The case studies will be conducted at Dynegy’s Griffith energy facility in Kingman, Arizona, and at NV Energy’s Chuck Lenzie generating station near Las Vegas.
Steam generated by solar thermal field is moved to the fossil fuel-powered steam cycle in both these projects. The projects will be conducted at the same time, with one focused on natural gas plant technologies and the other on coal plant technologies.
A conceptual design study and two detailed case studies will be provided for in the projects. EPRI will rely on its expertise in solar technologies, steam cycles, and plant operation, as well as past solar and fossil plant studies.
These projects will demonstrate a near-term and cost-effective way to use large amounts of solar energy at commercial scale to provide clean electric power, said Bryan Hannegan, vice president of Environment and Generation at EPRI.
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.
