Utility Automation & Engineering T&D - EPRI to evaluate adding solar thermal energy to traditional plants

Palo Alto, CA, Nov. 11, 2008 -- The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced that it will lead two projects designed to help electric power companies add solar energy to fossil-fueled electric power plants, reducing fuel costs and plant emissions. Dynegy Inc. and NV Energy will host case studies at their natural gas combined cycle facilities with project participants including Salt River Project, Southern Company and Progress Energy.

Both projects involve adding steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle, either to offset some of the coal or natural gas required to generate electric power or to boost overall plant power output. The projects will be conducted in parallel, with one focused on natural gas plant technologies and the other on coal plant technologies. As part of the natural gas project, case studies will be conducted at Dynegy's Griffith Energy Facility in Kingman, Ariz., and at NV Energy's Chuck Lenzie Generating Station near Las Vegas.

"These 'hybrid power plants' will combine the low-cost reliability of existing fossil power plants with the environmental benefit of renewables, and help companies meet federal and state mandates to reduce their emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases with renewable energy," said Bryan Hannegan, vice president of environment and generation at EPRI.

Currently, 27 states in the U.S. have enacted RPS policies. Some include specific mandates that a percentage of the requirement be met with solar energy. However, most current solar applications are not cost-competitive with other power generating options. Using solar to augment coal or natural gas potentially is the lowest-cost option for adding solar power to the generation fleet, as it utilizes existing plant assets, said EPRI.

These projects will provide a conceptual design study and two detailed case studies. Design options to retrofit existing plants will be analyzed and new plant design options will be identified. EPRI will rely on its expertise in solar technologies, steam cycles, and plant operation, as well as past solar and fossil plant studies. EPRI holds two patents in solar steam cycle optimization.

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