Power Plant Options
With about 60,000 new Duke Energy customers each year, it will take time for the benefits of energy efficiency to significantly curb demand. We use four criteria to evaluate energy supply options: Is the supply affordable? Is it available? Is it reliable? Is it clean? This table summarizes the current state of power plant technology and economics for our service areas.
| Purpose | Affordable | Available | Reliable | Clean | |
| Cleaner Coal | |||||
|
Supercritical Pulverized |
Baseload | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, except for CO2 emissions |
|
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) |
Baseload | Yes | Yes, but limited utility applications | Yes | Yes, except for CO2 emissions |
| Note: Future carbon capture and sequestration could address CO2; likely easier with IGCC. | |||||
| Nuclear | |||||
| Baseload | Yes | Yes, but must restart nuclear industry | Yes | Yes, except for waste issues | |
| Natural Gas | |||||
|
Simple Cycle |
Peaking | Yes, but volatile fuel prices | Yes | Yes | Yes, lower CO2 emissions than coal |
|
Combined Cycle |
Intermediate | Yes, but volatile fuel prices | Yes | Yes | Yes, lower CO2 emissions than coal |
| Renewables | |||||
|
Solar |
Intermittent | No, very expensive now | Yes, on small scale | Yes, if resource available | Yes |
|
Wind |
Intermittent | Among least cost renewables | Yes, but geographically limited | Yes, if resource available | Yes |
|
Hydro |
Peaking | Yes | Yes, but most sites have been developed | Yes, if resource available | Yes, except for stream flow impacts |
|
Biomass |
Baseload | Among least cost renewables | Yes, on small scale | Yes, if fuel available | Yes, but not as clean as other renewables |
| Energy Efficiency | |||||
|
Demand Response |
Peaking | Yes, less than generation alternatives | Yes, but customer response uncertain | Yes, once installed | Yes |
|
Conservation |
Baseload | Yes, less than generation alternatives | Yes, but customer response uncertain | Yes, once installed | Yes |
Baseload – Large power plants that operate continuously at near full load (except for maintenance) to meet the 24/7 electric demand.
Peaking – Power plants that operate for short periods, often for just a few hours on especially hot or cold days, to meet spikes in demand.
Intermediate – Power plants that operate between the extremes of baseload and peaking electric demands.
Intermittent – Power plants that are expected to operate 15 to 30 percent of the time.
