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ID:
150069
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| Summary/Abstract |
We investigate lower than expected capacity factors of Combined Heat and Power plants using a publicly available dataset of hourly performance for plants in the state of New York. Low utilization of a CHP indicates underperformance. We examine possible causes of this underperformance including economic arbitrage, poor maintenance and operational practices, oversizing of plants, and reliability and resiliency needs. Based on seasonal and weekday/weekend capacity factor averages, we find that there is not enough evidence to support the economic arbitrage cause. Out of 99 plants in the dataset, 64 plants have average capacity factor below 60%, indicating they are either oversized and/or poorly maintained. This suggests that the current practice of one-time fixed incentive ($/kW) favors investment in capacity with no incentive for utilization (unlike a production credit which incentivizes generation $/kW h). From a policy perspective, this paper recommends better pre-engineering assessment for correct sizing, as well as revision of incentives based on performance. Additional information should be collected so that a more accurate ongoing analysis of the societal benefits of CHP projects can be made. Lastly, the energy efficiency gap may be smaller than is commonly assumed and other options should be explored to meet energy efficiency goals.
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| 2 |
ID:
191222
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| Summary/Abstract |
Policies to substantially increase the amount of renewable energy produced and electrify much of the transportation and industrial sectors to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals envision an extensive expansion of the transmission system. One set of proposals calls for anticipatory transmission planning, namely, building transmission to regions with the potential to develop renewable energy resources before their actual development. This paper presents a case study of transmission expansion planning in India. Our study finds that it is possible to overbuild the transmission system even in a country that is rapidly developing thermal and renewable resources and has sizeable electricity load growth. Anticipatory transmission planning, high guaranteed returns and weak governance can result in transmission overbuilding. This cautionary finding motivates several recommended public policy reforms to reduce future overbuilds, while supporting economically efficient and environmentally sound transmission development.
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