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Case Study #3 265
base load in January and February, and was scheduled off-line
in March and April.
Scheduling Period 2—May 1 through December 31—The plant is
curtailable each night from midnight to 6:00 a.m., seven days
a week.
The ability to adapt to changing utility power requirements and
steam host process demands throughout the year is the key component
of service to our customers.
Priorities of the GEC project are: to furnish process steam to
the thermal host, provide “firm” net power generation for sale to the
utility, maximize plant reliability, minimize fuel cost, plant heat rate,
and operating overhead, and be environmentally responsible in all
actions.
This plant has been designed, constructed and is operated in a
manner to accomplish these goals while complying with strict standards,
which are intended to protect personnel, property, and the
environment.
An essential component in the success of a cycling operation is
plant conformance to numerous and sometimes conflicting regulations,
contracts and changing business environments. Adherence to
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations as a
qualifying facility, state and regional air permits, steam sales contract,
power purchase agreements, equipment maintenance requirements
and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rules while
maintaining high availability and low heat rate demand exceptional
commitment, dedication and teamwork by all parties.
The result is that the staff must serve more than one customer.
The owner, the steam host, the various regulating agencies, and the
utility must all be satisfied at the same time for the project to be
considered successful.
OPERATING RELIABILITY
Consistent with maximizing plant reliability and availability,
the GEC facility design incorporated standby equipment such as
spare pumps, redundant control loops and controls, and manual