Operating Flexibility of Power Plants with CCS

Technical Report

1 June 2012

Noemi Ferrari, Luca Mancuso, Paolo Cotone

Citation: IEAGHG, "Operating Flexibility of Power Plants with CCS", 2012-06, June 2012.

Publication Overview

IEAGHG has commissioned Foster Wheeler Italiana to carry out a study to review the operating flexibility of the current leading power generation technologies with CCS and to assess performance and costs of some techniques for improving flexibility. This overview of the report was written by IEAGHG.

Publication Summary

The flexibility of NGCC plants has improved in recent years as suppliers continue to respond to customers’ requirements for greater flexibility and modern NGCCs are typically capable of fast start-up, shut–down and load cycling. The minimum operating load is usually determined by the increasing environmental emissions at low loads.

USC-PC plants are also characterised by low minimum operating loads and good cycling capabilities and start-up times. In contrast, IGCC plants have relatively low cycling capabilities, high minimum load and long start-up times although faster start-up may be possible if an auxiliary fuel is used in the gas turbines.

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