Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
130
120
Figure 13
Effects of
ambient temperature
110
Heat Rate
Percent
Design
100
90
Exhaust Flow
Heat Cons.
Output
80
70
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
°F
-18 -7 4 16 27 38 49
Compressor
Inlet
Te mperature
°C
Figure
13
illustrates the efect of ambient temperature on the output and heat rate of a
simple cycle combustion turbine.
Although these efects are not large in percentage terms, even a relatively small
change could have signiicant implications for regional or national electric power sup-
ply. For example, an average reduction of 1 percent in electricity generated by thermal
power plants nationwide would mean a loss of 33 billion kilowat-hours per year, about
the amount of electricity consumed by 3 million Americans, a loss that would need to
be supplied in some other way or ofset through measures that improve eiciency or re-
duce demand. This one-percent shortfall is roughly equivalent to the output of 5 GW of
electricity generation capacity, operating at a typical capacity factor of 85%. The output
fallof of combustion turbines at high temperatures can be particularly troublesome dur-
ing high temperature events when peaking capacity is broadly dispatched to help meet
electrical demand.
Exposures to climate-related weather extremes and extreme events
A signiicant fraction of America's energy infrastructure is located in areas vulnerable
to impacts of climate change, especially in coastal areas: power plants, oil reineries,
facilities that receive oil and gas deliveries, and pipelines (SAP 4.5; GCRP 2009).
Rising
sea levels combined with more intensive coastal storms and, in the Gulf Coast land sub-
sidence (SAP 4.7,) threaten direct losses, such as equipment damage from looding or
erosion, and indirect efects, such as the costs of raising vulnerable assets to higher levels
or building new facilities farther inland, increasing transportation costs.
As witnessed in
2005, hurricanes
can have a debilitating impact on energy infrastructure. Direct losses to
the energy industry in 2005 have been estimated at $15 billion, with millions more in res-
toration and recovery costs. As one case, the Yscloskey Gas Processing Plant (located on
the Louisiana coast) was forced to close for six months following Hurricane Katrina,
resulting in lost revenues to the plant's owners and employees and higher prices for
consumers, as gas had to be produced from other sources (SAP 4.5).
In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that, outside of
greater New Orleans, Hampton Roads is at the greatest risk from sea-level rise or any
