All concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies use a mirror configuration to concentrate the sun’s light energy onto a receiver and convert it into heat. The heat can then be used to create steam to drive a turbine to produce electrical power or used as industrial process heat.
Concentrating solar power plants can integrate thermal energy storage systems to use to generate electricity during cloudy periods or for hours after sunset or before sunrise.This ability to store solar energy makes concentrating solar power a flexible and dispatchable source of renewable energy.
THE CSP ERA NET HAS RECEIVED 8 SUBMISSIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE JOINT CALL FOR PRE-PROPOSALS FOR INNOVATIVE DEMONSTRATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ACCELERATE CSP ENERGY CLOSED 10 January 2020.
The objective of the call is to support transnational research and innovation projects that bring innovative concentrated solar power energy solutions closer to commercial deployment and encourage industrial participation to leverage public sector investment.
CSP can deliver greater grid stability than photovoltaics, but needs better recognition of its value to be competitive.
Concentrated solar power's failure to gain momentum in U.S. markets is a signal that traditional resource valuations may be slowing the energy transition, a February CSP conference made clear.
Spanish researchers propose a completely new way to dry cool thermal power plants, inspired by commercially available underground heat pumps used to cool buildings.
New tariff legislation, proven plant performance and a growing need for storage is increasing investor confidence in Spanish CSP ownership, investors told New Energy Update.
As one of its core activities to support technical progress and awareness building in this area, the SolarPACES conference, initiated in 1980, is the foremost symposium for the who's who in concentrating solar power and chemical energy systems, offering a forum for research, industry, politics and financing stakeholders within the framework of a scientific conference program with leading world experts.
DOE prioritizes supercritical CSP in latest funding round
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is to provide up to $44 million to CSP-related R&D projects in its latest $125.5 million funding round for solar technologies, the DOE said February 5.
The department is to provide a total of $39 million to one or two projects that build and demonstrate supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycle technology, it said. The systems must achieve thermal energy storage at temperatures of between 550° C and 630° C.
CSP and molten salt technology could help coal-fired generators decarbonize without closing sites, but price support will be needed, experts told New Energy Update.
While many CSP developers are seeking to directly compete with coal-fired power generation, a small group of players see opportunities in working with coal plant operators.
Many governments have sidelined growing climate change concerns and supported coal-fired generation, either for financial or political reasons.
