The impact of shale gas solar, wind

In the United States, not only affects the development of gas-fired generation to coal-fired power generation,ceramic proppant but also for renewable energy - especially wind and solar power that intermittent renewable energy - produce complex effects.

When gas prices at $ 3 / mmbtu, the American conventional gas-fired power plant generating cost is $ 71.5 / MWh (without government subsidies). In contrast, the cost of solar PV range is 111 to 181 U.S. $ / MWh. Even if gas prices increase to $ 6 / mmbtu, a conventional gas-fired power plant cost $ 103.5 / mmbtu, still lower than the cost of photovoltaic power.

Wind facing the same challenges. No subsidies for new wind power projects generating cost 60 to $ 90 / MWh between. In the $ 3 / mmbtu natural gas prices, the new CCGT gas power generation cost of $ 52.1 / MWh. When gas prices rose to $ 5 / mmbtu when the cost of electricity will rise to $ 66.1 / MWh, unsubsidized wind power is still more difficult to compete with gas-fired generation.

Although the long term, the U.S. natural gas prices can not maintain the current low prices, the increase in gas-fired plants will obviously increase the demand for natural gas. But the massive U.S. shale gas reserves inhibit the rapid rise in gas prices, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts until 2020 U.S.frac sand natural gas prices will rise to $ 5 / mmbtu, and some more will this energy research institutions date to 2030.

Meanwhile, the U.S. federal government's financial support for clean energy has grown from $ 44.3 billion in 2009, down to the 2011 peak of $ 30.7 billion, is expected in 2014 will be only $ 11 billion. Lack of additional financial support, the individual wind power and photovoltaic power generation projects are difficult to profit, investor enthusiasm for renewable energy is more likely to turn to gas-fired generation.

On a technical level, gas generation or wind power, solar photovoltaic power generation and other intermittent renewable energy sources and efficient complementary tool. On wind power, its main problem facing in its unpredictability, since the size of the wind changing, the output power of the wind turbine will not be stable at a level,Proppant so it is difficult for wind power grid to provide steady electricity. The CCGT start fast, fast unit within 10 minutes to complete the start, stop and only takes a few minutes. A steam turbine driven generator will slower contrast, generally requires 8 to 48 hours, cooled, it can take a day or two. In the power boost speed, CCGT, the average power increase of 15 to 25 MW / minute, old only 3 MW steam turbine / min. So when there is no wind condition, wind turbines can not provide enough power, the turbine can quickly start to play the role of stabilizing the output power. Supporting the construction of a wind power plant in CCGT generating units, is also becoming a new renewable energy business models.