Power Generation

The power generation industry is comprised of both centralized power plants and on-site energy systems, which generate power from natural gas and other fuel sources.  Centralized power plants support power demand with three classes of power generation: base, intermediate and peak load.  Typically different power generation resources are used to support each level of demand with nuclear power generation being one of the lowest cost fuel sources to support base load demand, and natural gas turbines being one of the most flexible and environmentally friendly generation technologies to support peak load demand.

Centralized power plants are owned and maintained by either investor owned utilities (IOUs), municipalities (Munis) or coops, or independent power producers (IPPs).  Power plant owners are normally obligated to supply power (MWhs) in support of daily load requirements or if the power plant is independently owned, the power is sold into the wholesale market in the form of a bilateral contract or on the spot market.       

Turbine inlet chilling is an added value "power augmentation system" that is installed with both simple and combined cycle gas turbines to boost power output during the summer peak season.  TAS manufactures turbine inlet chilling systems as a power generation / augmentation resource.  Depending on local climate conditions, turbine inlet chilling may be used for intermediate or even base load power, as long as the technology is able to cost efectively produce incremental MWs, when there is demand for the power.

On-site energy systems are also a segment of the broader power generation industry.  With on-site energy the electricity required to support a single facility, or a campus of buildings, is generated on site versus being generated at a central station power plant and then transmitted over regulated transmission lines and local distribution infrastructure.  There are many reasons why companies elect to produce power on-site versus purchasing from their utility or an energy marketer.  Principal reasons pertain to greater power reliability and reduced total energy costs.