Date of Graduation

Spring 5-20-2021

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Energy Systems Management

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Energy Systems Management

First Advisor

Dr. Jim Williams

Second Advisor

Ryan Jones

Abstract

This report profiles an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Duke Energy Progress (DEP), a public utility subsidiary of Duke Energy. The goal of this IRP is to model the optimal portfolio of demand- and supply-side resources to cater to the projected energy demand and system reliability requirements while satisfying the considered policy and regulatory obligations under different developed scenarios. DEP is required by North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) Rule R8-60 and subsequent orders, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) and The Energy Freedom Act (Act 62) in South Carolina, to submit an IRP every two years with an annual update in the year between. As such, this IRP will explore potential pathways for how the utility’s resource portfolio would evolve over the next three decades under evaluated scenarios.

For this study, three distinct scenarios are evaluated for the DEP’s system based on different environmental and resource considerations as outlined in the table above. The Business-as-Usual (BAU) case represents, in its true meaning, an outlook of DEP’s system in case of no major constitutional or regulatory changes occurring in the modeling period. The two alternative scenarios, Clean100 and RE90, present for two potential pathways to carbon neutrality by 2050 with high renewables generation (90%) envisioned in RE90 alternative and moderate renewables production (50%) proposed in Clean100. Finally, renewables and carbon-free resources are constrained by their utilization potential or early retirement.

This report highlights the system’s environmental and economic footprint under different scenarios and showcases the least-cost pathways for achieving the desired goals.

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