Coal-Fired Plants Project Retirement Plan

摘要

TVA is committed to meet power demands on its system, and ensure availability of reliable power to its consumers at the lowest feasible cost. As a result of aging of equipment and other components, the cost of operating and maintaining the unit increases significantly. Also, age and use related problems in turbine, boiler, and electrical components could require costly replacements for continued safe operation of the plant. Therefore, studies must be done to determine if and when safe operating conditions do not exist any more, and further modifications and replacement of the plant equipment is considered uneconomical. Detailed evaluation of the major factors which impact operating conditions or contribute to the higher costs of generating power is necessary to determine whether it is economical to mothball, retire, or replace an existing generating unit with a new unit before it has become unsafe. There are several factors specific to each unit which would result in mothballing, retiring or replacing an existing unit. These factors along with their economics and methodology for retirement have been addressed in this study. Also discussed in this study is the historical electric utility industry and TVA experience on retiring of existing generating units. 5 figures, 13 tables. (ERA citation 09:028253)