Economics & Network Implications
The quick-starting feature of UCC fired Diesel engines makes them ideally suited to peak duties particularly at times of rapidly changing demand.
Individual Diesel engines for fixed power generation typically have capacities in the 20 to 100 MW range.This is significant smaller than conventional black coal fired power stations where units capacities are typically 500 to 1000 MW. This means that established power station sites can install Diesel units to incrementally lift capacity in relatively small steps to best match increasing demand and economic returns.
Alternatively UCC fired Diesel engines could be installed as relatively small, strategically located installations to provide distributed power. By locating supply near demand it would be possible to eliminate transmission line losses.