Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2.4
Generator characteristics by energy source
Energy source
Typical unit size
Variable a
Predictable
Dispatchable
Coal
500 MW
No
Yes
Yes
Nuclear
500 MW
No
Yes
No
Gas CCGT
Up to 500 MW
No
Yes
Yes
Gas open cycle
100 MW
No
Yes
Yes
Hydro with reservoir
Up to 500 MW
No
Yes
Yes
Pumped storage hydro
Up to 500 MW
Yes
Yes
Yes
CHP
Up to 100 MW
Usually
Usually
No, because it is
heat led
Energy crops and
municipal solid
waste
Up to 40 MW (at
present in
UK), in future
larger units
N o
Y e s
Y e s
Wind
Up to 5 MW
Yes
Not accurately
No
Landfi ll gas
1 M W
N o
Y e s
Y e s
Run - of - river hydro
kW (in UK)
Yes
Not accurately
No
Photovoltaic cell
1 kW, domestic
up to 100 kW
commercial
Yes
Not accurately
No
Wave
No commercial
examples yet
Yes
Not accurately
over long
term
N o
Tidal
No recent
Yes
Yes
No
a Whether output varies in time.
2.10 Combining Sources
Many power systems at present make use of renewable sources, most commonly hydro and
wind power. For now it is suffi cient to note that, as mentioned earlier, geographical diversity
of the wind resources assists integration. Geographical diversity also applies to the other
renewable resources and is important to their integration into power systems. The relationship
between the different renewable sources, spatially and temporally, is also directly relevant to
the issue of integration. Tidal current velocities are not correlated with wind speeds, and wave
energy, although an integrated form of wind energy, is not strongly correlated with ten minute
or even hourly wind speeds. Solar power has its own unique pattern of variation, and biomass
is fl exible. How renewable sources of generation can be combined to meet load demand is a
critical issue and is discussed in later parts of the topic.
References
[1] Star, F. 'Flexibility of fossil fuel plant in a renewable energy scenario: possible implications for the UK ' , in
Renewable Electricity and the Grid , (ed. G. Boyle ), Earthscan , 2007 .
[2] Moreira , J.R. and Poole , A.D. ' Hydropower and its constraints ' , in Renewable Energy , (ed. T.B. Johansson
et al.), Earthscan , 1993 .
 
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