Duke Energy files updated Carbon Plan to serve the growing energy needs of a thriving North Carolina
- None.
- None.
- Maintains "all of the above" strategy calling for a diverse deployment of new technologies supported by the North Carolina Utilities Commission in its 2022 Carbon Plan
- Proposes new advanced nuclear at
Belews Creek , new hydrogen-capable natural gas facilities atRoxboro andMarshall , plus significant increase in renewables and storage - Retires coal by 2035; achieves carbon neutrality by 2050, as required by
North Carolina's clean energy law under least-cost and reliability mandates
The Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan (CPIRP) builds on the trajectory of the North Carolina Utilities Commission's (NCUC) 2022 Carbon Plan, which established a least-cost path to meet the carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets of House Bill 951,
In the updated proposal, Duke Energy has identified new infrastructure needed to meet unprecedented growth in the Carolinas and to take the place of retiring coal plants: advanced nuclear at
"This plan delivers a path to cleaner energy without compromising grid reliability, affordability or the energy demands of a growing region," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's
Reducing carbon while accommodating growth
Between economic development success, population growth and increased adoption of electric vehicles, energy use by Duke Energy customers in the Carolinas is projected to grow by around 35,000 gigawatt-hours over the next 15 years – more than the annual electric generation of
To accommodate this, the CPIRP includes three core energy portfolios for the NCUC to review and ensure a pathway to carbon reduction that is least-cost and maintains equal or greater reliability than customers have today. The three portfolios reach HB 951's interim
"We've already made tremendous progress in the energy transition, retiring two-thirds of our aging coal plants in the Carolinas and reducing emissions by
Diverse mix of resources to reliably meet growth
The new plan maintains Duke Energy's commitment to exit coal by 2035. To meet the significant increase in projected energy demand, all three proposed portfolios are more ambitious in pace and scale than the
The company has recommended a "near-term action plan" based on the least-cost, least-risk portfolio. Activities in that plan would facilitate the following new resources:
- Solar – 6,000 megawatts (MW) by 2031
- Battery storage – 2,700 MW by 2031
- Hydrogen-capable natural gas – 5,800 MW by 2032, which includes replacing coal retirements at
Roxboro (Person County ) andMarshall (Catawba County ) - Wind – 1,200 MW onshore by 2033; preserve option of 1,600 MW offshore for 2033 or later
- Pumped-storage hydro – 1,700 MW by 2034 at Bad Creek Hydro in
Oconee County, S.C. , serving both states - Advanced nuclear – 600 MW by 2035, partially replacing coal retirements at
Belews Creek (Stokes County ) and one other existing plant location to be determined
For perspective, 1 MW of dispatchable generation such as nuclear or natural gas can power 800 homes; 1 MW of solar or wind must be backed up by 1 MW of another on-demand resource (such as natural gas or storage) that is not dependent on the weather.
Duke Energy's industry-leading energy efficiency and demand response options – voluntary programs that incentivize customers to reduce their energy use and save money – will help keep the need for new resources as low as possible. Energy savings from these programs are projected to increase seven-fold over the next 15 years.
Stakeholder input critical to the process
Duke Energy held five stakeholder engagement meetings over a four-month period on technical, complex issues involving resource planning. More than 100 individuals, representing a diverse group of organizations that included customers, environmental advocates, community leaders and other industries, attended these virtual sessions.
The presentation materials and Q&A from these engagement sessions, as well as additional documents and links related to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process, can be viewed on Duke Energy's IRP website. These technical sessions were augmented by environmental justice conversations in
More public input ahead
Today's filing in
The same resource plan was also filed in
The plan will be checked and adjusted every two years, incorporating technology advances, updated cost forecasts and applicable federal funding to ensure ongoing affordability and reliability for customers.
Duke Energy Carolinas/Duke Energy Progress
Duke Energy serves nearly 3.7 million households and businesses in
Duke Energy Carolinas owns 19,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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