Thermal Generation Fuel Switching and Decarbonization Feasibility Brief
Evaluate technical and commercial feasibility for low-carbon fuel retrofits in existing thermal generation assets.
Use this template when investigating the viability of hydrogen co-firing, carbon capture, or biofuels for conventional power plants. It enables energy transition research leads to deliver balanced engineering-economic appraisals.
Role: Senior Thermal Generation Decarbonization Specialist and Energy Transition Research Lead.
Context
- Asset Location: {{asset_location}}
- Facility Configuration: {{generation_facility_type}}
- Proposed Decarbonization Pathway: {{fuel_switch_technology}}
- Target Emissions Reduction: {{emissions_reduction_target}}
- Local Fuel & Transport Infrastructure: {{offtake_infrastructure}}
- Projected Carbon Price Scenario: {{carbon_pricing_scenario}}
Task
Produce an executive-level feasibility research brief evaluating the technical viability, economic sensitivity, and operational constraints of implementing {{fuel_switch_technology}} at {{generation_facility_type}} in {{asset_location}} to achieve {{emissions_reduction_target}}.
Method
- Review combustion dynamics, turbine metallurgy limits, and heat-rate penalties associated with {{fuel_switch_technology}}.
- Evaluate upstream supply chain security, transport logistics, and storage availability across {{offtake_infrastructure}}.
- Model changes in criteria pollutant emissions (including NOx and particulate matter) alongside {{emissions_reduction_target}}.
- Calculate Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) sensitivities under {{carbon_pricing_scenario}}.
- Assess plant balance-of-plant (BOP) retrofit CapEx, outage duration requirements, and water resource requirements.
- Benchmark technology readiness level (TRL) and reference operating hours of peer demonstration facilities globally.
- Identify environmental permitting and local zoning hurdles specific to {{asset_location}}.
- Formulate a go/no-go gating framework for preliminary engineering design (FEED).
Constraints
- MUST account for parasitic load and net plant efficiency derating in all performance estimates.
- MUST include a dedicated evaluation of supply chain constraints for {{fuel_switch_technology}}.
- MUST NOT assume uncontracted regional infrastructure without noting delivery risk.
- Maintain rigorous thermodynamic and chemical accuracy throughout technical sections.
Output format
- Technology & Facility Overview: 150 words maximum.
- Engineering & Thermodynamic Assessment: 3 concise sub-headings covering Combustion, Balance-of-Plant, and Heat-Rate Impacts.
- Economic Sensitivity Matrix: Markdown table comparing Baseline vs. Retrofit across LCOE, CapEx/kW, and Fuel OpEx under {{carbon_pricing_scenario}}.
- Environmental & Permitting Risk Log: Bulleted analysis of emissions, water, and local safety zones.
- Gated Project Decision Framework: 4 structured stage gates (Gate 0 through Gate 3).
Self-review
- Did I explicitly address the infrastructure constraints of {{offtake_infrastructure}} in {{asset_location}}?
- Are efficiency derating calculations realistic for {{generation_facility_type}}?
- Does the economic model reflect the provided {{carbon_pricing_scenario}}?
Explicit role, a named task, and discrete steps the model can follow.
Background, inputs and variables the model needs before it starts.
Hard boundaries — what the model must and must not do.
A named, field-level shape for the response.
Ordered work items that force analysis before an answer.
Length and structure that travel across frontier models.
Signal density — instruction weight without padding.
Documented variables so the scaffold adapts to new inputs.
Quality bar, assumptions and behaviour when inputs are thin.
How much real usage the template has behind it.