Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) - Basics and Introduction

• Basics & Technology
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Basics and Technology of CSP Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is a type of Renewable Energy that uses the sun's energy to generate electricity and process heat. Most applications are large-scale. Solar Thermal Power Plants are large scale renewable energy infrastructures using heat produced by contracted solar beams (Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)). Mirrors concentrate solar beam on a receiver. The produced heat with temperatures of 400ºC to 1000ºC can be used directly, be transformed into electricity or stored. Go back to the < CSP Overview.

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For a short introduction to Concentrating Solar Power, the idea behind and the general plant design as well as its benefits and obstacles, please feel free to watch the video provided by SolarReserve.

General

CSP Systems are replacing fossil fuels with CO2-emission free energy and therefore reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions. According to Greenpeace the energy pay back time of an CSP plant can amount to just 5 months depending on its configuration and size. CSP Plants can remain in operation for almost 40 years and thus demonstrate its durability and reliability.

Solar Resource

The favourable regions to apply CSP Technology are open for discussion. However, a good indicator to identify CSP potentials is the direct normal irradiation (DNI). Maps can show the distribution of DNI all over the world and thus give a first clue as to where CSP power plants should be built. For further reference please also see the Project Database of CSP Power Plants and overlay the DNI map with it.

SolarGIS © 2014 GeoModel Solar

Mainly the MENA region, western USA, Southern Africa, Australia and parts of South America.

Generation Costs

Generation costs are currently at reasonable levels and still dropping. They range from 150 US-$/ MWh to 200 US-$/ MWh. The diagram below is taken from the report of the NREL. Hours of TES meaning the thermal storage capacity of the power plant: the time measured in hours that the given power plant can run at rated power output with the storage as its only energy source. The Solar Multiple describes the relation of the installed solar power to the power of the motor block. An over-sized power plant (SM > 1) produces more energy at full solar power intake than the motor can transform. It therefore needs storage facilities to divert the power surplus; otherwise the energy gets spilled.

The SunShot Initiative Concentrating Solar Power Research and Development is trying to reach generation costs of 60 US-$/ MWh by addressing technical barriers for solar fields, receivers and power plants. For more information on levelized cost of energy/ generation costs also see the Cost Analysis of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Technologies

In CSP power plant design there are four main collector technologies that are being applied. These technologies have to be picked site-specific and shall be discussed here. A good overview is provided by the International Energy Agency in its Technology Roadmap on Concentrating Solar Power.

The four main CSP technologies in short

CSP technology, being quite different from the more popular photovoltaic equpiment, concentrates sunlight to effectively create heat to raise steam. However, there are different types of technology working under title of CSP. In the following chapters, the idea of the “parabolic trough”, the “power tower”, the “Fresnel mirror system” (or simply “linear Fresnel”) and the “dish” will be presented.

Parabolic Trough

These receivers are mobile applications. They are moving on a 1-axis-tracking system according to the sun's movement. It is a simpler application for tracking the sun than a point focus system (power tower or dishes) that needs to track the sun along two axes. This system, however, consists of parallel rows of reflectors or mirrors. Absorber tubes made of stainless steel serve as the heat collectors. The selective coating on these absorber tubes allows to absorb high levels of solar radiation while only few energy is lost again through infra-red radiation. The absorber tubes are insulated in an evacuated glass envelope. The heat transfer fluid used is synthetic oil. The oil is transferred through the tubes to a heat exchanger which heats and then superheats water into superheated steam. The steam is then expanded in a turbine which runs a generator to produce electricity. The water is then cooled, condenses and returns to the heat exchangers.

Power Tower

The power tower really lives up to its promise. Compared to other CSP technologies, it can create the highest degree of temperature. Surrounded by mirrors reflecting light onto an elevated and centered tower, the power tower generates heat of about 1,000 C°. By transferring the reflected concentrated solar radiation to a fluid, steam is being produced that expands on a turbine in order generate the intended electricity.

Linear Fresnel

This technology uses flat mirrors that are concentrating on one focal point. Water flows through the pipe which runs directly through the focal point of the mirrors. The Linear Fresnel arrangement approximates the parabolic shape of trough systems. It is a simple receiver design that facilitates direct steam generation. Thus, heat transfer fluids are not needed while applying this technology.

Dish / Engine

Parabolic dishes concetrate the sun's rays at a focal point in the centre of the dish. Most dishes use a 1-axis-trackig system, predominantly from north to south. The sun's energy, concentrated in the focal point, is given to a heat transfer fluid which is heated up to 750°C. Sometimes even gas transfer systems are applied. The fluid or gas is then used to drive a micro turbine or Stirling engine which is attached to the receiver.

Storage Techologies

Using different approaches to store the excess solar energy into thermal energy storages (TES) it is possible to run a CSP plant around the clock, 24 hours a day and therefore in baseload. For storing thermal energy so-called Phase Change Materials (i.e. water) are applied to make use of the latent heat. In addition thermal-chemical storages can offer even higher storage capacities making use of the chemical reactions taking place due to adsorption and absorption. A commonly used TES is molten salt while other TES are currently under investigation (see SunShot Initiative).

CSP Today

List of CSP projects

Click here to view, browse and add project information about CSP projects on Energypedia: CSP Projects.

See List of solar thermal power stations and List of concentrating solar thermal power companies (Wikipedia)