POWER August 2011 - 1

Established 1882 * Vol. 155 * No. 8
August 2011
On the Cover
Kansas City Power & Light began developing a comprehensive energy plan in 2003 to ensure
a secure, economical, and environmentally sound supply of electricity for the region.
The award-winning final plan incorporated environmental upgrades to existing coal plants,
new wind generation, energy efficiency and conservation programs, plus the capstone: construction
of the 850-MW Iatan 2. Courtesy: KCP&L
COVER STORY: 2011 PLANT OF THE YEAR
26 KCP&L's Iatan 2 Earns POWER's Highest Honor
When a Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) cost analysis concluded that, from a
baseload generation perspective, coal-fired generation still enjoyed a significant
cost advantage over other generation technologies, even when considering the cost
of meeting challenging emissions-reduction goals, the plan for this year's Plant of
the Year was born. The $1.6 billion Iatan 2 project came in on budget and on time
thanks to innovative contracting and project controls plus " a groundbreaking agreement "
with environmentalists.
SPECIAL REPORTS
2011 MARMAduKE AwARd
36 CFE Extends CTG universidad unit 2's Life with Conversion to Synchronous
Condenser
A small power plant in Monterrey, Mexico, has a new lease on life thanks to a creative
repurposing. Rather than demolish the outdated plant, its government owner
made it the successful test case for a combustion turbine synchronous condenser
upgrade. With the addition of a synchronous condenser, the old but reliable turbines
now provide essential reactive power to the grid in Mexico's industrial center.
2011 SMART GRId AwARd
44 Vermont Electric Cooperative Takes wise Approach to Smart Grid Projects
A small, rural cooperative demonstrates that you don't have to be big to take advantage
of smart grid technologies. In fact, this small utility has done more things
right-and achieved more positive quantitative results-than many larger utilities.
For its savvy, early deployment of customer-serving upgrades, Vermont Electric Cooperative
wins POWER's first Smart Grid Award.
FEATuRES
PLANT OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
50 Mitigating the Effects of Flexible Operation on Coal-Fired Power Plants
An EPRI author explains the types of damage that can result from cycling coal plants
that were designed for baseload operation. And, because all signs point to increased
operation of these plants in nonoptimal modes, he also discusses measures for mitigating
the negative effects of flexible operation.
58 Make Your Plant Ready for Cycling Operations
The cost of operating a conventional coal plant in cycling mode is greater than just
the cost of generation. It also includes the hidden costs that your plant equipment
pays for cycling. The authors provide a method for determining the true cost of cycling
your plant, plus tips for operating a cycling steam plant in the most cost-efficient
way.
August 2011 | POWER
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POWER August 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of POWER August 2011