Conversion of Coal to Hybrid Solar Thermal/Gas

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This project assessed the viability of converting the existing 180 MW coal-fired Collinsville Power Station in Queensland to a 30 MW hybrid solar thermal/gas power station. It was ultimately determined that a project was not feasible at the current time due to excessive capital costs.A solar thermal power station has not yet been designed or built in Australia. As a result, the Australian renewable energy industry has had little direct exposure to the development of solar thermal hybrid systems or with the conversion of coal-fired electricity generation equipment to solar thermal.There is a possibility that a number of coal-fired power stations that are nearing the end of their life could be converted to solar thermal power stations whilst making use of some of the existing infrastructure.Project innovationThis project assessed the viability of converting the existing 180 MW coal-fired Collinsville Power Station in Queensland to a 30 MW hybrid solar thermal/gas power station.Although determined to not be feasible at the current time, the project has assisted with the future deployment of solar thermal technologies in Australia by demonstrating where cost reductions must still occur to enable solar thermal power plants to be constructed.

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