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In 2005, Natural Gas Accounted For 40.5% of Installed Electricity Generating Capacity, But Only 19% of Electric Energy Generated - Fuel Switching In Industrial and Power Markets

Posted on: Thursday, 9 November 2006, 12:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c44813) has announced the addition of Fuel Switching in Industrial and Power Markets to their offering.

This report analyzes the potential for natural gas to displace, or be displaced by coal and residual fuel in United States power generation. Approximately 365 Bcf of the approximately 6,350 Bcf of natural gas used to generate power in 2005 could be switched to fuel oil or coal.

The volume of fuel that could be switched between fuels will depend on the capacity that can switch as well as the load factor at which it operates. Because fuel prices are a key ingredient in variable costs and dispatch opportunities, load factors could be influenced by fuel choice. This report analyzes switchable fuel volumes and load factors.

Why you should read this:

-- Theoretically, based on this analysis of fuel switching potential, natural gas demand for power generation could shrink by 1 Bcf/d -- or grow by 2.65 Bcf/d -- relative to 2005 gas consumption.

-- Any ability natural gas might have to displace coal as baseload generation would be incremental to natural gas demand. The author estimates that a maximum of 1,000 Bcf/year of incremental natural gas demand would result if all coal - or residual fuel oil-fired generation stations capable of switching to gas were to do so.

-- In 2005, natural gas accounted for 40.5% of installed electricity generating capacity, but only 19% of electric energy generated.

-- Of the approximately 417,000 megawatts (MW) of gas-fired capacity, only approximately 23,000 MW could be switched to residual fuel oil or coal, while about 100,000 MW could switch primarily to distillate fuel oil.

-- Installed coal-fired capacity total is approximately 328,000 MW, of which about 15,000 MW can be switched entirely to another fuel.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c44813

Source: Business Wire

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