Energy Project Siting Considerations for Traditional and Renewable Generation Options
This document outlines the key siting considerations for both traditional and renewable energy projects, highlighting their development issues, gestation periods, and costs. It reviews various generation options such as nuclear, coal, natural gas combined cycle, and renewable technologies including wind, solar, and biomass. The document addresses the advantages and disadvantages of each option, including land requirements, environmental impacts, and scalability. Additional considerations for baseline energy projects and closed bases related to public support and regulatory pressures are also explored.
Energy Project Siting Considerations for Traditional and Renewable Generation Options
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Presentation Transcript
Event Location Event Date and Location
Development Issues Energy Project Siting Considerations Tom Graves, Burns & McDonnell
Traditional Generation Options Base Load • Nuclear • Coal Intermediate / Peak Load • Natural Gas Combined Cycle • Natural Gas / Oil Simple Cycle • Natural Gas / Diesel Reciprocating Engines
Base Load Characteristics Nuclear • 10+ year gestation period • High development cost $$$$$ • Massive land (1,000+ acres) Coal • 5-10 year gestation period • High development cost $$$$ • Immense regulatory pressure • Significant land (500-1,000 acres)
Intermediate / Peak Load Characteristics Combined Cycle • 3-4 year gestation period • Moderate development cost $$ • Moderate land (100 acres) Simple Cycle / Reciprocating Engines • 2-3 year gestation period • Low development cost $ • Minimal land (50 acres)
Renewable Technology Options Abundant and viable • Biomass • Solar • Wind Limited capacity and/or technology • Geothermal • Landfill methane • Hydro • Others
Wind Advantages • Small footprint • No emissions • Free fuel • Declining costs • Quick installation • Phased growth
Wind Disadvantages • Doesn’t match load • Transmission • Intermittent resource • Size (40-60 acres / MW) • Environmental impacts • Birds • Noise • Visual
Solar Advantages • No emissions • Free fuel • Matches load • Quick installation • Easily scalable • Low operational costs • Residential/Commercial • No noise
Solar Disadvantages • Capital intensive • Transmission • Intermittent resource • Weather • Land requirements • Efficiency
Biomass Advantages • Capacity Value • Easily retrofit • Easily scalable • Familiar operations
Biomass Disadvantages • Emissions • Low heating value • Fuel storage • Cost • Significant off-site impacts
Which Option is Best? • Renewable development options are largely dependent upon regional resource availability factors • Traditional generating resources impose fewer restrictions
Considerations for Realigned Bases • Physical space demands • Voltage control on distribution system • Potential need for flexible resources • Plant operation is foreign to bases • Security considerations • Potential flight approach path impacts • Potential LSE standby energy charges • Likely Notice of Availability requirements
Considerations for Closed Bases • Interference with remediation programs • Energy development projects have long gestation periods • Public support often less durable • “Feed-in tariffs” can prop up public support • Nodal pricing changes as the base becomes a net energy exporter
