2011 Outlook for Fossil Power

摘要

Power generators with coal and natural gas-fired assets will pay close attention to rules from the US Environmental Protection Agency that may well affect fortunes of both generation sources. Use of fracking techniques has opened new geologic formations to natural gas development and extended estimates for supply from 30 years to as much as 100 years. The Energy Information Administration's short-term outlook issued in December projected that total electric power sector generation will increase in 2% percent during 2011. The North American Electric Reliability Corp (NERC) October 26 said four potential EPA regulations could result in a loss of up to 19% of fossil-fired steam capacity in the US by 2018. NERC said the industry-wide effort to manage, coordinate and schedule an environmental control retrofit would present considerable operational challenges.