Jul 3 2010
Xcel Energy has demonstrated its hybrid solar-coal project, utilizing parabolic-trough solar technology incorporated with a coal-powered power plant. This project is situated at the Cameo Generating Station of Xcel Energy close to Grand Junction, Colorado.
The project is developed to enhance the efficiency of the plant, reduce coal use, decrease carbon dioxide emissions and test the commercial feasibility of concentrating solar energy thermal integration. In order to concentrate solar energy for providing heat for the production of additional steam for electricity production, Abengoa Solar has developed the parabolic-trough technology.
This project comes under the novel Innovative Clean Technology (ICT) Program of Xcel Energy. The company, by means of the ICT program, can pursue the deployment, development and commercialization of new energy storage, power generation and other related technologies, supporting the clean energy strategy of the company. Simultaneously, the company provides opportunities for not only testing these technologies, but also for evaluating their costs, reliability as well as environmental performance.