Concentrated Solar Power

Concentrated Solar Power
Amble · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Concentrated Solar Power
Solar type	CSP

Concentrated Solar Power is a category of solar thermal technology that focuses sunlight to generate high-temperature heat for electricity production. Originating from early optical experiments associated with Archimedes and later developments tied to Augustin-Jean Fresnel, modern systems draw on engineering traditions from Siemens, General Electric, and Sargent and Lundy to integrate with grids such as those served by California Independent System Operator, Red Eléctrica de España, and REN.

Overview

Concentrated Solar Power systems concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses developed with materials research from Corning Incorporated, Saint-Gobain, and Schott AG to heat fluids managed with components from Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Siemens Gamesa. Major architectural forms trace influence from projects like PS10 Solar Power Plant, Gemasolar, and Ivanpah Solar Power Facility and connect to standards set by organizations such as International Electrotechnical Commission, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía. Financing models often reference instruments used by European Investment Bank, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank.

Technology and Design

Design variations include parabolic troughs developed with optical innovation inspired by Edwin H. Land, linear Fresnel reflectors associated with Augustin-Jean Fresnel, solar power towers exemplified by PS20 Solar Power Plant, and dish Stirling systems related to work by John Ericsson and Karel Jan Bosscha. Key components use heat transfer media like molten salt engineered by Cargill, synthetic oils researched at ExxonMobil, and pressurized steam conceptualized by Karl Benz and standardized via Guido von List protocols. Turbine integration leverages turbines supplied by Siemens Energy, General Electric, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries while controls utilize automation platforms from Honeywell International Inc., Siemens AG, and Schneider Electric. Grid compatibility and power conversion link to interconnection practices seen in California Independent System Operator, National Grid plc, and Red Eléctrica de España.

Thermal Energy Storage

Thermal storage strategies employ two-tank molten salt systems pioneered at Gemasolar and direct storage concepts evaluated at SolarReserve projects, utilizing salts formulated with chemistry insights from DuPont, BASF, and Albemarle Corporation. Sensible heat, latent heat with phase-change materials developed by 3M, and thermochemical storage researched at Fraunhofer Society and Électricité de France enable dispatchability comparable to fossil-based plants operated by ExxonMobil or Shell plc. Storage integration affects capacity factors analyzed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Imperial College London while financing involves entities like European Investment Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.

Environmental and Economic Impacts

Environmental assessments reference impacts documented by United Nations Environment Programme, International Energy Agency, and World Wildlife Fund including land use comparable to developments by SunPower Corporation and First Solar, Inc. and water consumption considerations studied at U.S. Geological Survey and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Economic analyses compare levelized cost measures produced by Lazard, project financing frameworks used by Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, and market evaluations from BloombergNEF and IHS Markit. Lifecycle studies cite materials sourcing from Rio Tinto Group, BHP, and Vale S.A. and decommissioning practices informed by International Renewable Energy Agency.

Deployment and Global Projects

Notable installations include Seville, Córdoba, Spain-area facilities like Gemasolar and PS10 Solar Power Plant, Nevada projects such as Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, North African initiatives supported by Desertec frameworks, and Australian pilot plants linked to ARENA and CS Energy. National programs involve agencies such as Ministry of Energy and Mines (Chile), Department of Energy (United States), and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India), while private developers include Abengoa, ACWA Power, and Masdar. Transmission integration parallels projects by Red Eléctrica de España, National Grid plc, and TransAlta.

Research and Development

R&D draws on laboratories and universities such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Fraunhofer Society, Delft University of Technology, Imperial College London, Tsinghua University, MIT, and Stanford University. Research topics include advanced heliostat fields modeled with software from Siemens Digital Industries Software, CSP hybridization with gas turbines researched by GE Power, and high-temperature materials developed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. Collaborative consortia include CSP Today, ISE Fraunhofer, and multi-institution efforts funded by Horizon 2020 and U.S. Department of Energy programs.

Policy and Market Dynamics

Policy frameworks affecting deployment reference renewable targets set by European Commission, subsidy schemes like those implemented in Spain and regulations enforced by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Ofgem. Market drivers include carbon pricing mechanisms discussed in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations and investment trends reported by BloombergNEF and International Finance Corporation. Trade and industrial policy intersect with manufacturers such as Siemens Energy, SENER, and Acciona Energia and procurement strategies used by World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Category:Solar power