n Introduction

The cost-effective operation of power generation and transmission systems depends on delicate trade-offs between new technology and practices on one hand, and economic and environmental risk on the other. Argonne has 20 years of experience in helping utility managers find the right balance.

n Electric System Modeling and Analysis

Develop and apply models that simulate and analyze electric utility systems to investigate the economic and financial implications of supply, demand, and environmental issues. Argonne has applied models to a wide range of issues:

Optimal bulk power transfers among power systems.

Evaluation of independent power producer purchases.

Firm power purchase contracts.

Environmental dispatch and emission trading policies.

Environmental constraints on the operation of hydropower plants.

Environmental decision analysis support systems.

n Risk Assessment and Management

Develop and apply analytical methods and models to assess risks of development and application of technologies and practices for generation, pollution prevention, emissions control, waste management, transmission, and operations and maintenance:

Integrated assessment of risk and mitigation measures for managing risk.

Risk analysis of investments in generation equipment, waste management facilities, etc.

Safety analysis and probabilistic risk assessment.

n Environmental Assessment

Assess effluents and impacts from the operation of generation facilities and associated system components:

Air quality modeling.

Environmental assessment of energy technologies, waste management alternatives, etc.

Siting evaluations for power plants.

Siting evaluations for transmission lines and other rights of way.

Geographic information system (GIS) applications for siting, assessment, and planning.

Noise modeling and impact assessments.

n Cost and Economic Analysis

Analyze or review cost and economic conditions related to the production, transmission, and marketing of electrical power:

Socioeconomic analysis of power production.

Cost estimating/review of power-production technologies and systems.

Energy demand and forecasting analysis.

Life-cycle analysis.

Generation-capacity expansion planning.

n Legal and Regulatory Analysis

Conduct multidisciplinary analyses of current and proposed legislation and regulations affecting the construction and operation of production facilities, waste management and environmental remediation facilities and operations, and emission control options:

Evaluation of effluent guidelines and requirements for the electric power industry.

Development and implementation of sampling, modeling, and monitoring programs for emissions from energy facilities.

Analysis of regulatory compliance strategies for electric utilities.

n Contacts

For technical information, contact Jerry Gillette, Argonne National Laboratory, Bldg. 900, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois, 60439; phone: 630/252-7475; fax: 630/252-6073; e-mail: jgillette@anl.gov.

For information on working with Argonne, contact Paul Eichamer, Industrial Technology Development Center,
Argonne National Laboratory, Bldg. 201, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois, 60439; phone: 800/252-2596; fax: 630/252-5230.

February 1998

Argonne National Laboratory is operated by The University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. W-31-109-Eng-38.
 

Argonne's Spot Market Model helps evaluate market opportunities for generation. For example, simulations showed that independent power producers in the western VACAR would have relatively low value.