Concentrating Solar Power Projects Will Rise Again

There was a significant move from concentrating solar power (CSP) projects to PV projects due partly to PV’s plummet in prices in 2011, but new research from SBI Energy is predicting that the CSP market will rise again in 2012 and in the next five years. CSP is at the very least an important solution to the question of capacity, rendering solar power dependable and available on demand even after the sun sets. It can be used to boost other types of renewable energy’s dependability, or it can be employed by itself. While about 3,000 MW of CSP projects were converted to PV in 2011, SolarReserve and BrightSource Energy are in the midst of building CSP power plants or procuring offer CSP technology with thermal energy storage as their solutions.

SolarReserve is currently building a 110 MW plant in Nevada as part of the state’s Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project on 1600 acres in Tonopah, Nevada. Its CSP system uses more than ten thousand computer-guided mirrors (heliostats) to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a central point to generate heat onto a large heat exchanger or receiver sitting atop a 550 foot tower. The liquid molten salt housed in the receiver’s panels acts as both an energy collection and a storage mechanism.

The project will produce 500 million kW hours a year, powering up to 75,000 homes during peak electrical use periods. Construction started in September of 2011 and should be completed in 2013. The system uses a hybrid cooling power system to minimize water usage in the desert. The company claims to be able to generate electricity 24 hours a day, and can store enough heat to run 8 to 10 hours after sundown. It was awarded a $737 million loan from the Department of Energy and also uses private funding.

BrightSource Energy is also offering CSP with its thermal energy storage tech. It functions similarly to SolarReserve’s system; the superheated salt is stored in giant insulated containers, where energy can be tapped when the power plant needs additional power. The stored heat can be used to boil water to create steam and drive turbines. Their system can produce energy two hours after sun down at a steady rate. According to BrightSource, these CSP power plants can produce two times the electricity on the same amount of land versus the traditional photovoltaic panels. They plan to have three power plants in production over the next five years.

Source: Solar Server | Images: SolarReserve, BrightSource Energy

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Tags: BrightSource Energy, heliostat, PV, solar, Solar power

About the Author

Frankie Berti I'm a Floridian transplant enjoying the farm to table culture that's flourishing in northeast Ohio. I am dedicated to supporting local food networks- which means I like getting my hands deep in compost, and I love shopping at local farmer's markets in small towns or taking my business to the many wonderful, independent restaurants in Cleveland. My goal is to connect communities with local, sustainable products and all the fun, important, green events going on in their areas.