Coal-dependent power systems need low‑carbon replacements that keep reliability and costs in check. This Applied Energy study (Jan 2025) compares three retrofit pathways for coal plants—Greenfield, Coal‑to‑Nuclear (C2N), and Coal‑to‑Integrated Energy Systems (C2IES).
Using site screening, optimization, and sensitivity analysis, the authors find that C2IES, combining nuclear with renewables and storage, can markedly lower cost of energy and boost system resilience, offering a practical, scalable route to decarbonize coal assets.