solar thermal electricity
Natural Gas vs. Solar Energy Cost Analysis (2008)
A study was conducted by the United States Department of Energy and The National Renewable Energy Laboratory to analyze the cost and performance of solar thermal electricity. Study proved that high development of solar thermal electricity plants would allow for costs to decrease for solar thermal by 2020.
It is projected that prices will rise for natural gas generated electricity from 7.894 cents per kilowatt hour to 8.098 cents per kilowatt hour.
Solar Thermal Power as the Plausible Basis for Grid Supply (2007)
This report was prepared by David Mills and Robert Morgan of Ausra, Inc.
In this report the authors pose the question as to whether or not a viable energy system can be based mostly around solar thermal electricity. The results of the report suggest that the US grid can be largely supplied by STE systems that are close to “market –ready”.
The findings also suggest that STE has enough of a seasonal correlation to supply not only the US grid, but China and India as well.
Stanwell Solar Thermal Power Project (2006)
This paper was released by the Stanwell Corporation, University of Sydney and the University of NSW in 2006. It describes the success and implementation of the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar thermal system.
Opportunities for kWh Price Improvement of Solar Thermal Electricity Plants (2006)
This research paper was from the Utrecht University’s Department of Science, Technology and Society in 2006.
The goal of this paper is to go over how a solar thermal electricity plant can be competitive to fossil fuel based on cost. This can be accomplished when you look at the construction criteria of the solar thermal plants.
