U.S. Coal-Fired Power Revs Up Maintenance as Demand Surges

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--U.S. power-generation companies that use coal as a resource are enjoying a demand surge. A massive energy crunch is sending prices for natural gas--coal's biggest competitor--to unforeseen highs. Nonetheless, power generators acknowledge coal's long-term prospects as an energy feedstock face a likely insurmountable structural disadvantage. At least for the near term, they will need to keep their coal-based facilities in the best possible shape to handle rising demand. Industrial Info is tracking about 40 maintenance-related projects at U.S. coal-fired power plants that are set to begin in the second half of 2022.

Despite aggressive decarbonization efforts from federal, state and corporate authorities, U.S. coal production is expected to increase 3.9% this year and another 2.1% in 2023. Energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are forecast to increase 1.3% this year, though that should reverse by next year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). For more information on near-term challenges to U.S. decarbonization, see June 9, 2022, article - Biden Sees Renewables as Source of Energy Security, and April 29, 2022, article - North American Electric Utilities Still Seeking Renewable Energy.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the top 10 parent companies for U.S. coal-fired plant maintenance in the second half of 2022, by total investment value.

Leading power-generation companies such as Xcel Energy Incorporated (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) and American Electric Power Company Incorporated (NASDAQ:AEP) (AEP) (Columbus, Ohio) plan to continue closing their coal-fired facilities in the coming years, but are preparing to maintain their remaining plants to address the current spike in coal-energy demand.

Duke leads all other power-generation companies in its spending on second-half 2022 maintenance at its coal-fired power plants. This includes three units in its home state of North Carolina: the 745-megawatt (MW) Unit 4 at the Roxboro Power Station in Semora, the 736-MW Unit 1 at the Mayo Electric Generating Plant in Roxboro, and the 562-MW Unit 5 at the Rogers Energy Complex in Mooresboro. The Mayo plant is located about 10 miles east of the Roxboro Power Station. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can read detailed reports on the Roxboro, Mayo and Rogers projects.

Duke has vowed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. While it is planning a massive buildout of renewable-energy generation and is trying to relicense its nuclear facilities, Duke executives have acknowledged supply-chain and trade issues for solar panels and nuclear fuel present a significant hurdle. For more information, see May 10, 2022, article - Duke Energy Makes Moves in Greener Directions, Navigates Potential Supply Issues.

Xcel plans to convert its 1,018-MW, coal-fired Harrington Power Station near Amarillo, Texas, to burn natural gas by 2025. Until then, it will continue with regular maintenance on its coal units, including the 350-MW Unit 2, which is expected to see a 15-day outage in September. Subscribers can learn more from a detailed project report.

Xcel also might close its 1,556.8-MW Comanche Power Station in Pueblo, Colorado, in 2031--four years earlier than initially expected--according to a recent filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The company is preparing for a three-week outage on the 350-MW Unit 2, starting in the third quarter. Subscribers can learn more from a detailed project report.

Like Duke, Xcel is aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. The company is investing heavily in renewable energy generation, but also is switching many of its coal-fired facilities to instead use another fossil fuel: natural gas. For more information, see May 12, 2022, article - Xcel Energy Prepares to Issue RFPs for Renewable, Carbon-Reduction Projects.

AEP plans to continue operating its coal-fired Flint Creek Power Plant in Gentry, Arkansas, until 2038, although it has not provided any details on what it plans to do with the facility after that time. When criticized by the Sierra Club for its planning, a spokesman for AEP subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Company said the 558-MW Flint Creek plant "is an essential part of the northwest Arkansas power grid, with ongoing upgrades that comply with stringent federal environment regulations." Those include an outage on Unit 1 set to begin in the fourth quarter. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's project report.

Two other AEP units are expected to see outages later this year: the 425-MW Unit 1 at the Clifty Creek Power Station in Madison, Indiana, and the 1,300-MW Unit 1 at the Mountaineer Power Station in New Haven, West Virginia. Last year, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) approved AEP subsidiary Appalachian Power Company's request to keep the Mountaineer plant operational until at least 2040. Subscribers can read detailed project reports on the Clifty Creek and Mountaineer outages.

AEP is vowing to reduce its dependence on fossil-fuel generation, but is facing a steeper hill than most of the other U.S.-based power-generation companies. Its long-established role in coal-fired power generation means it will face heavy environmental cleanup costs, mainly centered on closing coal ash ponds and upgrading coal-ash handling facilities. For more information, see May 16, 2022, article - AEP's $38 Billion Five-Year Capital Program Focuses on Regulated Businesses.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of maintenance-related projects at U.S. coal-fired power plants that are set to begin in the second half of 2022.

Global coal-fired generation jumped 9% in 2021 from the previous year, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), with the U.S. recording an increase of nearly 20%. Although still below 2019 levels, this represents the first increase in U.S.-based coal consumption for power generation since 2013.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the world's leading provider of market intelligence across the upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and all other major industrial markets. IIR's Global Market Intelligence Platform (GMI) supports our end-users across their core businesses, and helps them connect trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated project opportunities. Follow IIR on: LinkedIn.