Projectioned Power Sector CO

2

Emissions

0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.5

2005 2012 2020 

CO2 emissions

(billion tonnes) Rest of power sector Future coal plants CFPP's:1990 to present

CFPP's:1970 to 1989CFPP's:1969 and before

Data source: NETL analysis using the Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook and 
Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, May 2008

CFPP Average Efficiency and Range fo

15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 198

Year Online

Efficiency

Efficiency rangeAverage efficiency
Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, May 2008

CFFP Efficiency by Year Online, Steam C

and Capacity Factor (2007)

15%20%25%30%35%40%

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 

Year online

Efficiency

SubcriticalSubcritical, cf<50%Supercritical Supercritical, cf<50%
Steam Turbine (refurbish) 0.84 to 2.6

Steam Leaks (reduce) 1.1Sootblower Optimization 0.1 to 0.65Reduction of Slag and Furnace Fouling 0.4Process Controls (installation/improvement) 0.2 to 2Coal Drying (Installation) 0.1 to 1.7Flue Gas Heat Recovery 0.3 to 1.5Flue Gas Moisture Recovery 0.3 to 0.65Feedwater Heaters (optimize) 0.2 to 2Cooling System Performance (upgrade) 0.2 to 1Condenser (optimize) 0.7 to 2.4Combustion System (optimize) 0.15 to 0.84Boiler (increase airheater surface) 2.1Ash Removal System (replace) 0.1Air Preheaters (optimize) 0.16 to 1.5

Efficiency Increase

(percentage points) Improvement Projects

Steam Turbine (refurbish) 0.84 to 2.6Steam Leaks (reduce) 1.1Sootblower Optimization 0.1 to 0.65Reduction of Slag and Furnace Fouling 0.4Process Controls (installation/improvement) 0.2 to 2Coal Drying (Installation) 0.1 to 1.7Flue Gas Heat Recovery 0.3 to 1.5Flue Gas Moisture Recovery 0.3 to 0.65Feedwater Heaters (optimize) 0.2 to 2Cooling System Performance (upgrade) 0.2 to 1Condenser (optimize) 0.7 to 2.4Combustion System (optimize) 0.15 to 0.84Boiler (increase airheater surface) 2.1Ash Removal System (replace) 0.1Air Preheaters (optimize) 0.16 to 1.5

Efficiency Increase

(percentage points) Improvement Projects

Literature review of heat rate improvemen
Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, May 2008

Unit Efficiencies by Age Band and Steam C

Steam cycle 

type Age band No. of Units Nameplate capacity (MW) Generation (BkWh) Avg. eff. Effic

Ra

1969 and before 410 77,789 447 31.3% 19.1 – 

1970 to 1989 273 127,675 824 31.4% 20.5 – 

Subcritical 1990 to present 27 7,477 51 29.9% 21.1 – 

Subcritical subtotal 710 212,942 1,322 31.3% 19.1 – 

1969 and before 34 19,467 114 34.9% 22.5 – 

1970 to 1989 74 60,169 398 35.1% 29.8 - 

Supercritical 1990 to present 1 1,426 10 40.2% N

Supercritical subtotal 109 1,061 522 35.1% 22.5 – Grand Total 819 294,003 1,844 31.8% 19.1 – 
Improved PC efficiency, constant power sce

Carbon dioxide emissions from ex

CFPPs

1.501.701.902.102.30

2005 2012 2020 

CO2 Emissions

 (billion tonnes)

Business as usualEfficiency improvements
Improved PC efficiency, constant coal sce

Electricity generation from exis

CFPPs

1,5001,7502,0002,2502,500

2005 2012 2020 

Billion kilowatt-hours

 (BkWh)

Efficiency improvementsBusiness as usual
Data sources: Plant efficiencies – Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007; Elevation - ESRI Digital Elevation 

Temperature – Dept. of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service

CFPP Efficiency and Temperature (2

707580859095

100105

15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 

Efficiency

Avg summer high temp

(deg F)

1969 and before1970 to 19891990 and later
Data sources: Plant efficiencies – Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007; Elevation - ESRI Digital Elevatio

Model; Temperature – Dept. of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service

CFPP Efficiency and Elevation (200

0

500

1000150020002500

15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 

Efficiency

Elevation (meters)1969 and before

1970 to 19891990 and later
Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007

Average unit efficiency by boiler manufacturer

0

100200300400500600700800900

1,000

Aker Kvaerner

Asa

General

Electric C o

Erie City Iron

Works

Combustion

Engineering

None listed Riley Power Foster

Wheeler

Babcock &

Wilcox C o

ALSTO

Number of units

Average efficiencyNumber of units
Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007

Average unit efficiency by generator manufact

0

100200300400500600700800900

1,000

Ingersoll Rand

C o Ltd

Siemens/GE ALSTOM ABB Power

Generation Ltd

None listed Siemens

Westinghouse

Power C orp

General

Electric C o

Number of units

Average efficiencyNumber of units
Data sources: Plant efficiencies and pollution controls – Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007; Cooling sy

configurations – Energy Information Administration's 2005 form 767 data

Average unit efficiency by cooling system typ

0

100200300400500600700800900

1,000

Recirculating

with forced

draft cooling

tower(s) 

Once through,

fresh water 

Once through,

saline water 

Recirculating

with cooling

pond(s) or

canal(s) 

Once through

with cooling

pond(s) or

canal(s) 

Recirculating

with induceddraft cooling

tower(s)

Recirculating

with natural

draft cooling

tower(s) 

Number of units

Average EfficiencyNumber of Cooling Systems
Data sources: Plant efficiencies and pollution controls – Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007; Cooling 

configurations – Energy Information Administration's 2005 form 767 data

Efficiency and emission control equipment

0

100200300400500600700800900

1,000

NY NY NY

FGD? SCR? PM Controls?

Number of units

Average efficiency Number of units
Cheap coal, combined with decisions to sacrifice efficiency for reliability 

lack of supercritical plants and lower-than-expected efficiencies in the 

Data source: Energy Velocity Suite, Oct 2007; Coal prices, Energy Information Administration, Annual Prices are in chained (2000) dollars, calculated by using gross domestic product implicit price deflators http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/coal.html. 

CFPP Efficiency and Year Online by Steam Cycle Typ

Capacity Factor

15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

1940 1960 1980 2000 Year online

Efficiency

Subcritical Subcritical (<50%cf) Supercritical Supercritical (<50%cf) Coal price