Research

Power Systems Life Cycle Analysis Tool (Power LCAT)

Power LCAT is now available for public download on the NETL Website
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The Power Systems Life Cycle Analysis Tool (Power LCAT) is a high-level dynamic model that calculates production costs and tracks environmental performance for a range of electricity generation technologies: natural gas combined cycle (NGCC), integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), supercritical pulverized coal (SCPC), existing pulverized coal (EXPC), nuclear, and wind (with and without backup power). All of the fossil fuel technologies also include the option of carbon capture and sequestration technologies (CCS). The model allows for quick sensitivity analysis on key technical and financial assumptions, such as: capital, O&M, and fuel costs; interest rates; construction time; heat rates; taxes; depreciation; and capacity factors. Power LCAT is targeted at helping policy makers, students, and interested stakeholders understand the economic and environmental tradeoffs associated with various electricity production options.

Alternative Fuels Simulation Model (AltSim)

AltSim is now available for public download on the NETL Website
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The Alternative Liquid Fuels Simulation Model (AltSim) is a high-level dynamic simulation model which calculates and compares the production costs, carbon dioxide emissions, and energy balances of several alternative liquid transportation fuels. These fuels include: corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, and diesels derived from natural gas (gas to liquid, or GTL) and coal (coal to liquid, or CTL). AltSim allows for comprehensive sensitivity analyses of capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, renewable and fossil fuel feedstock costs, feedstock conversion efficiency, financial assumptions, tax credits, CO2 taxes, and plant capacity factor.

AltSim also includes several policy tools, which examine land use requirements for corn, CO2 pricing, and ethanol tax credits. The model is useful to executives and staff in the Congress, the Administration and private industry for understanding the economic viability, sustainability, and current feasibility of various liquid transportation fuels.

Hydrogen Futures Simulation Model (H2Sim)

The Hydrogen Futures Simulation Model (H2Sim) is a user-friendly, high-level dynamic simulation model that calculates the production, storage, delivery, and end use costs associated with a future hydrogen economy. The model allows the user to conduct detailed analysis on key assumptions. Likely users of this model include executives and staff in the Congress, the Administration and private industry (car manufacturers, hydrogen production and transport companies). The model seeks to improve understanding of the economic viability and emission trade-offs of all stages of potential hydrogen pathways.

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The Electricity Generation Cost Simulation Model (GenSim) is a user-friendly, high-level dynamic simulation model that calculates electricity production costs for variety of electricity generation technologies. The model allows the user to quickly conduct sensitivity analysis on key variables, including: capital, O&M, and fuel costs; interest rates; construction time; and capacity factors. The model also includes consideration of a wide range of externality costs and pollution control options for carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury. Likely users of this model include executives and staff in the Congress, the Administration and private industry (power plant builders, industrial electricity users and electric utilities). The model seeks to improve understanding of the economic viability of various generating technologies and their emissions trade-offs.