Definition
Basic
Power plants, or in other words power stations, generating stations, or powerhouses, are the facilities for generating electrical energy. In general, all power plants have generators for conversion of mechanical, chemical or nuclear energy into electricity, but depending on the accessible fuels and/or technology, different energy sources are used to turn the generator and produce electricity.
Mechanical sources of energy at power plants include wind and water. Chemical sources like a fuel (coal, natural gas and gasoline) usually are burned. Nuclear power plants use Uranium, while other types of power stations converts geothermal, solar and tidal energy into electrical energy.
Energy sources for power generation are often grouped into renewable and non-renewable categories. Renewable energy power (such as water, solar, geothermal, wind, etc.) generation stations do not "consume" the source of energy. Non-renewable sources are "consumed" by the power plants and the reserves of that material is depleted by the amount consumed forever.
History
Origin
The world's first power plant was created by Sigmund Schuckert in Ettal (Bavaria), and was built in 1878. The powerhouse consisting of 24 dynamo electric generators was used to illuminate a grotto in the gardens of Linderhof Palace.
Siemens
Money Involved
Cost
Estimated annualized cost of power with carbon controls ($/Mwh) of technologies: Coal technologies (pulverized > integrated gasification combined cycle+carbon capture and sequestration) $100.69 - $118.92 natural gas technologies (combined cycle/combined cycle with carbon capture and sequestration) $77.21-$94.90 zero carbon technologies:
a. Geothermal -$59.23
b. Nuclear - $83.22
c. Wind - $80.74
d. Solar: thermal - $100.32
e. Solar: photovoltaic - $255.41
Congressional Research Service
According to Congressional Research Service report (delivered by Stan Kaplan), the overnight construction cost of power plant technology (for units entering service in 2015, 2008$ per kW):
a. Coal technologies - $2,485 - $4,774 (pulverized coal - with carbon capture and gasification) and varying capacity from 351 MW to 600 MW
b. Nuclear - $3,682 and 1,350 MW capacity
c. Natural gas - $1,186 (without carbon capture) - $2,342 (with carbon capture) and 400 MW capacity
d. Wind (onshore) - $1,896 and 50 MW capacity
e. Geothermal (binary) - $3,590 and 50 MW capacity
f. Solar thermal - $2,836 and 100 MW capacity
g. Solar photovoltaic - $5,782 and 5 MW capacity
Congressional Research Service
Use
Early
The first public power plant "Edison Electric Light Station" was built in London in 1882. The initiative, taken by Thomas Edison and his partner Edward Johnson helped to supply electricity to the premises in the area.
In the beginning of 20th century, the significant changes and developments appeared in power plants construction. Central power stations became larger, more efficient, reliable and cheaper to operate.
Standard Handbook of Power plant Engineering
Production
Composition
According to available data, electricity generated per year worldwide by technology (in the brackets there is information of availability per year)
a. Solar photovoltaics - 11.4 TWh (14,900 PWh)
b. Concentrated solar power - between 0.4 TWh (9250-11,800 PWh)
c. Wind - 173 TWh (630 PWh)
d. Geothermal - 52.6 TWh (1390 PWh)
e. Hydroelectric - 2840 TWh (16.5 PWh)
f. wave - 0.0014 TWh (23.6 PWh)
g. Tidal - 0.565 TWh (7 PWh)
h. Nuclear - 2630 TWh (depending on a reactor: once through thermal reactor - 4.1-122, while light-water and fast-spectrum reactor - 90-300)
i. Coal-carbon capture and storage - 0 (11 for 200).
International Energy Agency
According to the recent studies, the most accessible nature friendly power plant technology is wind, followed by concentrated solar power and geothermal, while leaving nuclear, hydro and wave technologies as the least tempting technologies.
Energy Environment Review
Challenges
Climate Change and Environment Pollution
Since one of the major problems nowadays is climate change, electricity production in power plants also faces several challenges. First of all, power plants, especially consuming non-renewable resources, are considered as one of the major planet polluters because of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and other emissions, and cooling contribution.
As it is known, global warming enhances heat stress, disease, severity of tropical storms, ocean acidity, sea levels, the melting of glaciers, snow pack and sea ice, simultaneously shifting the location of viable agriculture, harming ecosystems and animal habitats, changing the timing and etc. In order to counteract the effects of global warming, the pressure to reduce the environmental impact of power and heat production is growing. As a result, reduction of the amount of CO2 emitted during the generation of heat and power is seen as the key to reducing impacts on the environment.
Siemens
Economics
The problem, however, is that the most polluting companies in the world according to the tons of CO2 per year, is not only in developing countries as China, India, or South Africa. Among top polluters appear companies in United Kingdom and United States. It is not only the availability of the newest technologies, but also a problem of capital investment. Most of the power plants' projects cannot be implemented without state support, especially, when year by year the rise in capital (construction) and resources' costs is observed.
United Nations, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Alt Energy Stocks
Energy sources
The scarcity of non-renewable resources, dependency on imports, unstable exporting countries and rising fossil fuels prices force policy makers to rethink the importance of diversification of energy production. Since the usage of electricity is growing year by year, the importance of renewables technologies is becoming even more obvious. Even though, some of renewables technologies are considered as less efficient, the shortage of Earth's natural resources in general calls for a new approach towards renewable sources technologies.
Distribution
The generated electricity needs to be transported. The electric power grid connects the sources of electricity with customers and their myriad needs. The investments into new technologies for power plants also requires special attention to the development of smart grids in order not to lose expensively generated energy.
Efficiency vs. Climate Change
According to MIT studies, nature friendly power plants with carbon capture loses 23.9% efficiency compared with coal plant without carbon capture (from 38.5% to 29.3%). This leads to the increase of the heat rate of 31.3% and 61% in capital cost. While environmentalists are concerned about climate change, less efficient power plants is a hard burden on business and usually states, partially subsidizing the projects from states' budgets.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Possibilities
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Distributed-cogeneration power plants are an economic way of significantly reducing CO2 emissions during the production of power and heat. Installing power plants closer to the point of use reduces electrical transmission losses and provides a ready source of heat for the production of steam, hot water and chilling. Optimization of cogeneration facilities can lead to overall useful power-to-heat input ratios of greater than 90%, which can reduce the carbon footprint of an installation by 50%.
Furthermore, the economic and environmental impact of cogeneration can be further enhanced by utilizing waste gases such as refinery and coke-oven gases. It is also worth noting that application of cogeneration-to-waste gases in some regions can qualify for carbon credits.
Siemens
Key Countries
The Top Producers
(the world total: 19,894,777,395,212 kWh)
1. United States - 4,110,259,050,000
2. China - 3,221,798,270,000
3. Japan - 1,009,445,000,000
4. Russia - 982,998,790,000
5. India - 835,266,450,000
6. Canada - 614,227,000,000
7. Germany - 589,042,000,000
8. France - 539,042,000,000
9. Brazil - 448,913,750,000
10. South Korea - 415,970,000,000
The World Fact Book
Key Power Plants
The Biggest Power Producing Plants in the World
1. Seinajoki (Europe, Finland, Western Finland) - 226,000,000 MWh
2. Three Gorges (Asia, China, Hubei) - 63,300,000 MWh
3. Itaipu (South America, Brazil, Parana) - 63,300,000 MWh,
4. Raul Leoni (South America, Venezuela, Bolivar, Puerto Ordaz) - 47,500,000 MWh,
5. Kashiwazaki Kariwa (Asia, Japan, Niigata, Kashiwazaki) - 47,100,000 MWh,
6. Ulchin (Asia, South Korea, Kyongsang-bukto, Ulchin-gun) - 46,300,000 MWh,
7. Yonggwang (Asia, South Korea, CHolla-namdo, Yonggwang-gun) - 46,300,000 MWh,
8. Taichung (Asia, Taiwan (China), Taichung County, Lund-Ching Township) - 39,200,000 MWh
9. Gravelines (Europe, France, Nord-Pas-de Calais) - 37,000,000 MWh
10. Zaporichchya N (Europe, Ukraine, Zaporiz'ka, Energodar) - 36,000,000 MWh
CARMA
Opportunities
Distributed-cogeneration power plants are an economic way of significantly reduce CO2 emissions during the production of power and heat. Installing power plants closer to the point of use reduces electrical transmission losses and provides a ready source of heat for the production of steam, hot water and chilling. Optimization of cogeneration facilities can lead to overall useful power-to-heat input ratios of greater than 90%, which can reduce the carbon footprint of an installation by 50%.
Siemens
Sustainability
CSR
The Stanford professor, Marc Jacobson's recent study "Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security" incorporates findings form a variety of studies to rank clean energy technologies by their lifetime carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy produced. Including calculations not only of direct emissions, but also indirect emissions due to construction, mining, transportation, and other factors, Jacobson's paper reveals that coal's overall emissions are over 80 times greater than those of the last-emitting technology, wind.
In fact, every other clean energy technology considered in the paper - wind, photovoltaic, geothermal, tidal, wave, hydro, and nuclear - emits less than coal with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Coal with CCS emits about as much as a natural gas power plant, roughly 60% less than coal without CCS.
CARMA
Energy Environment Review
Miscellaneous
Nuclear
Germany is the biggest industrial power giving up nuclear energy. All nuclear power plants in the country will have to be closed by 2022.
BBC
Transition to Globalisation
Benefits of Fuel Cell Technology
Distributed power generation with Direct FuelCells® (DFCs®) provides numerous benefits and is being adopted at a wide array of facilities.
Globalisation > Economy > Energy > Conversion > Fuel cells
Fuel Cell Energy
New EU Power Grids in Frame Due to Gas Dispute
"Grid upgrades to boost home-grown electricity will be one European security option as a result of a Russia-Ukraine gas dispute which has disrupted supplies to 18 European Union countries."
Globalisation > Economy > Energy > Distribution > Grids
Reuters
Transition to Political Tools
Experiences with Gas and Steam Turbine Power Plant Projects on the Russian Market
Increasing electricity demands, and strong growth in the power industry, together with aging plant capacity, has created a need for new investments in Russia. The continuing challenge is to finance and execute timely huge investment projects to provide sustainable and reliable energy for its residential and industrial areas, ensuring the availability of equipment, engineering and management resources. This paper covers some of those investments and explains technical features with case studies of these projects, combined heat and power or combined cycle, as supplied by Siemes.
Political Tools > National > Russia
Siemens
The Role of Nuclear Power in Europe
In 2005, the European Regional Group of the World Energy Council (WEC) decided to launch a study to define the conditions nuclear energy should meet, to be re-integrated into the European electricity market ... The results of the study group’s work are presented in this study.
Political Tools > Regional > Europe > EU > Dom. Policies > Economy > Energy > Non Renewable
World Energy Council
Transition to Political Actors
NGO Installs Solar Energy Panels To Protest Nuclear Plant
Greenpeace has continued its anti-nuclear power plant campaign in the southern province of Mersin by installing solar energy panels on a mid-size mosque to show that renewable energy methods, if used properly, are enough to meet Turkey’s energy demands."
Political Actors > Civil Society > NGOs > Energy
Green Economy Turkey
What Activists at the Capitol Power Plant Can Learn From CARMA
On March 2, thousands of people are expected to engage in mass civil disobedience at the coal-fired Capitol Power Plant in Washington, DC. The protest, which is expected to include NASA climate scientist Jim Hanson, author Wendell Barry, and environmentalist Bill McKibben is timed to coincide with the final day of PowerShift09, a four-day “National Youth Summit” that aims to bring 10,000 students to Washington to lobby for action on climate change.
Political Actors > Civil Society
Center for Global Development
