• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.65 no.7
• /
• pp.1135-1143
• /
• 2016

A private company's 1,000 MW coal-fired power plant will be the first coal-fired power plant that was included in the 5th 'Basic Plan on Electricity Demand and Supply' (2010). Now it is facing the task to abide by the RPS(Renewable Portfolio Standard) policy after commercial operation. If they fail to supply the necessary REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) mandated by the RPS policy, they are subject to be fined by the government and forced to modify the cost function to reflect the burden. Eventually the company's coal-fired power plant will be forced to reduce generation to maximize profit because the amount of electricity generated by the power plant and the REC obligation is positively correlated. This paper analyzed the change of cost function of private coal-fired power plant according to the introduction of RPS policy from the viewpoint of private company, and finally proposed the optimal generation to maximize the profit of private coal-fired power plant under the current RPS policy.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.271-279
• /
• 2015

Global warming has pressured companies to put a greater emphasis on environment management which allows them to reduce environmental impact and costs of their operations. In Korea, the coal-fired power plants take a large account of electricity generation at 31.7% of the total electricity usage in 2014. Thus, environmental impact of coal-fired power plants is significant. This paper illustrated how to compute environmental impact and costs in electricity generation at a coal-fired power plant using MFCA methodology. Compared to the traditional accounting, an advantage of MFCA is to provide information on electricity generation costs and environmental wastes incurring throughout the production process of electricity. Based on MFCA, the coal-fired power plant was able to reduce production cost of electricity by 52.3%, and environmental wastes by 47.7%. As a result, MFCA seemed to be an effective tool in environmental management for power plants.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.164-171
• /
• 2015

Although coal-fired power generation has played a role as base load unit, it has incurred various social costs in the process of generating and providing electricity. It is necessary to extend the proportion of low-carbon power generations, and reduce the ratio of coal-fired power generation to cope with global climate changes. This study, therefore, attempts to estimate the public's willingness-to-pay (WTP) for substitution of supplied electricity from hydro-electricity generation, a representative renewable energy, for coal-fired power generation. To this end, we apply the contingent valuation (CV) method, widely used technique when valuing non-market goods, to elicit the public's WTP. In addition, a spike model is employed to consider zero WTPs. After the empirical analysis with 1,000 households CV survey data, the results show that mean household's WTP for replacing supplied electricity from hydro-electricity generation with coal-fired power generation is estimated to be about 54 KRW per kWh. The results of this study are expected to contribute to determining energy-mix and provide benefit information of hydro-electricity generation.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.197-207
• /
• 2018

The Korean government views coal-fired power plants as the key cause of the fine dust generation, and is developing an energy policy to replace and demolish old coal-fired power plants. According to the Eighth Power Supply Base Plan (2017-2031), the maximum power capacity in 2030 is expected to be 100.5GW, which is 17.9% higher than the current level (85.2GW). The plan aims to reduce the facility size and power generation ratio from nuclear and coal resources to even lower levels than today, and to rapidly expand power generation from new and renewable energy. Despite that, the proportion of coal power generation is still much higher than other resources, and it is expected that the reliance on goal will maintain for next several decades. Under such circumstances, the development, supply, and expansion of clean coal technology (CCT) that is eco-friendly and highly efficient, is crucial to minimize the emission of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and fine dust, as well as maximize the energy efficiency. The Korean government designated the Yong-Dong Thermoelectric Power Plant in Gangneung to develop clean coal power generation, and executed related projects for three years. The current study aims to suggest a plan to develop parts, technologies, testing, evaluation, certification, and commercialization efforts for coal-fired power generation, In addition, the study proposes a strategy to vitalize local economy and connect the development with creation of more jobs.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 2013

This paper is written for the development and application of boiler fuel control algorithm and distributed control system of coal-fired power plant by the steps of design, coding, simulation test, site installation and site commissioning test. Fuel control algorithm has the upper algorithm and it is boiler master control algorithm that controls the fuel, feed water, air by generation output demand. Generation output demand by power load influences fuel control. Because fuel can not be supplied fast to the furnace of boiler, fuel control algorithm was designed adequately to control the steam temperature and to prevent the explosion of boiler. This control algorithms were coded to the control programs of distributed control systems which were developed domestically for the first time. Simulator for coal-fired power plant was used in the test step. After all of distributed control systems were connected to the simulator, the tests of the actual power plant were performed successfully. The reliability was obtained enough to be installed at the actual power plant and all of distributed control systems had been installed at power plant and all signals were connected mutually. Tests for reliability and safety of plant operation were completed successfully and power plant is being operated commercially. It is expected that the project result will contribute to the safe operation of domestic new and retrofit power plants, the self-reliance of coal-fired power plant control technique and overseas business for power plant.

• Plant Journal
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 2018

This study analyzed the effect of power output reduction in coal fired power generation on the change of system marginal price and green house gas emissions. Analytical method was used for electricity market forecasting system used in korea state owned companies. Operating conditions of the power system was based on the the 7th Basic Plan for Electricity Demand and Supply. This as a reference, I analyzed change of system marginal price and green house gas emission by reduced power output in coal fired power generation. The results, if the maximum output was declined as 29 [%] to overall coal-fired power plant, system marginal price is reduced 12 [%p] compared to before and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions were 9,966 [kton]. And if the low efficiency coal fired power plant that accounted for 30 [%] in overall coal-fired power plant stopped by year, system marginal price is reduced 14 [%p] compared to before and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions were 12,874 [kton].

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.1596-1604
• /
• 2013

Coordinating operation between large-scale wind power and thermal units in multiple time scale is an important problem to keep power balance, especially for the power grids mainly made up of large coal-fired units. The paper proposes a novel operation mode of multi-scale unit commitment (abbr. UC) that includes mid-term UC and day-ahead UC, which can take full advantage of insufficient flexibility and improve wind power accommodation. First, we introduce the concepts of multi-scale UC and then illustrate the benefits of introducing mid-term UC to the wind-coal intensive grid. The paper then formulates the mid-term UC model, proposes operation performance indices and validates the optimal operation mode by simulation cases. Compared with day-ahead UC only, the multi-scale UC mode could reduce the total generation cost and improve the wind power net benefit by decreasing the coal-fired units' on/off operation. The simulation results also show that the maximum total generation benefit should be pursued rather than the wind power utilization rate in wind-coal intensive system.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.171-185
• /
• 1989

On the basis of equal health hazard risk, economic assessment of nuclear was compared with that of coal for the expansion planning of electric power generation in the year 2000. In comparing health risks, the risk of coal was roughly ten times higher than that of nuclear according to various previous risk assessments of energy system. The zero risk condition can never be achievable. Therefore, only excess relative health risk of coal over nuclear was considered as social cost. The social cost of health risk was estimated by calculation of mortality and morbidity costs. Mortality cost was ＄250,000 and morbidity cost was ＄90,000 in the year 2000.(1986US＄) Through Cost/Benefit Analysis, the optimal emission standards of coal-fired power generation were predicted. These were obtained at the point of least social cost for power generation. In the year 2000, the optimal emission standard of SOx was analyzed as 165ppm for coal-fired power plants in Korea. From this assessment, economic comparison of nuclear and coal in the year 2000 showed that nuclear would be more economical than coal, whereas uncertainty of future power generation cost of nuclear would be larger than that of coal.

• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.127-146
• /
• 2013

Torrefaction technologies convert assorted biomass feedstocks into energy-concentrated, carbon neutral fuel that is economically transported and easily ground for blending with fossil coals at numerous power plants around the world without needs to retrofit. Utilization of torrefied biomass in conventional electric generating units may be an increasingly attractive alternative for electricity generation as aging power plants in the world need to be upgraded or improved. This paper examines the economic feasibility of torrefaction in different scenarios by modeling torrefaction plants producing 136,078 t/year (150,000 ton/year) biocoal from wood and corn stover. The utilization of biocoal blends in existing coal-fired power plants is modeled to determine the demand for this fuel in the context of emerging policies regulating emissions from coal in the U.S. setting. Opportunities to co-locate torrefaction facilities adjacent to corn ethanol plants and coal-fired power plants are explored as means to improve economics for collaborating businesses. Life cycle analysis was conducted in parallel to this economic study and was used to determine environmental impacts of converting biomass to biocoal for blending in coal-fired power plants as well as the use of substantial flows of off-gasses produced in the torrefaction process. Sensitivity analysis of the financial rates of return of the different businesses has been performed to measure impacts of different factors, whether input prices, output prices, or policy measures that render costs or rewards for the businesses.

• Architectural research
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2016

Since the massive power outages that hit across the nation in September 2011, a growing imbalance between energy supply and demand has led to a severe backup power shortage. To overcome the energy crisis which is annually repeated, a policy change for deriving energy supply from renewable energy sources and a demand reduction strategy has become essential. Buildings account for 18% of total energy consumption and have great potential for energy efficiency improvements; it is an area considered to be a highly effective target for reducing energy demand by improving buildings' energy efficiency. In this regard, retrofitting buildings to promoting environmental conservation and energy reduction through the reuse of existing buildings can be very effective and essential for reducing maintenance costs and increasing economic output through energy savings. In this study, we compared the energy reduction efficiency of national power energy consumption by unit production volume based on thermal power generation, renewable energy power generation, and initial and operating costs for a building retrofit. The unit production was found to be 13,181GWh/trillion won for bituminous coal-fired power generation, and 5,395GWh/trillion won for LNG power generation, implying that LNG power generation seemed to be disadvantageous in terms of unit production compared to bituminous coal-fired power generation, which was attributable to a difference in unit production price. The unit production from green retrofitting increased to 38,121GWh/trillion won due to the reduced energy consumption and benefits of greenhouse gas reduction costs. Renewable energy producing no greenhouse gas emissions during power generation and showed the highest unit production of 75,638GWh/trillion won, about 5.74 times more effective than bituminous coal-fired power generation.