​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The rise of competitive power markets together with growing variable renewable generation are forcing natural gas combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants into a reactionary posture, where they operate in a cycling manner instead of running as baseload. CCGT power plants accumulate damage and degradation in key components during every start-up and shutdown – eventually leading to failure and reduced availability.

This NRECA Surveillance series sum​marizes CEATI’s report Optimization of Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle Gas Turbines Power Plant Modifications to Improve Cycling Performance, reviewing the adaptations that electric cooperatives can make to natural gas CCGT power plants to decrease failure mechanisms and improve their availability, and to rank those adaptations in terms of cost effectiveness.