Introduction to Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
– CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight into a receiver
– Electricity is generated through solar thermal energy, which powers a heat engine or thermochemical reaction
– Global installed capacity of CSP was 6.8 GW in 2021 and increased to 7.5 GW in 2023
– The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory maintains a comprehensive database of CSP plants worldwide
– CSP is a dispatchable form of solar energy, making it valuable in areas with high penetration of photovoltaics
Comparison between CSP and other electricity sources
– CSP is similar to thermal power stations like coal, gas, or geothermal
– CSP plants can incorporate thermal energy storage, enabling continuous electricity supply day or night
– CSP growth has been slower than solar PV due to technical difficulties and high prices
– However, CSP is more competitive with dispatchable generators and baseload plants due to its ability to store energy at night
– CSP tariffs have reached as low as $50/MWh in auctions, making it cost-effective
History of CSP
– Solar steam engine and solar collector patents were obtained in the late 19th century
– Concentrated solar-powered devices were developed for irrigation, refrigeration, and locomotion
– The first concentrated-solar plant was built in Italy in 1968
– Solar One and Solar Two were pioneering CSP projects in Southern California in the 1980s
– The Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) was the largest solar power plant until 2014
Current technology in CSP
– CSP systems use mirrors or lenses with tracking systems to concentrate sunlight onto a small area
– Concentrating technologies include parabolic troughs, dish systems, linear Fresnel reflectors, and solar power towers
– CSP can be used for electricity generation, industrial process heating, and solar air conditioning
– Parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel reflectors are linear focus collector types
– CSP is increasingly seen as competing with natural gas and PV with batteries for flexible, dispatchable power
Advantages and future prospects of CSP
– CSP offers the advantage of thermal energy storage, allowing for continuous electricity generation
– CSP can help address the ‘duck curve’ phenomenon in areas with high PV penetration
– The Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant in Spain demonstrated the potential of CSP with thermal storage
– CSP has the potential to contribute significantly to global renewable energy targets
– Ongoing research and development aim to improve CSP efficiency and reduce costs Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_solar_power
Concentrated solar power (CSP, also known as concentrating solar power, concentrated solar thermal) systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a receiver. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat (solar thermal energy), which drives a heat engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator or powers a thermochemical reaction.
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As of 2021, global installed capacity of concentrated solar power stood at 6.8 GW. As of 2023, with the inclusion of three new CSP projects in construction in China and in Dubai in the UAE, the total is now 7.5 GW. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) maintains a full database of the current state of all CSP plants globally, whether under construction, shut down, or operating. The data includes comprehensive details such as capacity, type of power block components, number of thermal energy storage hours, and turbine sizes.
