Concentrated Solar Power Technology Research Articles

Hydrogen production by isothermal thermochemical cycles using La0.8Ca0.2MeO3±δ (Me = Co, Ni, Fe and Cu) perovskites

Solar-driven thermochemical water splitting has the potential to transform concentrated solar energy into green hydrogen and other solar fuels. In this work, La0.8Ca0.2MeO3±δ (Me = Co, Ni, Fe and Cu) perovskites have been synthesised by a modified Pechini method and evaluated as materials for hydrogen production by two step thermochemical water splitting cycles. Performing the thermal reduction at temperatures of 1200 and 1000 °C, while the oxidation is done at 800 °C, allows a remarkable and stable hydrogen production after 5 consecutive cycles. However, the perovskites suffer changes in the structure after each redox cycle, with potential effects in the long-term cyclic operation. On the contrary, the isothermal thermochemical cycles at 800 °C produce a stable amount of hydrogen with each consecutive cycle maintaining the perovskite structure. This hydrogen production ranges from 3.60 cm3 STP/gmaterial·cycle for the material with the lowest productivity (La0.8Ca0.2FeO3±δ) to 5.02 cm3 STP/gmaterial·cycle for the one with the highest activity (La0.8Ca0.2NiO3±δ). Particularly the Ni-based material shows the highest H2 productivity accompanied by very good material stability after 15 consecutive cycles, being possible to combine with current solar thermal facilities based on concentrated solar power technologies like plants with central receivers.

Techno-Economic Assessment of an Innovative Small-Scale Solar-Biomass Hybrid Power Plant

The current context of the climate emergency highlights the need for the decarbonization of the energy sector by replacing current fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. In this regard, concentrating solar power (CSP) technology represents a commercially proven alternative. However, these types of plants are associated with high production costs and difficulties in controlling production during temporary variations in solar resource availability. In order to minimize these drawbacks, this study proposes the hybridization of CSP technology with direct biomass combustion, with the particularity of an innovative process scheme that does not correspond to traditional series or parallel configurations. This paper focuses on the techno-economic evaluation of this novel configuration in a small-scale power plant. To achieve this, both solar resource and biomass production, which are dependent on the selected location, were analyzed. Additionally, the plant was characterized from both technical and economic perspectives. The obtained results allowed for the characterization of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) based on various parameters such as the size of the solar field and biomass boilers, as well as limitations on biomass consumption.

Experimental and computational optimization of eco-friendly mortar blocks for high temperature thermal energy storage of concentrated solar power plants

New avenues for thermal energy storage (TES) need to be investigated due to the lack of competitiveness of concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. Solutions must be found to replace molten salt tanks which have a major economic impact and are difficult to maintain due to corrosion problems. In this sense, concrete represented an attractive candidate by proving excellent sensible TES in CSP. However, its main phase, made of Portland cement (PC), has significant environmental consequences. The production of PC is known to emit high levels of polluting gases, particularly the CO2. It is estimated to be responsible for between 5% and 7% of the world's CO2 emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change. This work presents greener cementitious materials, made of alkaline cements and hybrids cements, to be used as alternative eco-friendly TES media in CSP plants. An experimental campaign is presented which shows that these eco-efficient materials can have better mechanical properties, than the ordinary PC mortar, when exposed to high temperatures, in addition, can offer improvements of their thermal properties (thermal conductivity or specific heat). Second part of the work is devoted to Finite Element simulations, with the aim to find the best configuration, in terms of selection of materials and geometry, which are more efficient as TES system. The work is showing the following advancements in CSP technology by using alternative eco-friendly binders: the installation volume can be reduced by 17%, compared to a molten salt tank, while the heat exchanger's surface area can be resized by 29%, compared to the reference system using PC. These improvements enable wider variations in CSP operational efficiency and dynamic capabilities and represent important progress towards developing more efficient and sustainable CSP technologies.

Performance evaluation of a multi-stage solar distiller associated with Fresnel lens in Malaysian weather

Water scarcity is widely known as one of the major current issues. As of now, many solar distillers are using the same concept of evaporation and condensation of saline water to produce distillates. The main problem with such solar distillers is their low productivity, as the latent heat produced is lost to the surroundings. A multi-stage solar distiller can solve the issue of productivity by utilizing the latent heat released. This design consists of multiple solar distillers stacked one on top of the another, producing distillates in each stage while having the same amount of energy intake. Malaysia falls within the tropical belt where solar radiation appears to be diffused, resulting in low-quality heat energy that can be absorbed. To solve this problem, concentrated solar power (CSP) technology has been introduced. However, CSP technology can be very expensive, thus using a Fresnel lens as a direct refraction device will be a cheaper option. In this study, a four-stage solar distiller system integrated with the Fresnel lens is introduced. It was found that the productivity and efficiency of the multi-stage system were higher, with a productivity of 0.164 g/kJ and efficiency of 39.5% when compared with the single-stage solar distiller with a productivity of 0.104 g/kJ and an efficiency of 23.5%.

Thermal performance optimization of rectangular cavity receiver for cross linear concentrating solar power system

ABSTRACT A thermodynamic analysis was performed on a newly developed concentrated solar power (CSP) technology known as the Cross-Linear (CL), which addresses the issue of cosine loss in conventional CSP technology. The analytical model has been developed and validated using experimental data collected at the experimental site situated in Bhopal, India. The analysis was performed under direct normal irradiance of 775 W/m2 with the key objective to determine the optimum inlet condition of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) considering three optimization parameters: HTF outlet temperature, energy, and exergy efficiency of the receiver. Also, the exergy of the solar field is investigated depending on the available solar irradiation throughout the day for three different configurations of the heliostat field. After a comprehensive analysis of the results, the optimal air inlet temperature range was observed to be between 373 and 423 K, and the optimal air mass flow rate was overserved to be 0.0925 kg/s (333 kg/h), which provides energy and exergy efficiency values within 50% to 60% and 28% to 34%, respectively. The maximum electrical exergy efficiency for 30 kW plant capacity is observed to be around 70% at solar noon with a cosine factor of around 0.9 for 4-hour duration.

Design and optimization of CSP power plants for Pakistan: a comparative study

Abstract Despite having very high solar irradiance, Pakistan still does not have any installed concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. Several studies have shown that multiple locations within the country are suitable for CSP plants, but there is limited availability of comprehensive comparative studies. Therefore, this article presents a comparative analysis of different CSP technologies in Pakistan, focusing on their potential to address the country’s energy crisis. The study evaluates the pros and cons of different CSP technologies at various locations through site assessment, modelling, optimization and economic analysis using the System Advisor Model. Quetta and Nawabshah were selected as the locations for modelling multiple scenarios of 100-MW plants, using central receiver systems, parabolic trough collectors and linear Fresnel reflectors. The plants were integrated with thermal energy storage and the storage capacity was optimized using parametric analysis. The results showed that a central receiver system for the location of Quetta was the most favourable option, with an annual energy yield of 622 GWh at 7.44 cents/kWh, followed by a central receiver system for Nawabshah (608 GWh, 9.03 cents/kWh). This study is the first to show that switching between line-concentrated and point-concentrated CSP technologies can open new opportunities for sites in Pakistan with relatively high solar resources, resulting in a 21.3% reduction in the levelized cost.

New spectrally selective coatings for CSP linear receivers operating in air at high temperature

AbstractAn attractive candidate to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and replace them by renewable sources is represented by concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, whose wide deployment is still hindered by its high investment costs. In CSP linear collector plants, a key component with high technological content may be identified in receiver tubes, that are traversed by heat transfer fluid and located on focal line on which solar radiation is concentrated by mirrors. The proposed work aims at developing spectrally selective coatings for receiver tubes able to overcome state‐of‐the‐art technological limitation in terms of both vacuum encapsulation and maximum operative temperature, currently limited at 550°C for molten salts CSP plants. To this aim, a multilayer structure was designed and developed for coating a receiver tube to be employed in open‐air environment at temperature of 600°C. The multilayer coating is based on tungsten chromium titanium infrared reflector and includes a solar absorber layer developed with two alternative methods of reactive sputtering and thermal oxidation respectively, finally covered by antireflective and barrier bi‐layer of aluminum oxide and silica. Thermal stability was demonstrated of the new developed coatings, since only small variations were measured of the optical parameters after more than 2000 h of aging in open air conditions at temperature of 600°C (on average less than 5%), with final measured solar absorptance αs of 73% and 87% and thermal emissivity εth at 600°C of 18% and 27% for aged multilayer structures including the absorber layer obtained through thermal oxidation and sputtering process, respectively. These results pave the way for further improvement in terms of both optical performance and operative temperature increase, allowing to enhance efficiency and lower costs, thus contributing to ease to deployment of CSP technology.

Electric-thermal energy storage using solid particles as storage media

Jeffrey Gifford is a PhD Candidate in the Advanced Energy Systems program sponsored by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines. He previously earned his M. and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder and Purdue University, respectively, and has worked at NREL as a graduate researcher. His research interests include energy storage systems for economy-wide decarbonization and long-duration, particle-based thermal energy storage systems using a multi-method approach, including computational fluid dynamics, dynamic integrated system modeling, and mixed-integer linear programming for design and dispatch optimization. Janna Martinek is a researcher in the Thermal Energy Systems group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). She received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder prior to joining NREL. Her work includes predictive performance modeling and analysis of concentrating solar power (CSP), solar thermochemical and thermal energy storage (TES) systems, computational fluid dynamics modeling, and analysis of dispatch optimization and grid integration of CSP and TES technologies. Xingchao Wang is a joint appointment researcher to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He is a research faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Wang received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and BE in Thermal Engineering from Tsinghua University. His expertise lies in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and conventional and renewable energy systems designing and modeling. He is working on energy conversion, storage research, and technology development using renewable energy sources. Zhiwen Ma is a senior engineer in the Thermal Systems R&D Group at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Zhiwen is leading the research projects on long-duration energy storage using particle-based thermal energy storage, thermal and electrochemical modeling for hydrogen production, and solar fuel processes. He has expertise in computational modeling and experimental testing, renewable solution and system development, component performance, and cost analysis. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and was awarded 12 patents. Jeffrey Gifford is a PhD Candidate in the Advanced Energy Systems program sponsored by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines. He previously earned his M. and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder and Purdue University, respectively, and has worked at NREL as a graduate researcher. His research interests include energy storage systems for economy-wide decarbonization and long-duration, particle-based thermal energy storage systems using a multi-method approach, including computational fluid dynamics, dynamic integrated system modeling, and mixed-integer linear programming for design and dispatch optimization. Janna Martinek is a researcher in the Thermal Energy Systems group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). She received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder prior to joining NREL. Her work includes predictive performance modeling and analysis of concentrating solar power (CSP), solar thermochemical and thermal energy storage (TES) systems, computational fluid dynamics modeling, and analysis of dispatch optimization and grid integration of CSP and TES technologies. Xingchao Wang is a joint appointment researcher to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He is a research faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Wang received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and BE in Thermal Engineering from Tsinghua University. His expertise lies in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and conventional and renewable energy systems designing and modeling. He is working on energy conversion, storage research, and technology development using renewable energy sources. Zhiwen Ma is a senior engineer in the Thermal Systems R&D Group at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Zhiwen is leading the research projects on long-duration energy storage using particle-based thermal energy storage, thermal and electrochemical modeling for hydrogen production, and solar fuel processes. He has expertise in computational modeling and experimental testing, renewable solution and system development, component performance, and cost analysis. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and was awarded 12 patents.

Integrated CSP-PV hybrid solar power plant for two cities in Saudi Arabia

Solar energy has the potential to provide most of the electricity needed by mankind sustainably into the indefinite future. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) has conventionally been considered more applicable than photovoltaic (PV) for baseload power since thermal storage is far cheaper than battery storage. However, the solar fields for CSP are relatively expensive. On the other hand, PV plants without storage deliver electric power at a much lower cost than CSP plants of comparable capacity without storage. Integrating both technologies is an attractive approach towards solar baseload power with affordable levelized cost of energy (LCOE). This study, which investigates the two cities of Saudi Arabia, consists of simulation and optimization in three main parts: The first part is a simulation of the CSP parabolic trough (CSP-PT) standalone plant and integrating the output parameters with an economic model to calculate the LCOE. The second part is the simulation of combined CSP-PT with PV, with a design strategy of utilizing all PV power for daytime use, and supplementing the PV output with thermal power as needed to maintain baseload operation in the daytime. The third part is the simulation of combined CSP-PT with a design strategy of providing all or nearly all daytime power with PV, with the utilization of excess energy from PV to supply heat to the thermal storage system. The results show that for a target capacity factor of 79%, the CSP plant alone requires a solar multiple of 6 in Riyadh and 3.5 in Tabuk. For both locations, the introduction of the hybrid concept substantially reduced the solar multiple. In Riyadh, the solar multiple ranged from 2.9 to 3 with the PV portion of the plant having a nameplate capacity equal to that of the CSP portion and 1.95 for a case with the PV nameplate capacity 60% greater than the CSP portion. For these same cases in Tabuk, the solar multiples were 1.78–1.85 and 1.6 simultaneously. Generally, hybridization is of greater benefit in Riyadh than in Tabuk owing to the greater fraction of solar resource in the form of diffuse sunlight which can be collected by the PV plant but not by the CSP plant. The LCOE was reduced by hybridization in both locations, but again the benefit was greater for Riyadh. Clearly, from a technological perspective, it is important to study the hybridization for an individual city based on its weather data as the incorporation of PV into CSP plant designs should be considered for all locations in order to reduce the cost to provide baseload power from solar energy, and the application of the hybridization concept can extend the applicability of CSP technology to regions with less direct sunlight than would be economically feasible with CSP alone.

Exergoeconomic Analysis of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle in the Al-Qayara Power Plant in Iraq

Enhancing the sustainability and diversification of Iraq’s electricity system is a strategic objective. Achieving this goal depends critically on increasing the use of renewable energy sources (RESs). The significance of developing solar-powered technologies becomes essential at this point. Iraq, similar to other places with high average direct normal irradiation, is a good location for concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) technology. This study aims to recover the waste heat from the gas turbine cycle (GTC) in the Al-Qayara power plant in Iraq and integrate it with a solar power tower. A thermoeconomic analysis has been done to support the installation of an integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC), which uses concentrated solar tower technology. The results indicate that the examined power plant has a total capacity of 561.5 MW, of which 130.4 MW is due to the waste heat recovery of G.T.s, and 68 MW. is from CSP. Due to the waste heat recovery of GTC, the thermal and exergy efficiencies increase by 10.99 and 10.61%, respectively, and the overall unit cost of production is 11.43 USD/MWh. For ISCC, the thermal and exergy efficiencies increase by 17.96 and 17.34%, respectively, and the overall unit cost of production is 12.39 USD/MWh. The integrated solar combined cycle’s lowest monthly capacity was about 539 MW in September, while its highest monthly capacity was approximately 574.6 MW in April.

An Overview of the Molten Salt Nanofluids as Thermal Energy Storage Media

The research in the field of the nanofluids has experienced noticeable advances since its discovery two decades ago. These thermal fluids having minimal quantities of nano-scaled solid particles in suspension have great potential for thermal management purposes because of their superior thermophysical properties. The conventional water-based nanofluids have been extensively investigated so far with emphasis in their improved thermal conductivity. A novel class of nanofluids based on inorganic salts has been developed in the last few years with the goal of storing and transferring thermal energy under high temperatures. These molten salt-based nanofluids can in general be recognized by an enhanced specific heat due to the inclusion of the nanoparticles. However, it should be emphasized that this does not always happen since this thermophysical property depends on so many factors, including the nature of the molten salts, different preparation methods, and formation of the compressed layer and secondary nanostructures, among others, which will be thoroughly discussed in this work. This peculiar performance has caused a widespread open debate within the research community, which is currently trying to deal with the inconsistent and controversial findings, as well as attempting to overcome the lack of accurate theories and prediction models for the nanofluids in general. This review intends to present an extensive survey of the published scientific articles on the molten salt nanofluids. Other important realities concerning the development and thermal behavior of the molten salt nanofluids, such as the stability over time of the nanoparticles dispersed in the molten salts, latent heat, viscosity, and thermal conductivity, will be reviewed in the current work. Additionally, special focus will be given to concentrated solar power technology applications. Finally, the limitations and prospects of the molten salts nanofluids will be addressed and the main concluding remarks will be listed.

MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF A SUSTAINABLE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER (CSP) PLANT USING ECO-MATERIALS

This paper addresses industry sector like concentrating solar power (CSP) plant used for electricity generation. Up till now, this technology is not affordable for developing countries where CSP potential is good. To contribute on the improvement of CSP technology, ceramic balls using sand clay and industry waste (coal bottom ash) have been developed for sensible heat storage. In this paper, the one dimensional two phase model has been chosen to predict the behaviour of the ceramic oil and vegetal oil (Jatropha curcas oil) thermal energy storage system. The results show that high porosity (> 45%), filler material with big size and high fluid velocity are not required for thermal energy storage because of the degradation of the thermocline. Taking into account a tank ratio H/D of 2.5 and a total stored energy of the results show a possibility to reach a discharge time of 9 hours with discharge efficiency of more than 90%. The thermocline thickness variation under the variation of fluid velocity, particle diameter, tank porosity shows that for an effective thermal energy storage system, the thermocline maximal thickness is around one third of the packed-bed height. To conclude, the developed ceramic ball and Jatropha curcas oil could be considered as an innovative and cost-effective for thermal energy storage in CSP or other applications like solar cooker.

Influence of Standardization on the Adoption of Concentrated Solar Technology by Tea Factories Run by KTDA in Kenya

This study sought to assess the effect of standardization on the likelihood of the adoption of Concentrated Solar Power Technology (CSPT) by the KTDA run tea factories in Kenya. The study was guided by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Guide on Standardization The target population was all factory unit managers of the 66 tea factories under the management of KTDA. The study was a cross-sectional survey using a quantitative approach for descriptive and inferential statistical outcomes. Data collection was by a structured questionnaire and binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. The standardization model was found to be statistically significant in influencing the likelihood of the adoption of CSPT by tea factories managed by KTDA, with a Chi2 p-value of 0.0222 and McFadden’s R2 of 0.2277. This meant that CSPT standardization was likely to influence the adoption of CSPT among tea factories managed by KTDA with a 95% confidence level. These findings were consistent with the propositions of the (ISO) Guide on Standardization. It was also consistent with findings of other studies and projects such as the standardization initiatives for CSH systems and CST technologies in India, and standardization of broadcast TV technologies in the US.

Environmental impact study of the NOOR 1 solar project on the Southern Region of Morocco

Morocco is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future through its investments in Renewable Energy. The NOOR 1 solar project in Ouarzazate serves as a shining example of this commitment, with a planned capacity of 160 MW and the potential to provide energy to over 1 million people. This study delves into the impact of this ground-breaking project on the environment and biodiversity in the southern region, as well as its role in combating global warming. The results show that the project has both positive and negative impacts, but its innovative concentrated solar power technology is the driving force behind these changes. Despite causing loss of native vegetation and wildlife habitat, changes to water resources and air quality, the NOOR 1 project also has many benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security, providing economic benefits, improving access to electricity, and providing educational opportunities. The research emphasizes the crucial need to assess future renewable energy projects in a holistic manner, considering both environmental preservation and progress. This means taking into account both the positive and negative impacts that such projects may have on the environment and biodiversity and implementing measures to mitigate the negative impacts while maximizing the positive ones. The study suggests that a well-planned and executed renewable energy project can bring about significant benefits, such as increased energy security and economic benefits, while still being mindful of preserving the natural environment. By carefully balancing environmental preservation and progress, the study argues that renewable energy projects can help create a sustainable future for all.

Case study on decarbonization strategies for LNG export terminals using heat and power from CSP/PV hybrid plants

The race towards decarbonization is driving major oil and gas companies to explore means to use renewable heat and power for their plants as part of their commitment to reduce their carbon intensity by 80% to 100% by 2050 (Holbrook, 2023). In terms of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions, natural gas is considered the cleanest fossil fuel option available, and decarbonization of new LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) projects is on the radar of many LNG projects developers. In addition, LNG cargos will have to be certified in the future by accredited authorities to meet defined GHG emission levels (Stern, 2019).This research study investigates a new concept of providing both heat and power from a PV (Photovoltaic) and CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) hybrid plant to meet the energy demand of an LNG export terminal. Two locations have been investigated for potential future LNG projects: Karratha in Australia and Ras Laffan in Qatar. Both locations have DNI values higher than 2000 kWh/m2/year, which is the minimum level required for CSP technology (Lovegrove and Stein, 2021).The LCCA (Levelized Cost of CO2 abatement) was used to compare the various solar configurations to select the option that will bring the greatest amount of CO2 reduction for the same investment cost (CGEP, 2020). The solar configurations technical parameters were defined based on the surface land available, natural gas feed composition and LNG plant design characteristics. The techno-economic assessment was carried-out taking into consideration the electricity price, the grid carbon intensity, and the CO2 tax in the region.Whilst in Australia a collocated single plant is favourable in terms of land availability and DNI (Direct Normal Irradiation) level, in Qatar, heat and power production have been separated into two distinct locations. Next to the LNG plant, a CSP plant provides heat only, whereas 130 km away, the hybrid PV/CSP plant located at Qurain EL Bawl provides electric power.The results indicate that the PV/CSP hybrid plant significantly accelerates the decarbonization of energy supply to the “All electric” LNG Plant. Depending on the solar field size, the quantity of CO2 emitted between 2025 and 2050 is reduced by 78–81% for Karratha (Australia) and by 82–88% for Ras Laffan (Qatar) compared to a grid connected plant.In addition, the economic assessment indicated that buying electricity from the grid during the period 2025–2050 would be more expensive for Australia then investing in a PV/CSP plant. In Qatar, the LCOE range of 93–110 US$/MWh is not competitive with the price of electricity in the region Qatar, mainly because of energy subsidies, however both the carbon tax and electricity price will need to be raised to the same level as in Australia to diversify and expand the power sector in the region.

Comparison Between CSP Systems and Effect of Different Heat Transfer Fluids on the Performance

While fossil fuel sources have declined and energy demand has increased, in addition to the climate change crisis, the world turned to using renewable energies to get its energy. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is one of the main technologies used for this purpose. This study aims to compare the different concentrated solar power technologies in terms of their efficiency, cost, concentration ratio, and receiver temperature. Results showed that technologies were arranged according to temperatures from high to low as follows; the parabolic dish reflector, central receiver collector, linear Fresnel reflector, and parabolic trough collector. According to cost, the parabolic dish reflector has the highest price, while the linear Fresnel reflector has the lowest price. Also, the parabolic dish reflector has the highest efficiency among the others, followed by the central receiver collector, then the linear Fresnel reflector, and the parabolic trough collector respectively. Additionally; the study represented that point-focus devices have a high percentage of concentration ratio than line-focus devices. Finally, in order to exploit these sources throughout the day, it is recommended to use phase change materials to store the excess thermal energy as a positive and effective approach to solving the energy problems.

A Review of Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC): Application and Performance Comparison

In these circumstances, we must search forward to ‘green energy’ for power generation. Green energy means environment-friendly and non-polluting energy (inclusive of solar, biomass, wind, tidal, etc.). Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) generation is one of the maximum promising candidates for mitigating the destiny power crisis. The extracted energy from CSP technology may be very clean, dependable, and environmentally friendly. A review of the parabolic trough collector (PTC) which is one of the CSP technology with a focus on the components, the working principle, and thermal properties of the parabolic trough collector. Also, this study explains the parabolic trough power plants with tracking systems, from the other hand, evaluates the effects of using many types of reflectors and multi kinds of working fluids on the performance of the parabolic trough collector (PTC), in addition of that study presents the use of PTCs in many applications.

Investigation of Variable Wind Loads and Shape Accuracy of Reflectors in Parabolic Trough Collector

Concentrated solar power is the technology involving reflectors which reflects the solar radiation and concentrates the radiations onto a receiver which absorbs the solar radiation and rises the temperature of the fluid flowing through it and the fluid is further used for process heating or power generation. Solar parabolic trough is the most established technology among the concentrated solar power technologies. For the optimization of the technology it is important to optimize the parabolic trough collectors from structural point of view as even gravity load is observed to cause a substantial effect on the shape of the reflector. Shape accuracy of the reflector is measured in terms of slope deviation. The slope deviation induced due to gravity and wind loads causes a change in optical and thermal efficiencies. The paper presents the study on pressure distribution at the surface of parabolic trough collector under different wind velocity, angle of attack of wind and orientation of the trough. Further, the pressure values over the trough surface are used to estimate the shape errors for the surface of the trough.

Mechanical performance after high-temperature exposure and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to unit of stored energy of alternative mortars to Portland cement

Decoupling energy demand has led to the importance of energy storage for increasing the capacity of renewable energy power plants. In this field, Portland cement (PC) concrete is proving to be a promising way to store energy as it can be used as sensible thermal energy storage (TES) medium in concentrated solar power (CSP) technology. However, the high energy and water consumption involved in the PC manufacturing process makes it necessary to develop new alternatives. Thus, alkali-activated materials (AAM) and hybrid materials (HM) were manufactured using blast furnace slag and glass waste (GW) to replace the PC and the sand in concretes respectively in order to study their feasibility as TES media in parabolic through CSP systems. The viability of these proposed new systems was tested from a mechanical point of view, while taking into account the environmental aspect using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to study carbon and water footprints. The new systems were exposed to high temperature (up to 500 °C), showing better performance than the ordinary PC under high temperatures, and their mechanical properties were not affected at all. After thermal treatment the alternatives show improvements of up to 79% compared to the PC reference sample. Furthermore, in terms of LCA analysis, it was concluded that TES systems with partial (HM) or total (AAM) substitution of PC by using by-products improve water use up to 40% when an AAM material includes GW as a recycled aggregate in its composition. Results likewise revealed a more than 100% reduction in the carbon footprint. These results open a new gate for the study of materials as TES since the alternatives to PC are more promising from an operational and environmental point of view.

A demonstration concentrating solar power plant in China: Carbon neutrality, energy renewability and policy perspectives

Concentrating solar power (CSP) is considered as a promising renewable electricity source due to its superiority in providing dispatchable and base-load electricity. This study performs a systems process analysis to quantify the carbon emissions and nonrenewable energy costs induced by a state-of-art demonstration CSP plant located in the Tibetan plateau. Estimated to induce 111.2 g CO2 eq/kWh carbon emissions and 1.42 MJ/kWh non-renewable energy consumption, the CSP plant is considered to have extremely high carbon neutrality (88.8%) and energy renewability (86.4%). The prominent performance of carbon emissions reduction and energy conservation induced by the CSP plant shed light on its superiority of reliable power supply and environmental benefits. The plant is expected to cumulatively fulfill 3.4 million tons of carbon emissions reduction over its life cycle. In contrast to coal-based power and other renewable energy technologies, CSP technology is shown to be a promising solution to the low-carbon energy transition. Besides, a scenario analysis indicates that the incremental employment of CSP technologies will play a critical role in coping with climate change and energy security in China. Moreover, multiple policies to facilitate the development of the CSP system in China are elaborated, such as the promotion of integrated solar combined-cycle systems. The empirical finding draws a holistic picture of the carbon neutrality and energy sustainability performance of CSP technologies, and the systematic analysis in this study provides comprehensive policy perspectives for energy policy in the Tibetan region as well as in China in the context of global climate change.