Nevada Gets First U.S. Solar Thermal Plant

This sounds like a really nice product. I hope you succeed in delivering economic electric power from solar. Are you using large, spherical, vaccuum-insulated heat storage tanks?

Cogeneration solar-natural gas, is a system that all utility will need in the future.

Giulio Negrini
g.negrini@gnpimb.com

Creating U.S. manufacturing base and jobs -- another benefit in addition to diversifying generation and improving environment.

I believe the Renewable Portfolio Standards that states like California have will continue to drive renewable purchase commitments which will in turn drive more investment in manufacturing. The next step is to clue the folks in D.C. about this.

In a hybrid system, there is no need for large storage facilities, as the steam generated is directly and immediately used for generation. During the daytime, the amount of solar heat available tracks more or less in line with demand, while the lower night time demand is supplied with gas or other fuel boilers.

Idealy, solar arrays should be sited at or near any fossil fueled power station where the climate is suitable, as even if only a small amount is possible, it can reduce the amount of bleed steam used to preheat water going to the boilers. In this usage, the Solar component takes on nearly the generating efficiency of the power plant, which is probably significantly higher than the Carnot equation would permit for most pure Solar Thermal power stations.

i.e. Add Solar collectors to a conventional power station, and you add possibly as much as twice the generated electricity of per area as a pure solar station.