But the same $2,000 would buy two kilowatts from a combined-cycle plant, eliminating 0.8 kilos while emitting only 0.24, eliminating 0.56.
Combustion turbines or combined-cycle plants running on natural gas are being built anywhere gas is available.
They would be combined-cycle plants, which are cleaner and more energy-efficient because they use waste heat to power turbines, rather than letting it drift away unused.
Because the activities involved with IGCC (integrated-gasification, combined-cycle plant) involve minimal water consumption, these processes will not negatively harm the water sources of the area.
From a greenhouse standpoint, natural gas presents a better possibility, because it has less carbon and because a modern combined-cycle plant wastes only about half the heat value of the fuel.
In a combined-cycle plant, waste heat is used to make steam to drive a secondary turbine.
The system for ingesting salt water for cooling is far too large for a combined-cycle plant, but would be helpful.
In addition, according to Texaco, its gasifiers, teamed with combined-cycle plants, are far cleaner than required by Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The fluid is then drawn from the hot reservoir to produce steam at high pressure and temperature, which is sent to Enel's nearby combined-cycle plant, where it contributes to electricity generation.
They may still be economically attractive fuels however, particularly in combined-cycle plants.