GC: n

CT: Hybridization of thermal plants is a great driver to increase the CSP share in the global energy mix.
Merits of the concept:

• Lower (~x1.8) LCOE than that of stand-alone CSP plants – Can compete with PV.
• Many developing countries will build CSP and coal plants, or already operate coal plants.
• Solar hybridization of coal plants converted into biomass plants is also possible.

Coal plants in operation or construction: solar boost through FW preheating

• Liddell (3 MWe / 500 MWe unit), Kogan Creek (44 MWe / 750 MWe unit – 2013)

Upcoming projects of hybridized coal plants: other hybridization modes

• Mejillones (5 MWth / 150 MWe unit): solar boost with SH steam into cold reheat pipe.
• Bitola (Macedonia): coal saving with additional feedwater preheating after top preheater.

The future: increasing the solar share – How?

• Combining various modes of solar heat injection into the plant process
• Designing a Greenfield hybrid solar-coal plant: high efficiency of a modern, supercritical plant and optimal integration of the solar heat input into the process.

S: http://www.iea.org/media/workshops/2014/solarelectricity/sirossolarboostersinfossilfuelplants.pdf (last access: 20 December 2014)

N: 1. 1824, from hybridize (1802, from hybrid + -ize) + -ation.
2. The hybridization of solar energy with diesel units, storage or another renewable source is continually developing, because it makes it possible to supply a competitive kWh in areas that are far from the power grid.
The operator’s aim is to manage these different sources more effectively so that he can reduce the cost per MWh produced.
That necessarily implies a more efficient use of the solar production and therefore an excellent forecast of this production on different time horizons.

S: 1. OED. 2. http://steady-sun.com/solution/hybridization-and-storage/ (last access: 20 December 2014).

SYN:
S:

CR: gasification, solar energy, [thermal solar energy].