Grid-Bonded Solar in Florida
Off-grid and grid-tied solar now have a new cousin: "Hybrid solar." Florida Power & Light executives marked the groundbreaking of a new solar power project that will be connected directly to a dinosaur power plant.
December 03, 2008
FPL told the Associated Press that the facility will be the first "hybrid solar plant." It will connect to an existing natural-gas power plant and use the sun's power to generate steam.
The 75-MW solar thermal plant will offset the use of natural gas in the adjoining power plant, making the fossil-fueled facility more energy efficient. This solar plant is set for completion in 2010, and two other FPL solar plants are expected to start construction next year.
FPL Group, Inc., Florida Power & Light's parent company, is dedicated to putting utility-class renewable energy to work. It provides electricity in 27 states, is already the nation's top producer of wind and solar power. FPL operates a 310-megawatt site in the Mojave Desert of California.
"Hybrid solar plant to reduce need for fossil fuel" - AP story in the Seattle Times today.
Comments
this type of solar thermal energy is growing. Spain plan up to 60 plants and Australia are aiming for it to be their biggest energy producer by 2050.
Posted by: Total Solar Energy | December 3, 2008 07:55 AM