Supply and Energy Efficiency Options
Supply and Energy Efficiency Options
This table summarizes our current view of supply and energy efficiency options to meet customer needs from the standpoint of key sustainability criteria. We believe a diversified portfolio helps us meet our customers' electricity needs in a sustainable way.
Note: Ratings for affordable, reliable, clean and jobs potential are based on plant footprint, internal knowledge and our experience in our service areas. External resources, where available, are cited below.
| Type|Purpose | Affordable2 | Reliable | Clean | Jobs Potential4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CO2 Emissions2 |
Water Required3 | Waste Produced | Land Required | ||||
Cleaner Coal |
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| Supercritical Pulverized, with Advanced Emissions Controls|Baseload1 | High capital but low operating cost |
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| Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) | Baseload | High capital but low operating cost |
Potential for CO2 sequestration |
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Nuclear |
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| Baseload | High capital but low operating cost |
Very small volume; recycling possible |
Many jobs over a sustained period |
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Natural Gas |
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| Simple-Cycle Combustion Turbine | Peaking1 | Low capital but high operating cost; volatile fuel cost |
Moderate CO2 emissions |
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| Combined-Cycle Combustion Turbine | Intermediate2 | Low capital but high operating cost; volatile fuel cost |
Moderate CO2 emissions |
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Renewables |
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| Solar - Photovoltaic | Intermittent3 | Very high capital but low operating cost |
If sunlight is available |
May use rooftops |
Mainly during development and construction |
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| Wind | Intermittent | High capital but low operating cost |
If wind is available |
Co-use possible |
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| Hydro | Peaking and Energy Storage | High capital but low operating cost |
If water is available |
Large flows; negligible consumption |
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| Biomass | Baseload | High capital but low operating cost |
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Energy Efficiency |
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| Demand Response | Peaking | Low cost at low contribution; high cost at high contribution |
Dependent on customer participation |
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| Conservation | Baseload | Low cost at low contribution; high cost at high contribution |
Dependent on customer participation |
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1 Power plants serve the following purposes:
- Baseload - large power plants that operate continuously at near full load (except for maintenance)
- Peaking - power plants that operate for short periods to meet spikes in demand
- Intermediate - power plants that operate between the extremes of baseload and peaking electric demand
- Intermittent - power plants that are dependent on natural resource availability (sunlight, wind)
2 See Program on Technology Innovation: Integrated Generation Technology Options. EPRI, Palo Alto, Calif.: 2009. 1019539.
3 See Thirsty Energy: Water and Energy in the 21st Century. World Economic Forum, in partnership with Cambridge Energy Research Asssociates. February 2009.
4 Includes development, construction, operations and maintenance jobs. See Task Force on America's Future Energy Jobs. National Commission on Energy Policy. October 2009.
