Nevada utility to convert last coal-fired plant to natural gas

In the US, Nevada’s largest utility plans to retire its last coal-fired plant by the end of 2025 and convert it to run on natural gas.

NV Energy released the details through an amendment to the company’s 2021 Integrated Resource Plan. The utility will file the amendment with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) for consideration at the end of the month.

The coal-fired North Valmy Generating Station is located in northern Nevada near Battle Mountain. NV Energy claims refueling the plant with natural gas will reduce CO2 emissions by almost 50%.

Additionally, the amendment includes the purchase, installation and operation of a 400MW solar plant along with a 400MW, four-hour battery storage system in Northern Nevada.

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NV Energy says procuring these resources will offset the loss of other renewable energy projects that are now not being developed.

The utility’s original plan was to replace North Valmy’s coal generation with two projects, Hot Pot and Iron Point, that were supposed to add a combined 600MW of solar and 480MW of storage (chemistries and duration of the storage assets were not shared). However, the projects were pulled from development over procurement issues to replace North Valmy’s coal capacity.

The state of Nevada is aiming for a renewable portfolio requirement of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

Originally published on power-eng.com