parabolic trough

This Final Report is the deliverable of Work Package (WP1) from the MED-CSD Project. Designed to assess combined solar power and desalination plants’ technico-economic potential in Mediterranean Partner countries, it was a project funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). It ran between June 2008 and June 2010.

This is a presentation from the Mexican Non-Conventional Energy Management Electric Power Research Institute aimed at describing the perspectives of using concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, and the implications stemming from this choice. It was made during the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) Electricity Workshop held in Paraguay in May 2010.

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.

A full aluminium direct-flow absorber with a newly developed coating from Finland won one of the three Solar Thermal Intersolar Awards at the Intersolar 2011 in Munich, Germany. The photo shows the respective in-line coating machine by Finnish company Savo-Solar Oy. In cooperation with the Danish company Hydro Aluminium Precision Tubing, both companies were able to impress the jury with the new developed “Savo-Solar Al-MPE” absorber. The other two prizes went to Vetter Gesellschaft für Medizinische Datentechnik, Bio- und Umwelttechnik mbH, Germany, for developing a parabolic trough collector which opens up a diverse range of installation possibilities, and to Swedish company Absolicon Solar Concentrator for a PVT collector combining solar power generation with the use of solar heat.
Photo: Savo-Solar Oy

This document was prepared in 2010 and describes the rush to gain traction in the solar thermal market in southwest of the United States.

There is an estimated 250,000 square miles of southwestern deserts deemed suitable for solar thermal development. It includes the driving factors for solar thermal, as well as plans previously discussed for development. There are also factors associated with solar thermal development like water usage and faulty energy reports that need to be addressed.

This document was created by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2010. It explains the background and basics of concentrating solar thermal power (CSP), and has an introduction explaining the current market status and trends.

It discusses the economics of CSP, including generation costs, investment costs and displays it by how much it costs per Watt to create state-of-the-art trough plants. It gives an outlook for growth, as well as barriers.

Dr. Nikolaus Benz Vice President of ESTELA (European Solar Thermal Electricity Association) gave this presentation at the EUROMED 2008 Solar Workshop.

This is a very informative presentation about concentrated solar power technologies. The slides explain de differences between a power tower, parabolic trough, linear Fresnel and a dish stirling.

A map pointing out the current markets is also provided, together with more specific information on the projects ongoing in Spain and also on the MENA region.

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.

This report was prepared by David R. Mills and Robert G. Morgan.

The report talks about various ways the US can use the sun as an integrated renewable energy source to fully power the US electrical grid. The report also shows how STE (solar thermal electricity) is being used in different platforms and with the proper storage could be used to power a great majority of the US. A calculation provided in the report suggest that the cost of the STE option will be less than continuing to import oil as well as decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.