You have been asked to prepare a quick estimate of the construction cost for a coal-fired electricity
Question:
€¢ A coal-fired generating plant twice the size of the one you are estimating was built in 1988. The 1988 boiler (1.2) and boiler support system (1.3) cost $110 million. The cost index for boilers was 110 in 1988, it is 492 in 2011. The cost capacity factor for similar boilers and support systems is 0.9. The 600-acre site is on property you already own, but improvements (1.1.1) and roads (1.1.2) will cost $2,000 per acre, and railroads (1.1.3) will cost $3,000,000. Project integration (1.9) is projected to cost 3% of all other construction costs.
€¢ The security systems (1.5.4) are expected to cost $1,500 per acre, according to recent (2011) construction of similar plants. All other support facilities and equipment (1.5) elements are to be built by Viscount Engineering. Viscount Engineering has built the support facilities and equipment elements for two similar generating plants. Their experience is expected to reduce labor requirements substantially; a 90% learning curve can be assumed. Viscount built the support facilities and equipment on their first job in 95,000 hours. For this project, viscount's labor will be billed to you at $60 per hour. Viscount estimates that materials for the construction of the support facilities and equipment elements (except 1.5.4) will cost you $15,000,000.
€¢ The coal storage facility (1.4) for the coal-fired generating plant built in 1988 cost $5 million. Although your plant is smaller, you require the same size coal storage facility as the 1988 plant. You assume you can apply the cost index for similar boilers to the coal storage facility.
What is your estimated 2011 cost for building the coal-fired generating facility? Summarize your calculations in a cost estimating worksheet, and state the assumptions you make.
Step by Step Answer:
Engineering Economy
ISBN: 978-0132554909
15th edition
Authors: William G. Sullivan, Elin M. Wicks, C. Patrick Koelling