Answer:
a-The construction of 2 coal-fired plants and 4 gas-fired plants will have minimum construction costs.
b-Total construction cost is $196 Million.
c-The average cost is $0.0825 per killowatt-hour.
Explanation:
a
In order to estimate the best combination of the two, consider the following linear programming model
with minimizing function as
This yeilds in the optimum solution of 2 coal fired plants and 4 gas fired plants with minimum construction costs.
The construction of 2 coal-fired plants and 4 gas-fired plants will have minimum construction costs.
b
The construction cost is as follows
Number of coal-fired plants=2
Number of gas-fired plants=4
Total Cost=(Cost of 1 Coal-Fired Plant*Number of coal-fired plants)+(Cost of 1 Gas-Fired Plant*Number of gas-fired plants)
Total construction cost is $196 Million.
c
Average Cost of Electricity production is given by estimating the share of electricity produced by coal-fired plants and gas-fired plants
Total energy=80 MW
Energy produced by Coal-Fired Plants at full capacity=2*30=60 MW
Energy produced by Gas-Fired Plants at full capacity=4*5=20 MW
Fraction of Coal-Fired Plants is given as
Fraction of Gas-Fired Plants is given as
Cost of Producing KW-hr by Coal-Fired Plant is $0.07
Cost of Producing KW-hr by Gas-Fired Plant is $0.12
So
The average cost is $0.0825 per killowatt-hour.