News Release
EPRI, Tri-state G&T and NV Energy to demonstrate
Solar Thermal Hybrid Power Plants
Projects to Use Solar Power to Augment Natural Gas and Coal Generation
PALO ALTO, Calif. - (Dec. 3, 2009) - The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) today announced two
Industry technology demonstration projects designed to help utilities add solar energy to fossil-fueled
power plants that could result in reduced emissions and fuel costs.
Both projects involve adding steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuelpowered steam cycle to help generate electricity, creating a solar “hybrid” plant. Tri-State Generation and
Transmission Association, Inc., will host one demonstration at its coal-fired 245-megawatt (MW)
Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, NM. NV Energy will host the other at its natural gas-powered
1,102-MW Chuck Lenzie Generating Station near Las Vegas.
Solar thermal hybrid applications have the potential to be an important, low-cost option for adding solar
power to the generation fleet, allowing utilities to meet renewable energy regulatory targets, reduce plant
emissions, and lower fuel costs. The hybrid system will inject solar-generated steam into the steam cycle
of the fossil plants, resulting in fewer emissions and a lower reliance on fossil fuels. This approach solves
the intermittency challenge of integrating solar power onto the grid without compromising the reliability of
supply.
EPRI, plant owners and operators, and other participants have formed collaboratives to provide data from
these solar thermal hybrid projects to the industry and public. The collaboratives will support the hosts in
selecting the integration design, and conduct independent plant performance monitoring, evaluation and
economic assessments of their planned projects.
“These projects will seek to demonstrate a near-term and cost-effective way to use solar energy at
commercial scale,” said Carolyn Shockley, vice president of Generation at EPRI. “This is a key step along
the road toward taking full advantage of technologies to lower the industry’s carbon footprint.”
The EPRI demonstrations, to be conducted in conjunction with construction of new solar thermal facilities,
will provide support throughout all phases of the projects. The collaborative will help select designs that
can achieve the desired cost and performance targets while maintaining the availability and reliability of
the existing plant; develop plans for the hybrid plant performance evaluation and testing; and then carry
out performance monitoring and evaluation, component testing, economic assessment, and reporting of
operating parameters during plant commissioning.
EPRI will rely on its expertise in solar technologies, steam cycles, and plant operation, as well as past
solar and fossil plant studies, including two on solar-augmented steam cycles completed this year at the
host sites for the new demonstration projects. EPRI holds two patents in solar steam cycle optimization.
“Tri-State is investing in leading research in a number of innovative renewable energy technologies that
bring value to our member cooperatives,” said Ken Anderson, executive vice president and general
manager at Tri-State. “We are intrigued with the positive results of EPRI’s solar augmentation study that
was conducted at our Escalante Generating Station and we are extremely interested in further exploring
the practical application of this breakthrough technology that could further advance the efficiencies at one
of our existing facilities.”
NV Energy’s Renewable Energy Vice President Tom Fair said his company is encouraged by the results
of initial studies of solar hybrid applications with currently existing generation assets.
“We are excited about the possibility of integrating solar steam into one of our conventional natural gas
fueled power stations and are pleased to be working with EPRI to leverage this state-of-the-art
technology. Focusing on fully understanding the technical and economic facets of this innovative
technology before seeking regulatory approvals needed for design and construction will assure that this
project makes the most sense for our customers. We anticipate this could be a great way to increase our
use of solar energy, reduce overall emissions and maximize the use of our existing assets,” Fair said.
EPRI is supporting nine industry technology demonstrations as part of its efforts to help develop a “full
portfolio” of technology approaches needed to make substantial CO2 emissions reductions while
minimizing economic impacts. EPRI’s Prism and MERGE analyses (available at www.epri.com) found
that deployment of a full portfolio of advanced technologies, including carbon capture and storage, could
reduce U.S. electric sector CO2 emissions by 2030 to a level below 1990 emissions. EPRI currently is
working on a global analysis that is expected to show similar energy mix changes and significant
economic impacts.
About Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
Based in Denver, Tri-State is a wholesale electric power supplier owned by the 44 electric cooperatives
that it serves. Tri-State generates and transports electricity to its member systems throughout a 250,000
square-mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.
About NV Energy
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal
subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV
Energy. Serving a combined 54,500-square-mile service territory that stretches north to south from Elko
to Laughlin, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4
million citizens of Nevada as well as approximately 40 million tourists annually. For more information,
visit www.nvenergy.com
About EPRI
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development
relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent,
nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from
academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health,
safety and the environment. EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated
and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI's
principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and
Lenox, Mass.
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