Gas Fired Power Plants
Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:07 am
https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2017/ ... 1060058926
New gas plants cheaper than distributed power, according to a new study in California. E&E News.
A hotly awaited study on alternatives to building a new gas-fired power plant in Southern California has found that distributed resources could fill the need but would be more expensive than conventional resources. The state's grid operator released a study late Wednesday that found NRG Energy Inc.'s proposed Puente Power Project on the California coast would be far cheaper than varying combinations of distributed resources, battery storage and grid reliability technologies. Puente, which was proposed as a replacement for a larger plant on the same site, is seen as a harbinger of natural gas's future in California as the state pursues ever-higher concentrations of renewables.
The California Independent System Operator analyzed how much capacity is needed in the Moorpark area of Ventura County. Scenarios included replacing the 262-MW Puente with varying amounts and combinations of demand response, energy efficiency, solar power and storage. CAISO found that distributed resources plus grid-connected battery storage would cost $805 million, compared with $299 million for Puente. Distributed resources plus even more battery storage, in the event that another nearby gas-fired plant retires, would cost $1.1 billion.
New gas plants cheaper than distributed power, according to a new study in California. E&E News.
A hotly awaited study on alternatives to building a new gas-fired power plant in Southern California has found that distributed resources could fill the need but would be more expensive than conventional resources. The state's grid operator released a study late Wednesday that found NRG Energy Inc.'s proposed Puente Power Project on the California coast would be far cheaper than varying combinations of distributed resources, battery storage and grid reliability technologies. Puente, which was proposed as a replacement for a larger plant on the same site, is seen as a harbinger of natural gas's future in California as the state pursues ever-higher concentrations of renewables.
The California Independent System Operator analyzed how much capacity is needed in the Moorpark area of Ventura County. Scenarios included replacing the 262-MW Puente with varying amounts and combinations of demand response, energy efficiency, solar power and storage. CAISO found that distributed resources plus grid-connected battery storage would cost $805 million, compared with $299 million for Puente. Distributed resources plus even more battery storage, in the event that another nearby gas-fired plant retires, would cost $1.1 billion.