Generation

Electricity generation converts primary energy sources such as fossil fuels, wind, or sunlight into electric energy. Historically, and still today, most electricity is generated in thermal power plants, which convert heat from the combustion of fossil fuels or the reaction of nuclear materials into electric energy. Also, a significant portion of electricity is generated using hydroelectric dams, which channel stored water through hydropower turbines. However in recent years, new generation technologies of wind turbines, solar panels, and combustion turbines are a significant proportion of new power plant installations – challenging the historical structure of the electric industry.

Related Energy Institute Publications

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Capacity Expansion and Dispatch Modeling: Model Documentation and Results for ERCOT Scenarios

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EPA’s Valuation of Environmental Externalities from Electricity Production

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Estimation of Transmission Costs for New Generation

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Federal Financial Support for Electricity Generation Technologies

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Future Utility Business Models

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The History and Evolution of the U.S. Electricity Industry

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Impact of renewable generation on operational reserves requirements: When more could be less

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Integrating Photovoltaic Generation: Cost of Integrating Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the Utility Distribution Circuits

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Market-calibrated Forecasts for Natural Gas Prices

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New U.S. Power Costs: by County, with Environmental Externalities

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Journal Publication:
Rhodes, Joshua D., King, Carey, Gülen, Gürcan, Olmstead, Sheila M., Dyer, James S., Hebner, Robert E., Beach, Fred C., Edgar, Thomas F., Webber, Michael E.. “A geographically resolved method to estimate levelized power plant costs with environmental externalities,” Energy Policy, 2017, 102 (March 2017), 491-499, doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.12.025. View paper free online here or download PDF.

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Quantifying Diversity of Electricity Generation in the U.S.

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State Level Financial Support for Electricity Generation Technologies: An analysis of Texas & California

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