Retrofitting power plants with solar technology

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has a second project geared toward helping power companies retrofit fossil-fueled electric power plants with solar-energy technology. The move would help the firms reducing fuel costs and plant emissions.

EPRI is partnering with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assn. Inc., Progress Energy , and Southern Co. on the study, Solar Augmented Steam Cycles for Coal Plants . Case study analyses will be performed by WorleyParsons Group Inc..

This and the first project ( a study launched in October at natural-gas facilities ) both involve adding steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle, in order to offset some of the fuel required to generate electric power. As part of the coal project, case studies will be conducted at Tri-State’s 245-MW Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, N.M.; and at Progress Energy’s 742-MW Mayo Plant in Roxboro, N.C.

The projects will provide a conceptual design study and two detailed case studies. The goal is to analyze design options to retrofit existing plants, and identify options for new plant designs.

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