Power plant planning is best done on a life-cycle basis

Chapter 8, Problem 8.14D

(choose chapter or problem)

Power plant planning is best done on a life-cycle basis (Table 8.3). The life cycle begins with extracting resources from the Earth required by the plant and ends with eventual retirement of the plant after decades of operation. To obtain an accurate picture of cost, costs should be considered in all phases of the life cycle, including remediation of environmental impacts, effects on human health, waste disposal, and government subsidies, rather than just narrowly focusing on costs related to the plant construction and operation phase. For one of the locales listed below, and considering only major cost elements, determine on a life- cycle-cost basis the power plant option that best meets expected regional electricity needs up to 2050. Write a report fully documenting your findings.

(a) Locale: Midwest and Great Plains. Options: coal-fired plants, wind-power plants, or a combination.

(b) Locale: Northeast and Atlantic seaboard. Options: nuclear power plants, natural gas–fired plants, or a combination.

(c) Locale: South and Southwest. Options: natural gas–fired plants, concentrating-solar plants, or a combination.

(d) Locale: California and Northwest. Options: concentrating, solar plants, wind-power plants, hydropower plants, or a combination.