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US fossil fuel plants retrofitted with solar; Project will add steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle
Tom Young, 4 February 2009 (BusinessGreen)

"Three power companies in the US are examining the possibility of adding solar energy to their fossil-fuelled electric power plants, reducing fuel costs and plant emissions.

"Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Progress Energy and Southern Company are participating in the project with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)."

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"The project will add steam generated by a solar thermal field to a conventional fossil fuel-powered steam cycle to offset some of the fuel required to generate electric power.

"The trials will be conducted at Tri-State’s 245MW Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, New Mexico and at Progress Energy’s 742MW Mayo Plant in Roxboro, North Carolina…

"Currently, 27 states in the US have enacted renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies. Some include specific mandates that a percentage of the requirement be met with solar energy, and the EPRI believes that this technology could be the cheapest way of achieving this, as it uses existing plant assets…"