Wind Energy

Alstom to supply steam turbine for concentrated solar thermal plant

It will be delivered in September 2012 and the concentrating solar thermal power plant will be commissioned by the end of 2013, the company said. Solar thermal electric energy generation concentrates the light from the sun to create heat. T

he concentrated heat is then used to produce steam which is to power the turbines of a conventional power plant. The project is the application of an innovative solar energy storage technology and will produce 500,000 megawatt hours per year to be sold to NV Energy, Nevada utility. It represents the equivalent of powering 43,000 homes during peak operation periods, the company added.

"Alstom keeps enlarging its energy portfolio with an extensive offer in the fast-growing renewable energy market including activities in hydropower, tidal, waves, wind, geothermal, biomass and concentrated solar power. This contract in solar reinforces our commitment to the solar market, in line with Alstom’s clean power strategy to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable and clean energy," said Armand Pineda, Vice-President Solar at Alstom.

On September 1st, 2011, Alstom SA (Levallois-Perret, France) announced that it has signed a contract with Cobra Thermosolar Plants Inc. to supply a 125 MW steam turbine and generator for the Crescent Dunes Solar Project in Tonopah, Nevada, United States.

Alstom will deliver the turbine and generator for the concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in September 2012. Solar Reserve plans to commission the plant by the end of 2013.

"This contract in solar reinforces our commitment to the solar market, in line with Alstom’s clean power strategy to meet the world’s growing demand for reliable and clean energy," said Alstom Vice-President of Solar Armand Pineda.

Crescent Dunes plant to use molten salt power tower design

The Crescent Dunes CSP plant will utilize solar power tower technology, where a field of mirrors (heliostats) concentrates sunlight on a central receiver to heat a fluid. The heat from this fluid is then used to make steam to drive a turbine.

Molten salt technology will be utilized in the 100 MW plant, which will allow it to continue to generate electricity "on demand" after the sun has gone down or during cloudy periods.

Solar Reserve will sell the electricity generated by the plant to NV Energy (Reno, Nevada, U.S.) under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

www.solarserver.com/