One option for making fusion power plants that could be competitive with ot
her power plants operating during the 21st century is to make them large, e
.g., 3 GW(electric) or more, to take advantage of the expected economies of
scale. This study examines the effects on electrical utility system hardwa
re, operations, and reliability of incorporating such large generating unit
s. In addition, the study evaluates the use of the coproduction of hydrogen
to reduce the grid-supplied electricity and offer the possibility for elec
trical load-following.
The estimated additional cost of electricity (COE)for a large powerplant is
similar to5 mills/kW .h. The estimated total COE for 3- to 4-GW(electric)
fusion power plants lies in the range of 37 to 60 mills/kW .h.
Future hydrogen costs from a variety of sources are estimated to lie in the
range of 8 to 10 $/GJ, when allowance is made for some increase in natural
gas price and for the possible need for greenhouse gas emission limitation
s.
A number of combinations effusion plant and electrolyzer were considered, i
ncluding hot electrolyzers that use heat from the fusion plant. For the opt
imum cases, hydrogen produced from off-peak power from a 3- to 4-GW(electri
c) plant is estimated to have a competitive cost. Of particular interest, t
he cost would also be competitive if some hydrogen were produced during on-
peak electricity cost periods. Thus, for a 4-GW(electric) plant, only up to
3 GW(electric) might be supplied to the grid, and load-following would be
possible, which would be a benefit to the utility system.