Greener Energy Systems

3 New role for combined cycles

For the last twenty years the gas-fired combined cycle has been the preferred power plant for capacity additions over much of the world. It has low environmental impact, high efficiency, and is quick to build. Furthermore, since the primary power unit is a gas turbine, it has greater flexibility of operation.

Inevitably we will still need some fossil-fired power plants because of the daily variations in electricity demand. Nuclear plants have poor load-following capability; there is not enough water power potential remaining in the developed industrial countries; and the new renewables, solar, marine currents, and wind, cannot operate continuously and therefore cannot be always available to meet peak demand. ...