Abstract:
Growing demand for baseload power generation creates an opportunity to adapt planned solar and wind project developments for new thermal power facilities. This strategic shift allows companies to add dispatchable power and diversify their energy production portfolio.
Sargent & Lundy’s white paper establishes a framework to evaluate an existing project site’s suitability for new thermal power generation. It focuses on five critical elements that determine a project’s viability, cost, and schedule: electrical grid interconnection, permitting and environmental requirements, fuel availability, water availability, and repurposing electrical assets or inventory.
Historically, these five elements often dramatically impact project cost and schedule because of their ties to design, contract terms for goods and services, and the rates earned from exported power. By examining these factors, Sargent & Lundy provides a structured framework to help owners, developers, and engineers navigate the complexities of converting renewable energy properties and assets to support base-loaded generation projects.
Authors: Lilia M. Papadopoulos, Bogdan Pinte, Ben Nelson, Annika York, and Roberto Gutierrez – Sargent & Lundy