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EIA: projected US CO2 emissions vary up or down depending on coal and nuclear power plant retirements

EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2014 (AEO2014) features several accelerated retirements cases that represent conditions leading to additional coal and nuclear plant retirements in order to examine the potential energy market and emissions effects of the loss of this capacity. CO2 emissions are significantly reduced when compared to the Reference case in side cases with accelerated coal retirements. CO2 emissions increase slightly in the Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case. Natural gas and renewables are the primary replacements for lost capacity in each scenario.

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Source: EIA. Click to enlarge.

Coal (74%) and natural gas (24%) power plants accounted for almost all of the CO2 emitted by the electric power sector in 2012. Nuclear power and renewables do not emit CO2.

The Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case projects CO2 emissions that are 4% higher compared with the Reference case in 2040. In this side case, natural gas-fired generation is projected to be 13% higher than in the Reference case. However, renewables generation in the Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case increases 5% relative to the Reference case, which moderates the emissions impact. Coal generation does not differ significantly between the two cases.

Like in the Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case, natural gas generation makes up for most of the lost capacity in the Accelerated Coal Retirements case, resulting in a 19% increase in natural gas generation relative to the Reference case in 2040. However, because generation using natural gas emits less CO2 than coal, emissions decrease by 20% relative to the Reference case over that period. A 10% increase in renewable generation relative to the Reference case also serves to lower overall emissions.

Emissions are slightly higher in the combined Accelerated Coal and Nuclear Retirements case than in the Accelerated Coal Retirements case, because natural gas-fired generation replaces some nuclear power generation. However, the effect of the coal-fired capacity retirements keeps emissions 14% below the Reference case level in 2040.

Projecting nuclear retirements. The AEO2014 Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case reflects uncertainty regarding continued operation of the existing nuclear fleet. While the Reference case assumes that all nuclear plants will continue to operate if they are economic through 2040, the Accelerated Nuclear Retirements case assumes that they will retire after their 60th year of operation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to issue initial operating licenses for commercial nuclear power plants for a period of 40 years, after which 20-year incremental renewals are possible. Approximately 75% of the US generating fleet has already received an initial 20-year license extension, and AEO2014 assumes that the remaining plants also receive extensions. Operators are preparing applications for license renewals that would allow operation beyond 60 years.

Comments

HarveyD

Regardless of the scenario, it seems that USA will continue to emit between 1,800 and 2,300 million tons of CO2 from its power plants by 2040 or so.

Is the best scenario good enough to contain global warming? What will happen if much more e-energy is required for 200+ million future electrified vehicles?

Dave R

That is crap. Think I'm going to get as much PV as can be installed on my roof by the end of the year, will hopefully double the amount of PV installed which should be enough to offset all my family's direct CO2 emissions with a few more efficiency efforts.

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