www.power-eng.com28

reveals that all Energy Information

Agency (EIA)-reporting coal-fired pow-

er plants generated nearly 3.5 percent

more electricity in 2013 than in 2012.

The increase is attributed primarily to

higher natural gas prices, which made

coal more economic in 2013. Natural

gas hit a record low spot price of $1.80

per million British thermal unit (mmB-

tu) at the Henry Hub in 2012, and the

average spot price at the Henry Hub

that year was $2.77 per mmBtu, accord-

ing to EIA data. That average jumped

35 percent to $3.73 in 2013, which was

enough of an increase to cause some

coal-fired plants to move up in the dis-

patch order.

The increase in coal-fired generation

had a slight impact on emission. The

CO2 level in 2013 was 2 percent higher

than the 2012 level, according to the

EIA.

This increase of coal-fired power

After three consecutive

years of declining gen-

eration, coal-fired pow-

er plants made a slight

comeback in 2013. The

2013 power plant performance report

2013 Operating PerformanceBY TERESA HANSEN, EDITOR IN CHIEF, ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER MAGAZINE

Coal Comes Back Slightly in 2013

INDUSTRY REPORT

The Power Plant Operating Performance Report is

published annually in Electric Light & Power magazine,

one of Power Engineerings sister publications. Pic-

tured is the John W. Turk Power Plant. Courtesy: AEP

1412PE_28 28 12/15/14 11:45 AM