State-of-the-art CCGT plants are distinguished by their high efficiencies. Their CO2 emissions (350 g/kWh) are considerably less than those of modern coal-fired power plants (750 to 930 g/kWh). The CO2 emissions can be lowered even more by using synthetically manufactured hydrogen-rich gases as the fuel.
Compared with coal-fired power plants, combined cycle power plants are cheaper to build (smaller capital costs). However, the operating costs are greater, since gas is more expensive as a fuel than coal. Combined cycle power plants are therefore best used for balancing out the fluctuating electricity fed into the grid by renewable energies. Another advantage in this respect is that combined cycle power plants can be ramped up from cold starts to a full load in a very short period of time and can be flexibly operated with partial loads.
The image shows the combined cycle power plant in Lingen an der Ems, which commenced operation in 2010 (built by Alstom for RWE).
