PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILED NUMERIC ANSWERS WITH STEPS AND EXPLANATION

Integrated resource planning for utility power generation $(25$ points$)$

The load$-$demand profile for the customer base of a utility is shown in the figure on the next

page. The utility is conducting integrated resource planning to determine the generation mix

of power plants needed to meet electricity demand. Representative capital and operating

costs are listed in the table below for a nuclear pressurized water reactor power plant and for

combustors utilizing either recycled biomass or natural gas.

Assuming a fixed charge rate of $0\mathrm{.}15/$yr$,$ answer the following questions.

a$.$ Plot screening curves for the supply cost $($$$/$kW$-$yr$)$ for each plant type vs$.$ capacity

factor. You may use the attached blank graph on the next page if you wish. Clearly

label the curves as $$BIO$,$NUC$,$NGCC$,$ and $$NGCT$$ respectively for biomass,

nuclear, natural gas combined cycle, and natural gas combustion turbine power plants.

b$.$ For the least$-$cost combination of power plants, how many megawatts of capacity for

each kind of power plant should the utility construct?

c$.$ What is the projected capacity factor for each power plant type listed in your answer to

part $($b$)?$

d$.$ What is the cost of electricity $(/$kWh$)$ for the baseload and the peaking power plant

types listed in part $($b$)?$

e$.$ In addition to the generation types listed below, wind power is available at a capital cost

of $$833/$kW and a variable O&M cost of $2\mathrm{.}28/$kWh$.$ At what approximate capacity

factor is it economically justified for the utility to invest in wind generation?

If this capacity factor is achievable, should the utility install enough turbines to meet

peak demand $(7000$ MW$)$ exclusively through wind power generation? Provide a brief

explanation in support of your answer.

Turbine Fuel Capital Cost Heat Rate Fuel Cost Variable O&M

$($$$/$kW$)($Btu$/$kWh$)($$$/106$ Btu$)(/$kWh$)$

Steam Nuclear fission $166713,3000\mathrm{.}680\mathrm{.}52$

Steam Biomass $133312,2001\mathrm{.}810\mathrm{.}64$

Combined cycle Natural gas $3337,9004\mathrm{.}940\mathrm{.}38$

Combustion Natural gas $16711,0004\mathrm{.}940\mathrm{.}27$

$8$