Thermal energy storage for CSP (Concentrating Solar Power)

The major advantage of concentrating solar power before photovoltaic is the possibility to store thermal energy at large scale allowing dispatchability. Then, only CSP solar power plants including thermal storage can be operated 24 h/day using exclusively the solar resource. Nevertheless, due to a t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Py Xavier, Sadiki Najim, Olives Régis, Goetz Vincent, Falcoz Quentin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2017-01-01
Series:EPJ Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201714800014
Description
Summary:The major advantage of concentrating solar power before photovoltaic is the possibility to store thermal energy at large scale allowing dispatchability. Then, only CSP solar power plants including thermal storage can be operated 24 h/day using exclusively the solar resource. Nevertheless, due to a too low availability in mined nitrate salts, the actual mature technology of the two tanks molten salts cannot be applied to achieve the expected international share in the power production for 2050. Then alternative storage materials are under studies such as natural rocks and recycled ceramics made from industrial wastes. The present paper is a review of those alternative approaches.
ISSN:2100-014X