ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the costs for power generations are introduced. The fuel consumption and cost functions for coal-fired power plants are introduced. Generation cost curve, heat-rate curve, and incremental cost curve for traditional fossil fuel-based generating units are introduced. Examples are provided for calculations of generation costs, incremental costs, and the rated power. Besides coal-fired power generations, the costs of gas-fired power plants, hydropower, wind power, and nuclear power are also introduced and examples are given. Based on electricity load cycles and generation costs, the conventional generation-planning method, screening curve, and load duration curve are introduced. The conventional generation-planning method is illustrated with an example.
