power-Gen Europe on June 21, 2016 in Milan. Courtesy: Lee BuchsbaumWith more than 100 power plants in 33 nations generating and distributing energy to more than 60 million customers, Enel’s multi-platform fleet is rapidly changing. “We are in the middle of a transition to a new energy paradigm characterized by the rise of renewables and distributed energy. These pose challenges to traditional generation and power network systems,” he told attendees at Power-Gen Europe in Milan, Italy, on July 21.
From Viale’s global perspective, all utilities are being influenced by four major factors: “persistent market volatility, a growing environmental culture, calls for sustainability, and the megatrend of digitalization.”…
FPL to Buy and Phase Out Another Florida Coal Power Plant
Florida Light and Power (FPL) wants to buy and phase out another coal-fired power plant in Florida, a move it says will save its customers an estimated $ 129 million when new gas-fired infrastructure is built in the state.
The NextEra subsidiary on June 20 filed a petition for the Florida Public Service Commission’s (PSC’s) approval to buy the 330-MW Indiantown Cogeneration facility, which is currently owned by Calypso Energy Holdings, in a deal valued at about $ 451 million (including existing debt).
The coal-fired plant is equipped with advanced pollution controls, including selective catalytic reduction technology and a zero-discharge water treatment system. It also sells steam to Louis Dreyfus Citrus, a nearby food processing plant, under an energy services agreement. It is unclear how the deal will affect that contract.
The state regulator approved a power purchase agreement between FPL and the cogeneration facility in 1991 that does not expire until 2025. If the PSC approves the proposal, FPL estimates it will save customers $ 129 million over the remaining life of the contract, approximately nine years.…
GE-Powered Combined Cycle Plant Sets New Efficiency Record
Guinness World Records recognized GE’s HA gas turbine for powering the world’s most efficient—up to 62.22%—combined cycle power plant.
The first unit equipped with an HA turbine officially began operation on June 17 at EDF’s plant located in Bouchain, France.
“Today we are making history with this power plant for the future,” said Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power. “We are thrilled to be acknowledged by Guinness World Records for powering the world’s most efficient combined-cycle power plant, and we are also very proud of the industry-leading flexibility and reliability this turbine provides to our customers. We look forward to continuing to work with EDF and providing services to ensure the ongoing high performance of the Bouchain plant in the years to come.”
According to GE, the airflow through the 605-MW Bouchain plant’s HA compressor could fill the Goodyear blimp in 10 seconds. The tip of the last blade in the 9HA.01 is said to move at 1,200 miles per hour—one and a half times the speed of sound (Figure 1).…