3 CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE SPS AND ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES This section contains brief descriptions of each of the technologies considered. More detailed characterizations are contained in the SPS CDEP Reference System Report^- and in the alternative technology characterization reports.The objective of the technology characterizations was to collect and develop a consistent and traceable set of characterization parameters for the SPS and other possible post-2000 baseload systems. The characterizations represent "first-order" characteristics that define systems in sufficient detail for the cost and environmental analyses. 3.1 SELECTION OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES The preliminary list of 29 technologies (Table 3.1) was initially screened according to two sets of criteria. The list was reduced to a subset of systems that were then further screened by more restrictive criteria to a final subset of alternatives. Decentralized technologies were excluded from the comparative assessment, since the focus was on baseload alternatives to SPS. A more detailed description of the technology screening and selection process is presented in another report.$ Initial screening was both qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative screening procedure included the following criteria for selection of an initial and representative subset of candidate electrical power generation systems: A. The initial set should include improved conventional systems (e.g., coal and LWR systems). B. It should represent the following classes of advanced systems: 1. Advanced coal combustion and synfuels, 2. Solar, 3. Fission, 4. Fusion, and 5. Geothermal. C. It should include the principal energy systems most suitable for large, central-station baseload generation within each class of inexhaustible energy sources. D. It should reflect the consensus about which candidates are most likely to be viable in the year 2000. A group of qualified energy technology researchers was asked to judge the candidate technologies according to the listed criteria, and their choices of the most viable candidate technologies for the year 2000 constituted the qualitative screening selections. The quantitative screening technique explicitly considered five major technology factors and numerous subfactors (Table 3.2). The following criteria were used in the final alternative technology selection:
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