Jul 7 2010
eSolar, an Idealab company that formulates modular and scalable solar thermal power plant technology and, its project associate Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group which offers nuclear and fossil power technology is chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive $10.8 million subsidy to plan, build and run a modular, baseload molten salt power plant utilizing concentrated solar power.
Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation on its part will offer turnkey modular molten salt receiver that works with eSolar technology, which is a hot/cold molten salt storing system, and molten salt to steam heat exchangers. The company aspires to realize lowest levelized electricity in a utility scale CSP plant.
The proposed plant is planning to use ample mirrors to converge solar power on a receiver mounted over a tower. The heat energy focused on the receiver will be transferred to a steam generator through molten salt to produce steam and in turn electrical energy. The heated molten salt can be used to power the steam generator during eclipse period of sun thus permitting power production up to 18 hours in a day.
Richard L. Killion President and Chief Operating Officer of B&W PGG felt energized about the US government’s support and said the environment friendly technology, of using concentrated solar power on molten salt will help to meet the energy needs of the nation cost effectively.
John Van Scoter, CEO of eSolar was gratified that eSolar is on par with the companies that work for CSP market and said together with B&W PGG, they intend to speed up the research, for attaining cost effective storage solutions for CSP which is crucial for the industry’s subsequent stratum of expansion.
B&W PGG is planning to outsource the required components and assemble them in the proposed site to trim overheads. Designing, building and testing of this project is expected to be completed approximately in 2.5 years.
Source: http://www.babcock.com