Stillwater Hybrid Geo-Solar Power Plant Optimization Analyses

Abstract

Solar field and power plant models have been developed to predict the performance of the Stillwater geothermal / solar-thermal hybrid power plant. The models have been validated using operational data from the Stillwater plant. The validated models will be used to optimize performance of the Stillwater hybrid plant and explore next-generation hybrid plant design concepts. A preliminary effort to improve performance of the Stillwater hybrid plant using optical characterization of the solar field has been completed. The Stillwater solar field optical characterization involved measurement of mirror reflectance, mirror slope error, and receiver position error. Subsequent analyses of the optical characterization results indicate that the solar field is currently operating at approximately 90% of the manufacturer’s performance specifications. Control system and hardware modifications expected to improve solar array performance by XX% have been identified.