A Comparison of Hybrid Heating Systems and New Generation Facilities for Peak Electricity Load Management

This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of hybrid heating systems as an electric load-management tool for Canadian utilities, based on an analysis of data for the Province of New Brunswick. In comparison to all-electric systems, the study indicates that hybrid heating systems offer many advantages: they are less costly when peak electricity generation is provided by combustion turbines; they can eliminate the need for new peak generating capacity within the 15 year planning horizon of the utility; the higher energy conversion efficiency of hybrid systems reduces oil consumption, and C02 and SOx emissions; and they can be produced, installed and maintained locally, unlike the major components of power plants and many of their installation and maintenance services, which are imported. The constraints upon implementation of the technology are also discussed. A demand management leasing scheme, in which the utility leases the hybrid heating technology from the customer, is described. It offers political and public relations advantages over more traditional cost allocation schemes and ensures the long-term availability of the technology