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Released August 29, 2022 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Although several gigawatts of coal-fired power has been retired in the U.S. in the past several years, with more retirements on the way, coal use in the U.S. nevertheless went up in 2021 from 2020 levels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
According to the EIA, coal produced 773,393 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power in the U.S. in 2020. This rose to 898,679 GWh last year, an increase of 16%. While reasons for this vary, the rising cost of natural gas can account for some of the increased use of coal.
While there is about 205 gigawatts worth of coal-fired plants in the U.S., according to the EIA, some of these will be retiring as utilities respond to states' renewable portfolio standards, many of which designate that a certain amount of the power generated by utilities come from renewables or other zero-emissions sources such as nuclear. In addition, most major U.S. utilities have set their own greenhouse gas goals, with many aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, coal-fired plants are being retired.
However, rather than simply shuttering a plant and eventually dismantling and demolishing it, some power providers are opting for other options, including coal-to-natural gas conversions, or modifying plants to be able to burn both types of fuels. While natural gas is not emissions-free, it is often viewed as a greener option when compared to coal, and unlike solar and wind power, can provide consistent baseload power even if the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.
According to the EIA, around 13 plants have been converted to coal-gas flex-fuel operations in the past five years in the U.S., representing a total generating capacity of 16,522 megawatts (MW). A majority of these plants are located in the southeastern U.S., mainly in Florida and the Carolinas.
Examples include units 5 and 6 at Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) Rogers Energy Complex in Mooresboro, North Carolina. Both units were previously only coal-fired but were converted to dual-fuel units in 2018 and 2019. Unit 6 started operating as a coal-fired plant in the early 2010s and, after the conversion, is able to burn 100% coal, or 100% natural gas or any mixture of the two. Unit 5, which was completed in 1972, was unable to achieve this flexibility and can now burn up to 40% natural gas with coal. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can click here for the plant profile.
As Duke works to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, with an interim goal of 50% carbon reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, Unit 5 eventually will be retired, with decommissioning and dismantlement possibly beginning in 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Power Project Database can click here for more details.
Industrial Info is tracking more than $730 million in active coal-to-gas conversion projects in the U.S. One of the leading players in this movement is Xcel Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota), which also has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Among the company's coal-to-gas conversion projects is the conversion of three 350-MW units at the Harrington Power Station in Amarillo, Texas. Conversion of Unit 1 could potentially begin in late 2023, followed by units 2 and 3 in 2024. As of July, the project was under final consideration by Xcel, according to local news media. Subscribers can click here for related project reports.
Smaller companies also are following suit. Frontier Industrial Corporation (Buffalo, New York), which provides "a wide range of demolition and redevelopment services," is converting the Oklaunion coal-fired power plant in Vernon, Texas, to burn gas, requiring construction of a new natural gas pipeline and a revamp of the boiler. The conversion project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subscribers can click here for more details.
But coal-to-gas conversions are not limited to just the Power Industry. Industrial Info also is tracking such projects in the Metals & Minerals and Pulp, Paper & Wood industries. Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (Helsinki, Finland) plans to begin the conversion process for boilers at pulp and paper mills in Mosinee, Wisconsin, and Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Both projects are expected to kick off later this year, with the Kaukauna mill's conversion expected to be completed by the end of 2022, followed by the Mosinee mill in the summer of 2023. Subscribers can click here for the project reports. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Pulp & Paper Project Database can click here for the report on the Kaukauna boiler conversion and here for the Mosinee project.
Click here for a look at all of the projects discussed in this article, and here for the plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
According to the EIA, coal produced 773,393 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power in the U.S. in 2020. This rose to 898,679 GWh last year, an increase of 16%. While reasons for this vary, the rising cost of natural gas can account for some of the increased use of coal.
While there is about 205 gigawatts worth of coal-fired plants in the U.S., according to the EIA, some of these will be retiring as utilities respond to states' renewable portfolio standards, many of which designate that a certain amount of the power generated by utilities come from renewables or other zero-emissions sources such as nuclear. In addition, most major U.S. utilities have set their own greenhouse gas goals, with many aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this, coal-fired plants are being retired.
However, rather than simply shuttering a plant and eventually dismantling and demolishing it, some power providers are opting for other options, including coal-to-natural gas conversions, or modifying plants to be able to burn both types of fuels. While natural gas is not emissions-free, it is often viewed as a greener option when compared to coal, and unlike solar and wind power, can provide consistent baseload power even if the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.
According to the EIA, around 13 plants have been converted to coal-gas flex-fuel operations in the past five years in the U.S., representing a total generating capacity of 16,522 megawatts (MW). A majority of these plants are located in the southeastern U.S., mainly in Florida and the Carolinas.
Examples include units 5 and 6 at Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) Rogers Energy Complex in Mooresboro, North Carolina. Both units were previously only coal-fired but were converted to dual-fuel units in 2018 and 2019. Unit 6 started operating as a coal-fired plant in the early 2010s and, after the conversion, is able to burn 100% coal, or 100% natural gas or any mixture of the two. Unit 5, which was completed in 1972, was unable to achieve this flexibility and can now burn up to 40% natural gas with coal. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can click here for the plant profile.
As Duke works to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, with an interim goal of 50% carbon reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, Unit 5 eventually will be retired, with decommissioning and dismantlement possibly beginning in 2026. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Power Project Database can click here for more details.
Industrial Info is tracking more than $730 million in active coal-to-gas conversion projects in the U.S. One of the leading players in this movement is Xcel Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota), which also has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Among the company's coal-to-gas conversion projects is the conversion of three 350-MW units at the Harrington Power Station in Amarillo, Texas. Conversion of Unit 1 could potentially begin in late 2023, followed by units 2 and 3 in 2024. As of July, the project was under final consideration by Xcel, according to local news media. Subscribers can click here for related project reports.
Smaller companies also are following suit. Frontier Industrial Corporation (Buffalo, New York), which provides "a wide range of demolition and redevelopment services," is converting the Oklaunion coal-fired power plant in Vernon, Texas, to burn gas, requiring construction of a new natural gas pipeline and a revamp of the boiler. The conversion project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Subscribers can click here for more details.
But coal-to-gas conversions are not limited to just the Power Industry. Industrial Info also is tracking such projects in the Metals & Minerals and Pulp, Paper & Wood industries. Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (Helsinki, Finland) plans to begin the conversion process for boilers at pulp and paper mills in Mosinee, Wisconsin, and Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Both projects are expected to kick off later this year, with the Kaukauna mill's conversion expected to be completed by the end of 2022, followed by the Mosinee mill in the summer of 2023. Subscribers can click here for the project reports. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Pulp & Paper Project Database can click here for the report on the Kaukauna boiler conversion and here for the Mosinee project.
Click here for a look at all of the projects discussed in this article, and here for the plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
