Proposed Decarbonization Technologies
Investigated how expensive proposed resources such as new reactors (both small and large), carbon capture and storage, producing hydrogen from methane, burning green hydrogen in turbines to produce electricity, and renewable energy parks (featuring renewables, battery storage, thermal storage and flexible loads) are likely to be, how long it will likely before each can be in operation, and whether they will be effective tools for decarbonizing the economy.
Small and Large New Reactors
Studied whether currently proposed reactors (both small and large) can be expected to experience cost and schedule overruns similar to those that plagued earlier U.S. reactors. Compared the likely costs of power from new reactors with the projected costs of renewable and battery storage alternatives. Testified on the issue of whether existing reactors had been prudently planned, designed and built. Evaluated the causes and costs of over one hundred U.S. power plant outages, major equipment failures, and expensive maintenance projects.
Carbon Capture and Storage
Researched the financial and technical risks and uncertainties of adding carbon capture to existing or proposed fossil fuel-burning plants. Explored the real world carbon dioxide (CO2) capture rates of existing power and industrial facilities and the likely costs of capturing CO2 at proposed facilities. Examined the full life cycle emissions of methane, CO2 and hydrogen associated with fossil-fired power plants and hydrogen production facilities. Found that using the CO2 captured at fossil-burning power plants for use in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a bad idea that will not reduce overall CO2 emissions. Researched the impact of adding carbon capture on water usage at fossil-fired power plants.
Hydrogen
Studied the efficiency of burning green hydrogen (produced using the electricity from solar and wind resources) in turbines to generate electricity. Investigated whether the hydrogen produced from the methane in natural gas will be clean or low carbon. Found that producers of hydrogen, such as Air Products, will receive billions of dollars in 45Q carbon capture credits even though the production and use of hydrogen from methane would increase, not decrease, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Electric Resource Planning
Analyzed the economic costs and benefits of renewable and battery resources. Evaluated whether existing or new generation facilities and/or transmission lines are needed to ensure adequate levels of system reliability. Investigated the economic and system reliability consequences of retiring existing electric generating facilities. Evaluated whether new electric generating facilities are used and useful.
Fossil-fired Generation
Evaluated the economic and financial risks of investing in, constructing and operating new coal- or gas-fired power plants or of making expensive upgrades (such as adding CCS) to existing plants. Examined whether there are lower cost, lower risk alternatives than continuing to operate existing, or building new, fossil-fired power plants. Investigated whether plant owners had adequately considered the full range of risks associated with building new fossil-fired power plants.