New Design of Igcc for Competitive Power Generation

To provide the basis for clean and affordable energy in a competitive market is the reason why integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology is currently being developed further, while the existing IGCC prototype plants have the task of proving what is technically achievable. This contribution reports interim results of a comprehensive ongoing development potential study funded by the European Commission. First, the status of the advanced IGCC technology is described. This IGCC 98 concept, including what has been achieved in 1998, results in net station efficiencies around 52 % according to the site conditions prevailing in Denmark, where one of the world's most modern pulverized-coal-fired power plants (design efficiency 47 %) is currently under construction. The advanced IGCC station will be equipped with PRENFLO gasification developed by Krupp and a Siemens Model V94.3A gas turbinegenerator. Results of a detailed cost estimate based on Western European conditions and aimed at clearly lower specific capital investment for an IGCC power plant are depicted. This cost estimate is based mainly on bidding information from competent manufacturers and suggests that the target purchase price of US$ 1,100 per kW installed capacity is likely to be verified in the near future. One main factor contributing to achievement of this figure is the tremendous increase in net power output to about 450 MW with nearly the same absolute capital investment as for IGCC plants designed previously. Consequently, this permits IGCC generating costs surely lower than those of a comparable pulverized-coal-fired (PCF) steam power plant, so that the advanced IGCC stations described in this paper can be regarded as truly competitive.