Evergy to build two new combined cycle gas plants in Kansas

US utility Evergy plans to build two new 705MW natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants in Kansas.

The two units, one in Sumter County and the other in Reno County, would come online in 2029 and 2030, respectively. The plants would cost more than $2 billion in total to build and would operate for 40 years.

Utility officials said the new units would support reliability as the region faces significant electricity demand growth. They said dispatchable natural gas would complement the utility's growing number of wind and solar resources.

Demand for electricity is rising in much of the US, driven by new manufacturing facilities for batteries and semiconductor chips, as well as data centers.

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“Kansas is experiencing record economic growth, and Evergy is prepared to deliver the reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy needed,” said Evergy president David Campbell.

Earlier this year, Evergy updated its Integrated Resource Plan, projecting an additional 1,900MW of capacity need over the next 20 years compared to just one year earlier in 2023. During that same period, Evergy would retire more than 4,500MW of coal generation.

Over the next 20 years, Evergy projects it will need to add 5,100MW of renewable energy from wind and solar and 6,000 MW of firm, dispatchable generation – including 2,500MW of new natural gas generation across 2029-2032.

Today, almost half of the power generated by Evergy comes from emission-free sources, including the Wolf Creek nuclear plant and renewable energy sources. The company has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 50% since 2005, progressing towards the interim goal of a 70% reduction in owned generation carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030.

Evergy is targeting to achieve net-zero carbon equivalent emissions, for scope 1 and 2, by 2045 through the transition of its generation fleet. Achieving these emissions reductions is expected to be dependent on enabling technologies and supportive policies and regulations, among other external factors, Evergy said.

Originally published by Sean Wolfe on power-eng.com