In a combined cycle power part of the plant or combined cycle gas turbine plant, a gas turbine generator generates electricity and the waste heat is used to make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine.

The Palmdale Hybrid Energy Project combines alternative and renewable energy solutions by using combined cycle and parabolic mirror technology in one integrated power project.

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The proposed Palmdale project would have a net electrical output of 570 megawatts (MW), with construction planned to begin in 1st quarter 2010 and commercial operation planned by the 2nd quarter of 2012. Palmdale is designed to use solar technology to generate a portion of the project’s output and thereby support the State of California’s goals of increasing the percentage of renewable energy supplies.

Primary equipment for the generating facility would include two natural gas-fired combustion turbine-generation (CTGs) rates at 155 MW each, two heat recovery steam generators (HRSFs), one steam turbine-generator (STG) rated at 260 MW, and 250 acres of parabolic solar-thermal collectors with associated heat transfer equipment. The solar-thermal collectors would contribute up to 50 MW of the STG’s output.

This last step enhances the efficiency of electricity generation. The solar technology part of the project converts sunshine into useful thermal energy, and subsequently into electricity, by way of parabolic mirrors that concentrate the solar energy onto solar thermal receivers containing a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid is circulated and heated through the receivers, and the heat is released to a series of heat exchangers to generate super-heated steam. The steam powers a turbine/generator to produce electricity delivered to a utility’s electric grid.

To enlarge please click on image

To enlarge please click on image