Utilities Market Drivers: Technology

Table of Contents

• DATAMONITOR VIEW
  • CATALYST
  • SUMMARY
• ANALYSIS
  • Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) continues to be the dominant new build generation technology.
  • CCGT are proven technologies that combine low capital build cost with high thermal efficiency.
  • Switching from coal to natural gas inherently improves carbon efficiency and emissions performance.
  • Emissions reduction technology is central to life extensions for old plants.
  • Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) is an established and capable technology.
  • A range of technologies can enable coal to reduce its carbon emissions.
  • On shore wind continues to dominate new renewable build.
  • On shore wind is the dominant renewable technology.
  • Off shore wind promises to be the next most attractive technology of choice.
  • The historical renewable of choice, large hydro, has fallen out of favour.
  • There are also proponents of energy from tidal and wave energy.
  • Both gas-fired and renewable generation contribute to a new decentralisation of power networks.
  • Technical and commercial advantages should be realisable from Distributed Generation (DG) networks.
  • Small-scale gas fired generation enables a transition towards a less centralised power network.
  • There are many technical and commercial barriers before true Distributed Generation (DG) networks are built.
  • Third generation nuclear reactor technology is reviving opportunities for new build.
  • Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR) are currently the most commonly installed design.
  • Pebble bed reactors are passively safe and expected to feature prominently in the future.
  • Technology Descriptions
  • Simple cycle gas turbine power plants are available as components and are relatively simple to install.
  • Steam power plants offer the widest selection of fuel choice as the exhaust gases do not pass through the turbine.
  • Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plants use both a gas and steam cycle together to maximise efficiency.
  • Fuel Cells react Hydrogen with Oxygen to produce electric current directly.
  • Small scale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units can enable significant fuel savings for domestic customers.
  • Photovoltaic cells generate power without any mechanical components.
• APPENDIX
  • Definitions
  • Ask the analyst
  • List of Tables
    • Table 1: Comparison of power plant costs and efficiencies
    • Table 2: Gas Turbine Datapoints
    • Table 3: Coal (Steam) Power Plant Datapoints
    • Table 4: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant Datapoints
    • Table 5: Report Definitions
  • List of Figures
    • Figure 1: Chemical Structure of Fuels
    • Figure 2: Flue Gas Desulphurisation Example
    • Figure 3: Carbon Capture and Storage
    • Figure 4: Wind Turbine Schematic
    • Figure 5: Output vs. Average Wind Speed
    • Figure 6: Axial flow turbine used for tidal power schemes
    • Figure 7: Traditional Centralised Power Network
    • Figure 8: Decentralised power generation
    • Figure 9: Pressurized Water Reactor schematic
    • Figure 10: Pebble Bed Reactor schematic
    • Figure 11: Gas Turbine Schematic
    • Figure 12: Coal (Steam) Power Plant Schematic
    • Figure 13: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant Schematic
    • Figure 14: Internal Structure of PEM Fuel Cell
    • Figure 15: Small-scale CHP system
    • Figure 16: Photovoltaic Cell Schematic