Calpine to Build New Capacity in ERCOT for Summer 2014

Calpine announced Friday that it is actively permitting the addition of 520 MW of combined-cycle capacity at existing sites in ERCOT, with anticipated commencement of commercial operations by the summer of 2014.

Specifically, Calpine is moving forward with 260 MW expansions at both its Deer Park and Channel Energy centers.

The capacity comes from both the installation of an additional combustion turbine at each site, plus an improvement in the efficiency of the existing turbines.

The 260 MW represents incremental baseload capacity at annual average conditions. Incremental summer peaking capacity is approximately 200 MW per unit, supplemented by incremental efficiencies across the balance of the plant.

Excluding the benefits of the increased efficiencies, Calpine said that the new capacity will be added at an overnight cost of less than $550/kW.