Performance of Thermal Power Plants in Tropical, Dry, Temperate, Continental, and Polar Climate Regions

Abstract

The influence of climatic conditions on thermal power plant performance has been insufficiently addressed in existing research. This study investigates how different climate zones affect plant efficiency, resource use, and environmental impact. A 100 MW thermal power plant operating on the ideal Rankine cycle with superheat and reheat is used as a representative case study. Thirty years (1991–2021) of climate data from 92 global locations representing tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar regions are analyzed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. Results show that tropical climates have ambient temperatures higher by 4°C, 10°C, 17°C, and 26°C compared to dry, temperate, continental, and polar regions, respectively. Plants in tropical and dry regions show a 1.0%–3.0% drop in efficiency, 12.0%–30.0% higher makeup water demand, 5.0%–11.0% greater cooling water needs, and 3.0%–6.5% increases in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. These outcomes highlight limitations and underscore the need for the importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources to enhance energy sustainability and water resilience.