[ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear Power

[stewart farber]

RE: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear PowerHi Jim,
Good question. Who knows what FP&L was assuming in arriving at their estimate of 11 million tons avoided from 3,000 MWe of nuclear plant capacity. 

However if they took their 2006 mix of generation: 

43% natural gas; 
18% coal; 
17% oil
and applied to that mix, the amount of CO2 released per kwhr [derived from the DOE source cited in my earlier post]:

CO2 RELEASED PER kwhr:

Gas: 1.32 lb
Coal: 2.11 lb
Oil:    1.96 lb

you get a weighted average of  of CO2 released of 1.62 lbs/kwhr from their fossil fuel generation mix.

So 3,000 MW[e] nuclear installed capacity at an assumed 85% plant capacity factor [FP&L has averaged 90% last year!] would avoid 18.11 million tons of CO2 based on their mix of power sources.

By the way, my earlier post on CO2 avoided from COAL generation vs. nuclear generation contained an error. I wrote:

"3000 MWe of generation plant at 85% capacity factor would thus avoid
production of 2.36 E6 metric tons or 2.6E 7 short tons of CO2."

It should have read:
"3000 MWe of nuclear plant generation at 85% capacity factor would thus avoid
production of 21.4 E6 metric tons or 23.6 E6 short tons of CO2."

Best,
Stu Farber
===================================
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Muckerheide, Jim (CDA) 
  To: stewart farber ; Sandy Perle ; radsafe at radlab.nl ; powernet at hps1.org 
  Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:17 PM
  Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear Power


  Hi Stu,

  Could they be modeling their mix of coal and natural gas fired power?

  Regards, Jim


  -----Original Message-----
  From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl on behalf of stewart farber
  Sent: Thu 8/16/2007 1:57 PM
  To: Sandy Perle; radsafe at radlab.nl; powernet at hps1.org
  Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News]  FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear Power

  Hi all,
  I think the figures put out by FP&L on the amount of CO-2 avoided by adding
  3,000 MWe to the grid are much too low by a factor of about 2.

  According to the DOE [See Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of
  Electric Power in the United States] -July 2000 [reference: Table 1,
  http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2report.html  ]

  Coal released 1.78  E8 metric tons of CO2 while generating 1.87 E9 kwhrs.
  This equates to  9.6 E-4 metric tons of CO2 per kwhr [2.11 pounds of CO2 per
  kWhr]

  If FP&L adds 3,000 MWe of nuclear generation at 85% capacity they will
  generate 7.44 E9 kwhrs in a year/1000 MWe or 7.15 E6 metric tons of CO2/1000
  MWe.

  3000 MWe of generation plant at 85% capacity factor would thus avoid
  production of 2.36 E6 metric tons or 2.6E 7 short tons of CO2.

  Can others verify or comment on my math showing 26 million tons of CO2
  avoided from 3,000 MWe vs. FP&Ls press release that "FPL estimates the
  additional nuclear power would keep 11 million tons of carbon dioxide out of
  the environment every year". Has FP&L made an error?

  Stewart Farber, MS Public Health
  Consulting Scientist
  Farber Technical Services
  1285 Wood Ave.
  Bridgeport, CT 06604
  [203] 441-8433 [office]
  email: radproject at sbcglobal.net

  =====================================


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Sandy Perle" <sandyfl at cox.net>
  To: <radsafe at radlab.nl>; <powernet at hps1.org>
  Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 1:28 PM
  Subject: [ RadSafe ] [Nuclear News] FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear Power


  > FPL Proposes Expanding Nuclear Power
  >
  > Florida Power & Light Plans to Expand Nuclear Power Capacity, Build
  > Nuclear Units in Florida
  >
  > JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) Aug 15  -- Florida Power & Light Co., a unit of
  > energy company FPL Group Inc., said Wednesday it intends to expand
  > its power production in Florida and will pursue building two new
  > nuclear power units.
  >
  > FPL proposes to add about 400 megawatts of power capacity to its
  > existing nuclear power plants in Florida by 2012, pending regulatory
  > approvals. The company also plans to pursue the addition of two new
  > nuclear power units by 2020, which would add up to 3,000 megawatts of
  > power to Florida's electric grid.
  >
  > FPL estimates the additional nuclear power would keep 11 million tons
  > of carbon dioxide out of the environment every year, helping the
  > state meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gases.
  >
  > The proposals, still in the early stages of development, will require
  > extensive review and approvals from state and federal agencies,
  > including the Public Service Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory
  > Commission.
  >
  > -----------------------------------------