Exelon offers more low-carbon electricity in the marketplace than any other power producer in the nation. More than 92% of our generation output is low-carbon nuclear energy, complemented by a growing portfolio of carefully selected solar, wind and hydroelectric generation. The foundation of our corporate strategy is to focus on safety of operations, clean generation, reliability of supply and affordability for our customers. In balancing these elements, we strive to lead the United States to a low-carbon energy future.
Exelon 2020 in Action
We are committed to offering more low-carbon electricity in the marketplace by increasing the output of our nuclear fleet, investing in other low-emission energy generation and reducing the reliance on fossil generation. Our progress includes:
- Acquiring operating wind resources and wind project development capability which will add an existing operating portfolio of 735 MW of clean, renewable wind power projects and another 1,468 MW in development options.
- Developing the nation’s largest urban solar installation, Exelon City Solar, which has generated 14,000 MWhs of emissions-free electricity since it went online in early 2010.
- Acquiring Antelope Valley Ranch One, a 230-MW solar project under development in California, anticipated to be operational by late 2013.
- Achieving new levels of nuclear generation capacity while ensuring safe operations.
- Commencing the retirement of older inefficient fossil burning units at Cromby and Eddystone.
- Maintaining the quick-starting fossil generation capability within our fleet through the acquisition of the cleaner, more efficient natural gas-fired Wolf Hollow in Texas.
Increasing Investment in Renewable Power
Exelon is expanding its strong position in renewable energy markets by entering into substantial new resource commitments and power purchase agreements with renewable suppliers
- Solar. In early 2010, Exelon completed the development of a 10-MW solar photovoltaic power plant, Exelon City Solar, on a brownfield site in an industrial corridor on the South Side of Chicago. Now the largest urban solar installation in the nation, the project displaces more than 20 million pounds of GHG emissions per year by replacing the need for the equivalent fossil generation. In September 2011, Exelon also acquired the 230-MW Antelope Valley Ranch One solar project under development in California. It is anticipated that this new clean generation will come online in late 2013.
- Wind. Exelon Also in 2010, Exelon spent approximately $900 million to purchase the assets that now comprise Exelon Wind, a division of Exelon Power. Exelon Wind operates 36 existing projects, which are located in eight states and provide enough capacity to power 160,000 to 220,000 households. Exelon Wind continues to explore 1,468 MW of new wind projects that were in various stages of development at the time of the transaction.
- Hydroelectric. Exelon Power has filed Notices of Intent and Pre-Application Documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to relicense Conowingo and Muddy Run on the Susquehanna River. New licenses would extend the life of these low-carbon generation facilities for another 40 years.
Reducing Emissions from Fossil Generation
About 92% of our direct GHG emissions are attributed to our fossil power plant operations even though fossil generation only accounts for approximately 6% of our electricity output. Therefore, when demand increases, especially during peak load times which are primarily served by older, high emission fossil plants, GHG emissions increase as well.
Exelon fossil generation output increased by 6.4% in 2010 as a result of increased market demand and unusually hot weather conditions. Consequently fossil generation related 2010 GHG emissions also increased approximately 5.8% from 2009 levels. Nevertheless, Exelon maintains its plan to reduce these fossil generation emissions through the following initiatives:
- Retiring Older, Inefficient Fossil Plants. Exelon Power has worked with the PJM Interconnection on its plans to permanently retire 3 coal-fired units and 1 gas/oil-fired unit at the Cromby and Eddystone Generating Stations. With the shutdown of two of these generation units in mid-2011, the company anticipates at least an 8% reduction in GHG emissions. With the two additional fossil unit closures planned at the end of 2011 and in mid-2012, Exelon expects to further reduce the GHG emissions by at least another 16% by the end of 2012.
- Acquisition of Cleaner, More Efficient Plants. In August 2011, Exelon acquired Wolf Hollow Generating Station, a combined-cycle natural gas plant in Texas adding 720 MW of generation which can support smoothing the sporadic availability of renewables on the grid. Natural gas emits 80% less sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, and 55% less carbon dioxide than coal, with no mercury or particulate emissions.
- Advancing Clean Coal Technologies. In January 2010, Exelon announced that Generation intends to become a member of the FutureGen Alliance; an owner and operating partner participant in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored FutureGen 2.0 Project. FutureGen 2.0 is a unique clean coal demonstration project currently under development in central Illinois which will design, build and operate the CO2 transportation system and sequestration facility along with an education and training center.
Focus on Safety
- In response to the nuclear situation in Japan, an extensive review concerning the safety of U.S. nuclear plants is underway. Initial assessments have concluded that Exelon’s plants are adequately designed to withstand earthquakes, floods, and other events. To learn more about the incident in Japan and the US Nuclear industry’s response, visit: safetyfirst.nei.org.
Expanding Zero-Emission Nuclear Generation
Operating our existing nuclear fleet of 17 units at 10 locations safely and reliably is and always must be one of Exelon’s top priorities. These assets represent approximately 20% of nuclear generating capacity in the United States. In 2010, approximately 93% of Exelon’s total electricity generation, or more than 150 million megawatt hours, came from nuclear power. Nuclear energy has an integral role in supporting our economy; it delivers safe, clean and affordable energy; and emits virtually no greenhouse gases.
Exelon Nuclear Texas Holdings LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exelon Generation, filed an early site permit application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an 11,500-acre site in Victory County, Texas. While we are not actively pursuing new plant development, the permit would reserve the property for nuclear construction for the next 20 years.
Nuclear Uprates
The nuclear uprates project consists of a series of planned capacity expansions across the existing nuclear fleet through 2017 that could create between 1,100 and 1,300 MW of additional generation capacity. Such capacity would be the equivalent output of a new advanced nuclear reactor, displacing approximately 7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually and helping Exelon exceed our 2020 goal.
Exelon Nuclear added approximately 60 MW (ownership share) of additional capacity through uprates in 2010. Displacement from these nuclear plant capacity increases was determined to be 214,000 tonnes CO2e. The resulting increase in CO2e emissions-free electrical baseload generation displaces the need to run high CO2 producing fossil generation peaking plants.
“Nuclear uprates are safe, economical and add to long term improved efficiency of a nuclear plant.”
— Charles (Chip) Pardee, Chief Operating Officer, Exelon Generation