The two companies will work together to develop The Martin Next Generation Solar Center, a breakthrough in solar-natural gas relations
The Martin Next Generation Solar Center represents the attempt to make a brown fossil fuel plant a bit greener, a breakthrough in solar-natural gas relations. Florida Power and Light is building the 75-megawatt concentrating solar thermal plant adjacent to an existing natural gas plant. Florida Power and Light is a utility popular for its advancements in wind, solar power and energy efficiency.
According to FPL, the Martin Solar Center will be the first hybrid facility to attach solar thermal power to a combined-cycle power plant. The facility will also be the second-largest solar in the world and the largest solar power plant of any kind outside of California.
180,000 mirrors will make up the solar thermal arm, reflecting solar radiation onto a receiver. A liquid in the receiver will be heated to create steam, directly displacing the fossil fuel energy otherwise needed during the day. FPL is trying to lower the costs of solar energy with this hybrid effort, by sharing plant infrastructure.
The solar thermal plant will produce 75 megawatts of solar electricity at peak output. Under the bright Florida sunshine, the solar system will create enough energy to power 11,000 homes, or 26,000 people. The expected greenhouse gas emissions reduction is of 2.75 million tons over 30 years.
Hybrid power plants have been developed as means to make solar power more competitive and less expensive. Digg this Slashdot Del.icio.us StumbleUpon Yahoo MyWeb Google Bookmarks Twitter Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment