The Benefits of Repowering
A change as monumental as decarbonizing our electric system can be challenging and unpredictable.
For instance, to achieve the mandates of the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, new, emission-free generating technologies must replace retiring fossil fuel-based generation.
However, these new technologies are not yet available on a commercial scale. In addition, economic development investments, the likes of which haven’t been seen in New York in decades, are driving a need for additional power. New data centers, chip fabrication facilities and even traditional manufacturing projects are arriving at a quickening pace.
So, what options exist in the short-term to transition the electric system, support economic development and achieve deep emissions reductions? One idea is the repowering of existing, older fossil fuel power plants, or upgrading existing renewable generating facilities with new technologies.
Repowering can offer a bridge between old and new, the past and the future. It involves replacing or upgrading existing components with new equipment that can increase power output, improve efficiency, and aid the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Repowering is especially important to consider as we rely more on an aging generation fleet. With many power plants in New York already beyond industry standards for their expected useful life, the NYISO has raised concerns with future reliability. Upgrading our existing fleet not only can help with a stepped approach to carbon reductions by replacing older, dirtier turbines with new, cleaner cutting-edge technology, it also holds the potential for helping avoid future generator breakdowns, therefore bolstering grid reliability.
Here's a more detailed examination of the benefits of repowering:
What it is
Repowering is the process of retrofitting and modernizing existing power plants, often focusing on replacing older components with cleaner, more efficient and powerful equipment that can provide more energy and lower emissions.
Why it's done
- Increased efficiency: Newer technologies can generate more power with the same or even less resources.
- Reduced environmental impact: Repowering can allow for a transition to cleaner energy sources, reducing carbon emissions.
- Extended lifespan: By upgrading components, the overall lifespan of a power plant can be extended, bolstering reliability.
- Cost savings: Repowering can be a more cost-effective solution than building a new plant, especially when existing infrastructure can be utilized.
Examples of repowering
- Fossil plants: Replacing older boilers or turbines with newer, cleaner, more efficient, cutting-edge technology.
- Hydro power: This process often includes replacing turbines, generators, automation systems, and hydraulic components to enhance the plant's performance.
- Solar power: Replacing older photovoltaic equipment and inverters with newer, more efficient generating equipment.
- Wind power: Replacing turbines with greater capacity or upgrading older blades with more efficient technology can improve energy yield.
The benefits
- Increased power generation: Repowering can lead to a material increase in the total capacity of a power plant, something increasingly important as we observe declining reliability margins across the state.
- Improved grid stability: Newer, thermal-based generating technologies can provide what’s known as “voltage support,” which bolsters grid reliability and keeps the flow of electricity steady along transmission infrastructure over great distances.
- Reduced environmental impact: Building large generating facilities on new sites can impact existing ecosystems, infrastructure or even residential areas.
Power plant repowering is a tool in the energy toolbox that goes beyond emissions reductions, avoiding costly and possibly disruptive new construction.
From extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure to enhancing grid stability and supporting economic growth, repowering can provide a practical pathway or bridge for achieving lower emissions profiles, and a more resilient energy future.
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