Coal-fired projects will see the biggest additions, outpacing natural-gas-fired units, according to Industrial Info Resources' Power Tracker report.
Power plant developers in the U.S. are looking at over 272,000 megawatts (MW) of new power
generation unit additions for 2007 and beyond, according to Industrial Info Resources' Power Tracker report released Wednesday.
Of the more than 1,700 projects identified as active, precommissioned units by the report, a majority, nearly 87 percent, are slated to begin construction by 2012.
Coal-fired units, with over 71,000 MW planned, lead all fuel types for future generation unit development.
Add to this, the additional 117 IGCC projects and the total output for planned coal-derived power units in the U.S. increases to more than 90,000 MW, the report notes.
Development of coal (71,000 MW), nuclear (46,000 MW), and wind (47,000 MW) projects, each have outpaced natural-gas-fired unit development, which is now at about 45,000 MW from 426 units.
According to the Power Tracker, environmental requirements, fuel availability, fuel pricing changes, and new efficient technology will be the major trends advancing the next round of power generation unit project development.