Interesting, Excel Energy is taking a hybrid solar-coal approach using parabolic-trough solar technology to provide heat to produce supplemental steam for power generation at their new Cameo Station Unit 2. The benefits:

• decrease the overall consumption of coal,
• reduce emissions from the plant,
• improve plant efficiency,
• test commercial viability of concentrating solar integration, and
• increase the opportunity for cost-effective renewable power generation.

Energy Firm Pairs Solar With Coal in Colorado

GetSolar Staff. 01, July. 2010 – Source»

Xcel Energy of Minneapolis said on Wednesday that it is demonstrating a unique, first of its kind solar hybrid power plant at its Cameo Generating Station in Grand Junction, Colorado. The plant uses a combination of burning coal and parabolic-trough solar mirrors, which focus the sun’s heat to reduce the amount of coal energy needed to turn water to steam.

The company is trying to create a solar solution that can be integrated with existing coal power plants to improve their efficiency and lower their emissions. In a conventional coal plant, burning coal boils water, which turns steam turbines to generate electricity. Xcel’s mirrors reduce the amount of coal needed to create the steam.

In many ways, Xcel’s technology is similar to that used in solar hot water and solar heating systems, which transform the sun’s rays directly into heat rather than converting it to electricity.

“If this project produces the successful results we expect, this type of solar thermal integration will help move the use of solar energy one step closer to being a potential technology for improving the environmental performance of coal-fired power plants for Xcel Energy and for utilities around the country,” said Kent Larson, Xcel Energy’s vice president and chief energy supply officer.

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