Storage

• Training Course on Solar District Heating (2011)-

  This document comprises training material developed in the framework of the SDHtake-off project with the support of Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. It has been designed as a “pool” of information to be used by all training organizations. It gives a broad overview of the solar thermal technologies employed for district heating, their characteristics as well as the legislative and technical requirements that are applicable in the EU.

• The Added Economic and Environmental Value of Solar Thermal Systems in Microgrids with Combined Heat and Power (2009)-

  This document was written by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy Office of Science national lab. It focuses on the potential benefits of solar thermal heat storage systems. The paper was first presented at the 3rd International Conference on Solar Air-Conditioning in Sicily in 2009.

• Solar Air Heating for Municipal Facilities (2003)-

  This case study focuses on the City of Toronto Vehicle Maintenance Garage and their switch to a solar thermal air heating system.

  The garage hosts the town’s garbage trucks and other work vehicles, so there was a need to both ensure airflow, and because of the cold temperatures of Toronto, ensure reliable heat. So the town installed three solar heated fans that provide the interior of the garage with a steady stream of fresh air that has been heated by the sun.

  Document available in both French and English.

• Solar Thermal Conversion (2005)-

  This presentation was created by the Florida State University Energy and Sustainability Center. It discusses the process and technology of solar thermal conversion.

  The presentation starts by explaining how the process of solar thermal conversion works in theory. From there, the various technologies that make solar thermal energy possible are examined through brief explanations and diagrams. The different designs for solar thermal that are explored in the presentation are the parabolic-trough, solar dish, power tower, storage, chimney, and flat plates.

• Storage Solution for Solar Thermal Energy (2004)-

  This is a study concerning solar storage technologies and materials presented by J. C. Hadorn from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Many schemes and graphics provide a visual explanation of how all presented technologies work and how they can be connected to different energy supply technologies or with energy grid.Some schemes of potentially useful materials for this function thanks to their energy densities are also available.

• IEA Solar Heating And Cooling Programme Task 32: Advanced Storage Concepts For Solar And Low Energy Buildings (2006)-

  This report from the IEA (2006) analyses the various storage options storing thermal energy in systems providing heating or cooling for buildings.

  The analysis runs along four lines of comparison between the various solutions:

  1. Evaluation and Dissemination (creation of common comparative approach)
  2. Chemical and Sorption Storage
  3. Phase Change Materials Storage
  4. Water Storage

  Of the conclusions reached, the most significanat are that :

  - PCM combined with water is at present the most promising option

• Concentrated Solar Thermal Power - Training course on Technology in 5 lessons-

  Seville University holds a long tradition on Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSTP) research. Its students become key players at research centers and solar energy departments of companies. One of the "fathers" of CSTP in Spain, Manuel Silva, will be delivering 5 lessons about technology and assessment of solar resource.

• Theoretical Economic Potential of the Spanish Premium Tariff for Solar Thermal Power Plants (2008)-

  The Spanish legislation for the regulation of renewable energy (Royal Decree 661/2007) foresees two options for the plant operators to sell their electricity: either based on a flat-rate price or a premium tariff. The latter means that the operators will participate directly on the electricity market. This study from 2008 assesses the theoretical potentials of the premium tariff compared to the flat feed-in tariff.