Technology seen as key to gas-fired power on zero-carbon grid

摘要

The electric industry has cut carbon emissions by switching from coalfired plants to gas-fired generation, but now the sector must figure out whether and how gas-fired power can keep running on a carbon-free grid, speakers said Monday at the Edison Electric Institute conference in Philadelphia. An increasing number of states and companies are adopting goals to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050 or sooner, a trend that could have a big impact on the generation mix. The power sector has reduced carbon emissions 27% in the last 15 years, said Brian Gutknecht, chief marketing officer of GE Power. Renewables account for 40% of that reduction and the remaining 60% came from coal-to-gas switching, he said. Gutknecht said more gas-fired generation might actually be required in the near term to help quickly integrate renewables and retire coal-fired generation. Next, the focus can turn to carbon capture utilization and sequestration for gas-fired plants, as well as to increasing the amount of hydrogen burned in gas turbines, he said.