WSRL.ORG / Rural Colorado Energy Issues - July. 2005 - Revised July 2008 - Page 1 This page is dedicated primarily to methods of generating electrical energy that involve the burning of fossil fuels. There are only three sources of energy that can be reasonably considered as solutions to the vast amounts of energy now required for stationary applications. Coal, Nuclear and Solar are most often mentioned as solutions to large energy needs. Biofuels are already in trouble in terms of water, fertilizer and general food cost considerations. Natural gas is a major energy source but is currently used largely for domestic heating and product manufacture feed stock. In this writer's opinion, it is far too valuable to simply be burned in a utility boiler. Super efficient combined cycle plants might be an exception. In this region, geothermal energy is considered an option mainly for low temperature direct applications. Serious power generation, however, requires wells be drilled to depths of 10 - 15,000 feet to access hotter areas. This usually creates the possibility for earthquakes if high pressure water injection is used.
Conversion Efficiencies -
As of this writing (10-20-07), TriStates generation projects in Kansas have been stopped because construction permits have been denied. Xcel's construction of a third unit in Pueblo is under attack on several fronts. To understand these events, one must understand the basic conversion efficiencies of present day coal plants. In a conventional coal plant, for every 1000 BTU's worth of coal going into the boiler, only 300 to 350 BTU's end up being converted to electrical energy. The rest is waisted in the form of heat. One of the stupidest things we do is consume vast quantities of diesel fuel to transport millions of tons of coal to east & Midwest power plants only to throw 70 TO 75% of the energy in the coal away. Combined cycle plants (IGCC or standard fuel), burning natural gas or synfuel gas, achieve between 55 & 60 percent efficiency. If the waste heat from such a plant is further used for something like greenhouse heating, efficiencies can range to 85%. In today's world with concern for limiting greenhouse gases, generation of electrical energy is less about cost and more about reducing pollutants & greenhouse gases.
Cooling Towers -
It is somewhat surprising that people still believe that coal based power plants are highly efficient. The picture to the right, showing the typical very large cooling towers required at such
From "Big Coal" - Goodell Now Comes FutureGen -
FutureGen Update 1-30-08: the U.S. Government restructures it's commitment to the FutureGen project. As of now the Govenment will limit it's activities to the Carbon Capture & Sequesteration (CCS) part of the project. FutureGen represents much higher cost to generate electricity but provides for nearly zero pollution as a trade off. The technology is unproven and somewhat high risk. This project may, however, be the best single hope of generating sufficient electrical energy for our economy from coal. Currently and except maybe for nuclear, there is no other fuel source that can scale quickly to the vast energy requirements the U.S. needs in the near term. I have yet to see (1-1-08) hard data that renewables can effectively and economically play in this environment.
Electrical Grid
The Beck, Schmitz, School of Mines report report (pages 56 & 58) details current as well as projected electric energy needs through 2025. It's important to realize that electric energy supplies in the U.S. operate in a controlled but basically open and competitive environment through a system known as OASIS. I don't see TriState or anyone else selling electrical energy at radically different prices apart from normal market values. Barring a major recession or depression and based on the load-balance graphics referenced above, I see the price of electrical energy trending higher as supplies get tighter. In my view, suppliers (generators) need do nothing but wait to see their price and profit margins increase (supply & demand). I also see, without the addition of sufficient generation and transmission resources and/or rigid regulation, price spikes just as we've seen with petroleum products. From the graphics, we'll be lucky to not see rolling blackouts should a major piece of equipment fail. TriState's OASIS neighbors can be viewed here.
Energy Orbs
Use of "Energy Orbs" is the latest trick being used by electric utilities to reduce consumption. They have caught on well with the public where other control means and schemes have failed. Read about this interesting technolgy on my "meters" page page.
Deregulated Power
If you are a COOP customer and if DMEA and other REA's screwup bad enough, you may eventually see a deregulated electric market option in Colorado. To view a sampling of current Colorado costs, go to this site's E-cost page. To view the costs and companies in Texas, see the links to the right. This option turns electric marketing into something much like telephone company marketing. As with telephone and cellular marketing (and some REA marketing), false claims and half truths already seem to be a major part of this picture.
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