Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project
At any time of the day, a spherical mirror reflects the rays coming from the sun along a line that points to the sun through the center of the sphere. This makes it possible to build concentrated solar power(CSP) plants with fixed solar fields and mobile receivers; that is, solar fields can be signi...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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Series: | Energies |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/7/1816 |
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author | Cristóbal Villasante Saioa Herrero Marcelino Sánchez Iñigo Pagola Adrian Peña David Olasolo Ana Bernardos |
author_facet | Cristóbal Villasante Saioa Herrero Marcelino Sánchez Iñigo Pagola Adrian Peña David Olasolo Ana Bernardos |
author_sort | Cristóbal Villasante |
collection | DOAJ |
description | At any time of the day, a spherical mirror reflects the rays coming from the sun along a line that points to the sun through the center of the sphere. This makes it possible to build concentrated solar power(CSP) plants with fixed solar fields and mobile receivers; that is, solar fields can be significantly cheaper and simpler, but challenging tracking systems for the mobile receiver need to be implemented. The cost-cutting possibilities for this technology have been under-researched. This article describes the MOSAIC concept, which aims to achieve low-cost solar energy by boosting the benefits of spherical reflectors while addressing their challenges. This new concept proposes to build large modular plants from semi-Fresnel solar bowls. One of these modules has been designed and is under construction in Spain. This article reports the main lessons learned during the design phase, describes the advantages and challenges of the concept, details the proposed routes to overcome them, and identifies the steps needed to develop a fully competitive industrial solution. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:34:22Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-e80fe5ec35574291addbc6794ed968a0 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1996-1073 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:34:22Z |
publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Energies |
spelling | doaj.art-e80fe5ec35574291addbc6794ed968a02023-11-19T21:11:33ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-04-01137181610.3390/en13071816Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC ProjectCristóbal Villasante0Saioa Herrero1Marcelino Sánchez2Iñigo Pagola3Adrian Peña4David Olasolo5Ana Bernardos6Fundacion Tekniker, Polo Tecnológico de Eibar, Calle Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Gipuzkoa, SpainFundacion Tekniker, Polo Tecnológico de Eibar, Calle Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Gipuzkoa, SpainCENER (National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain), Ciudad de la Innovación 7, 31621 Navarra, SpainCENER (National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain), Ciudad de la Innovación 7, 31621 Navarra, SpainCENER (National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain), Ciudad de la Innovación 7, 31621 Navarra, SpainFundacion Tekniker, Polo Tecnológico de Eibar, Calle Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Gipuzkoa, SpainCENER (National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain), Ciudad de la Innovación 7, 31621 Navarra, SpainAt any time of the day, a spherical mirror reflects the rays coming from the sun along a line that points to the sun through the center of the sphere. This makes it possible to build concentrated solar power(CSP) plants with fixed solar fields and mobile receivers; that is, solar fields can be significantly cheaper and simpler, but challenging tracking systems for the mobile receiver need to be implemented. The cost-cutting possibilities for this technology have been under-researched. This article describes the MOSAIC concept, which aims to achieve low-cost solar energy by boosting the benefits of spherical reflectors while addressing their challenges. This new concept proposes to build large modular plants from semi-Fresnel solar bowls. One of these modules has been designed and is under construction in Spain. This article reports the main lessons learned during the design phase, describes the advantages and challenges of the concept, details the proposed routes to overcome them, and identifies the steps needed to develop a fully competitive industrial solution.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/7/1816CSPsolarspherical concentratorFresnelstationary reflectortracking absorber |
spellingShingle | Cristóbal Villasante Saioa Herrero Marcelino Sánchez Iñigo Pagola Adrian Peña David Olasolo Ana Bernardos Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project Energies CSP solar spherical concentrator Fresnel stationary reflector tracking absorber |
title | Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project |
title_full | Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project |
title_fullStr | Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project |
title_full_unstemmed | Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project |
title_short | Low-Cost Solar Electricity Using Stationary Solar Fields; Technology Potential and Practical Implementation Challenges to Be Overcome. Outcomes from H2020 MOSAIC Project |
title_sort | low cost solar electricity using stationary solar fields technology potential and practical implementation challenges to be overcome outcomes from h2020 mosaic project |
topic | CSP solar spherical concentrator Fresnel stationary reflector tracking absorber |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/7/1816 |
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