Articles Published Author Share Talk to an Expert Published Author Share Talk to an Expert Page ContentThe rise of competitive power markets together with growing variable renewable generation are forcing coal-fired power plants into a reactionary posture, where they operate in a cycling manner instead of the traditional lengthy runtimes at or near rated load. Coal-fired power plants accumulate damage and degradation in key components during every start-up, shutdown, and ramping between load states – eventually leading to failure and reduced availability. This NRECA Surveillance series summarizes CEATI’s report Optimization of Coal-Fired Power Plant Modifications to Improve Cyclic Performance, providing guidance on the adaptations that electric cooperatives can make to coal-fired power plants to improve their availability. Part 1: Equipment failure and damage mechanisms and the effect of cycling on forced outages. Part 2: Modifications of major equipment. Part 3: Balance-of-plant modifications. Part 4: How to calculate cost estimates for three categories of plant modifications, as well as their economic value. MORE FROM NRECA