As just lately as 2005, coal accounted for greater than half of Duke’s energy technology within the Carolinas. The corporate says it has retired 56 coal models since 2010, and that coal-generated energy now represents 16% of Duke’s manufacturing within the Carolinas.Every particular person unit produces electrical energy by burning coal in a boiler to warmth water to produce steam. The steam, underneath great stress, flows right into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electrical energy.
A half-dozen Duke amenities within the Carolinas nonetheless use that course of, stated firm spokesman Invoice Norton.
In North Carolina, general electrical energy manufacturing accounts for practically one-third of greenhouse fuel emissions, second solely to transportation, in accordance to the N.C. Division of Environmental High quality.
Shift to fuel
At Belews Creek, which has a workforce of 120 staff, two coal models stay in operation.
The Belews Creek Steam Station, proven right here in 2013, is predicted to be one of the last of Duke’s amenities within the Carolinas to transfer on from coal-burning operations, in accordance to the corporate’s timeline. The opposite is the Cliffside Steam Station on the Rogers Vitality Complicated, which straddles the Cleveland County and Rutherford County line.
However after adjustments on the facility in 2020 and 2021, up to 50% of the plant’s energy can be generated with pure fuel, in accordance to the corporate.
By 2035, Belews Creek will shift to 100% pure fuel manufacturing however, with out coal, the station’s present manufacturing capability will be lower in half.
