IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i9p2245-d165966.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Power Plant Economic Analysis: Maximizing Lifecycle Profitability by Simulating Preliminary Design Solutions of Steam-Cycle Conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Chul-Seung Hong

    (Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology & Graduate School of Engineering Mastership, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Ku, Pohang 37673, Korea)

  • Eul-Bum Lee

    (Graduate Institute of Ferrous Technology & Graduate School of Engineering Mastership, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Ku, Pohang 37673, Korea)

Abstract

Many existing financial models for power plants chose a design based on the maximum thermal efficiency excluding the operational (OPEX) and capital (CAPEX) cost variations of technical factors. These factors are often fixed because including them in financial assessments can be burdensome and it is assumed that maximum efficiency equals maximum profit. However, this assumption may not always be right. Through 19,440 power plant steam-cycle design solutions and their associated OPEX and CAPEX, this study found the eighth most thermally-efficient solution to be $1.284 M more profitable than the traditional thermally-optimized design solution. As such, this paper presents a model incorporating technical factors through parametric estimation by minimizing the burden on decision makers. While this may reduce precision, it allows for quick cost assessments across differing design solutions. The data for model development was collected from a Korean-constructed, operational 600 MW coal-fired power plant in the Philippines. Using the Thermoflex software, nearly all design configurations’ heat rate outputs are simulated. Profitability is then optimized based on the resultant design configuration’s impact on revenue and CAPEX and OPEX costs. The simulation inputs included variables found to be most impactful on the steam generated power efficiency per existing literature. Lastly, the model includes an assessment of cost impacts among recent environmental regulations by incorporating carbon tax costs and a sensitivity analysis. The economic analysis model discussed in this paper is non-existent in current literature and will aid the power-plant project investment industry through their project feasibility analyses.

Suggested Citation

  • Chul-Seung Hong & Eul-Bum Lee, 2018. "Power Plant Economic Analysis: Maximizing Lifecycle Profitability by Simulating Preliminary Design Solutions of Steam-Cycle Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2245-:d:165966
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2245/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/9/2245/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhaoyang Kong & Xiucheng Dong & Bo Xu & Rui Li & Qiang Yin & Cuifang Song, 2015. "EROI Analysis for Direct Coal Liquefaction without and with CCS: The Case of the Shenhua DCL Project in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Luis M. Abadie, 2009. "Valuation of Long-Term Investments in Energy Assets under Uncertainty," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-31, September.
    3. Kaushik, S.C. & Reddy, V. Siva & Tyagi, S.K., 2011. "Energy and exergy analyses of thermal power plants: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 1857-1872, May.
    4. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R., 2001. "The theory and practice of corporate finance: evidence from the field," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(2-3), pages 187-243, May.
    5. Benjamin C. Esty, 2004. "Why Study Large Projects? An Introduction to Research on Project Finance," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 10(2), pages 213-224, June.
    6. Kanoglu, Mehmet & Dincer, Ibrahim & Rosen, Marc A., 2007. "Understanding energy and exergy efficiencies for improved energy management in power plants," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 3967-3978, July.
    7. Ligang Wang & Yongping Yang & Changqing Dong & Zhiping Yang & Gang Xu & Lingnan Wu, 2012. "Exergoeconomic Evaluation of a Modern Ultra-Supercritical Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Arman Aghahosseini & Dmitrii Bogdanov & Christian Breyer, 2017. "A Techno-Economic Study of an Entirely Renewable Energy-Based Power Supply for North America for 2030 Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-28, August.
    9. Qian, Li & Ben-Arieh, David, 2008. "Parametric cost estimation based on activity-based costing: A case study for design and development of rotational parts," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(2), pages 805-818, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hyun-Chul Lee & Eul-Bum Lee & Douglas Alleman, 2018. "Schedule Modeling to Estimate Typical Construction Durations and Areas of Risk for 1000 MW Ultra-Critical Coal-Fired Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Dong-Jin Cho & Eul-Bum Lee & Jae-Min Cho & Douglas Alleman, 2019. "Reducing the Superheating of Extraction Stream on Advanced-Ultra Super Critical Power Plants with Regenerative Turbines in South Korea: An Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, May.
    3. So-Won Choi & Bo-Guk Seo & Eul-Bum Lee, 2023. "Machine Learning-Based Tap Temperature Prediction and Control for Optimized Power Consumption in Stainless Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) of Steel Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-31, April.
    4. Dovichi Filho, Fernando Bruno & Lora, Electo Eduardo Silva & Palacio, Jose Carlos Escobar & Venturini, Osvaldo José & Jaén, René Lesme, 2023. "An approach to technology selection in bioelectricity technical potential assessment: A Brazilian case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    5. June Levi-Oguike & Diego Sandoval & Etienne Ntagwirumugara, 2022. "A Comparative Life Cycle Investment Analysis for Biopower Diffusion in Rural Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Satria Putra Kanugrahan & Dzikri Firmansyah Hakam & Herry Nugraha, 2022. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Indonesia Power Generation Expansion to Achieve Economic Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon 2050," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-25, July.
    7. Hee-Kwan Shin & Jae-Min Cho & Eul-Bum Lee, 2019. "Electrical Power Characteristics and Economic Analysis of Distributed Generation System Using Renewable Energy: Applied to Iron and Steel Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-27, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fontina Petrakopoulou & Marina Olmeda-Delgado, 2019. "Studying the Reduction of Water Use in Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Vecchi, Veronica & Hellowell, Mark & Gatti, Stefano, 2013. "Does the private sector receive an excessive return from investments in health care infrastructure projects? Evidence from the UK," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(2), pages 243-270.
    3. Ligang Wang & Zhiping Yang & Shivom Sharma & Alberto Mian & Tzu-En Lin & George Tsatsaronis & François Maréchal & Yongping Yang, 2018. "A Review of Evaluation, Optimization and Synthesis of Energy Systems: Methodology and Application to Thermal Power Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-53, December.
    4. Dong-Jin Cho & Eul-Bum Lee & Jae-Min Cho & Douglas Alleman, 2019. "Reducing the Superheating of Extraction Stream on Advanced-Ultra Super Critical Power Plants with Regenerative Turbines in South Korea: An Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, May.
    5. ManYing Kang & Marcel Ausloos, 2017. "An Inverse Problem Study: Credit Risk Ratings as a Determinant of Corporate Governance and Capital Structure in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Economies, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-23, November.
    6. Ayyagari, Meghana & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Maksimovic, Vojislav, 2014. "Does local financial development matter for firm lifecycle in India ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7008, The World Bank.
    7. Fangyi Li & Zhaoyang Ye & Xilin Xiao & Dawei Ma, 2019. "Environmental Benefits of Stock Evolution of Coal-Fired Power Generators in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Qian Wang & Duowen Wu & Lina Yan, 2021. "Effect of positive tone in MD&A disclosure on capital structure adjustment speed: evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(4), pages 5809-5845, December.
    9. Anoshkina, Ekaterina S. (Аношкина, Екатерина) & Markovskaya, Elizaveta I. (Марковская, Елизавета), 2018. "Empirical Analysis of Capital Structure Determinants of Russian Oil and Gas Companies [Анализ Структуры Капитала Российских Компаний Нефтегазового Сектора]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 5, pages 80-109, October.
    10. Ahammad, Mohammad Faisal & Tarba, Shlomo Yedidia & Liu, Yipeng & Glaister, Keith W., 2016. "Knowledge transfer and cross-border acquisition performance: The impact of cultural distance and employee retention," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 66-75.
    11. Guedes, José & Santos, Pedro, 2016. "Valuing an offshore oil exploration and production project through real options analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 377-386.
    12. J. Sarmiento-Sabogal & M. Sadeghi, 2015. "Estimating the cost of equity for private firms using accounting fundamentals," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 288-301, January.
    13. King, Timothy & Srivastav, Abhishek & Williams, Jonathan, 2016. "What's in an education? Implications of CEO education for bank performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 287-308.
    14. Gumber, Anurag & Zana, Riccardo & Steffen, Bjarne, 2024. "A global analysis of renewable energy project commissioning timelines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    15. Wang, Peiwen & Chen, Minghua & Wu, Ji & Yan, Yuanyun, 2023. "Do peer effects matter in bank risk? Some cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    16. Drobetz, Wolfgang & Pensa, Pascal & Wöhle, Claudia B., 2004. "Kapitalstrukturtheorie in Theorie und Praxis: Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenuntersuchung," Working papers 2004/09, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    17. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4:p:370-395 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Correia, Ricardo & Población, Javier, 2015. "A structural model with Explicit Distress," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 112-130.
    19. Naumoski Aleksandar, 2022. "Financial Policy and Companies’ Sustainable Growth," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 60(3), pages 281-301, September.
    20. Santos, Lúcia & Soares, Isabel & Mendes, Carla & Ferreira, Paula, 2014. "Real Options versus Traditional Methods to assess Renewable Energy Projects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 588-594.
    21. Lund, Diderik, 2006. "Valuation, leverage and the cost of capital in the case of depreciable assets," Working Papers 03-2003, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:9:p:2245-:d:165966. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.