TVA to retire Kingston Fossil Plant in favor of mixed gas, solar and battery storage facility

Tennessee is about to undergo a large energy shakeup, thanks to the announced intent of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to retire its nine unit Kingston Fossil Plant by the end of 2027 and replace it with a state of the art, combined use energy complex instead.

The plant first opened its doors in 1954, but now, following a multi-year public process required by the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the TVA decided it was time to replace its coal-fired units with a complex that will house at least 1,500 MW of combined cycle and dual-fuel natural gas combustion turbines, with an extra 100 MW of battery storage and up to 4 MW of solar generation on the side. In its current form, the facility produces less than this – up to a total of up to a total of 1,398 MW.

“Kingston is, and has been, a part of the success of this region over the last 70 years,” Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO, said. “Retiring these units and replacing them with technology that is more reliable, more resilient, and cleaner is not an easy decision, but it’s the right thing to do for our energy security going forward.”

This revitalized Kingston would be a first of its kind for TVA. The natural gas portion of it will be up and running first, though, entering service before the coal portions fully retire to guarantee uninterrupted service. From there, it will become a part of TVA’s evolving philosophy that there is no single answer to achieving decarbonization goals.

To date, TVA’s portfolio includes a mix of nuclear, solar, hydro, gas and other technologies. It intends to add 10,000 MW of solar energy to its system by 2035 and cut CO2 emissions 80 percent by 2035.

“This is the evolution of our energy system,” Allen Clare, TVA senior vice president for Power Operations, said. “This energy complex is the most cost-effective option that offers the flexibility and reliability within the timeline to bring replacement generation online.”

The power supplier added that, from here, it will continue evaluation of its remaining coal fleet, considering all for retirement and replacement. Presently, it intends to retire its whole coal fleet by the mid-2030s.