Post on 13-Jul-2020
European Solar ThermalElectricity Association
december
2012
SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY
STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
European Solar ThermalElectricity Association
European Solar Thermal Electricity Association
Rue d’Arlon, 63-67B - 1040 - Brussels
Tel. : +32 (0)2 400 10 90 Fax : +32 (0)2 400 10 91
estela@estelasolar.eu
www.estelasolar.eu
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recycled fibre and 40% FSC® certified virgin fibre, ensuring a reduced impact on the environment. De
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Copyright © 2012 by Association Européenne pour la promotion de l’Electricité Solaire Thermique, a.s.b.l.
ESTELARue d’Arlon, 63-651040 – Bruxelles, Belgique
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereofmay not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoeverwithout the express written permission of the publisherexcept for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in Belgium
First Printing, December 2012
december 2012
European Solar ThermalElectricity Association
SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY
STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
4 STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
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Acknowledgments 6
Preface 7
Glossary 8 IntroductiontoESTELA 10TheScientificandTechnicalCommittee 11 ExecutiveSummary 131 History 19
2 TheBrilliantFutureofSolarThermalElectricityPlants 23
2.1 Dispatchabilityandothertechnicalfeatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 2.2 Macroeconomicimpactonlocaleconomies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 2.3 Competitiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
3 IndustryOverviewandRelatedEconomicAspects 27
3.1 Nationalandregionalmarkets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 3.2 Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 3.3 Economics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 3.4 Standardisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
4 PolicyOverview 39
4.1 ContributiontoEU’srenewableenergypolicy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 4.2 Energytransmissioninfrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 4.3 Europeancontextandframeworks2014-2020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 4.4 Researchoverview:participationoftheSTEsectorintheEUinstruments. . . . . .42
5 State-of-the-ArtofSTETechnologies 45
6 STEMainChallengesonInnovation 53
6.1 STEEuropeanIndustrialInitiative 54 6.2 Upcomingchallenges 56
7 StrategicResearchAgenda 59
7.1Objective1:Increaseefficiencyandreducegeneration,operationandmaintenancecosts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
7.1.1 Cross-cuttingIssues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 7.1.1.1 Mirrors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 7.1.1.2 Receivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 7.1.1.3 Heattransferfluids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 7.1.1.4 Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 7.1.1.5 Controlandoperationtools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
7.1.2 ParabolicTroughCollectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 7.1.2.1 Receivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 7.1.2.2 Heattransferfluids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 7.1.2.3 Systemcomponentswithenhancedproperties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 7.1.2.4 Systemsize,componentmanufacturingandotherimprovements. . . . . . . . . . .69 7.1.2.5 Controlandoperationstrategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
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7.1.3 CentralReceivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 7.1.3.1 Heliostatfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 7.1.3.2 Receiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 7.1.3.3 Heattransferfluids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 7.1.3.4 Newconversioncyclesandsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 7.1.4 LinearFresnelReflectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 7.1.4.1 Mirrors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 7.1.4.2 Receivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 7.1.4.3 Heattransferfluids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77 7.1.4.4 Controlandoperationstrategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 7.1.4.5 Fielddesignandconfiguration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 7.1.5 ParabolicDishes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 7.1.5.1 Stirlingengine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 7.1.5.2 Gasturbines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 7.1.5.3 Receivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 7.1.5.4 Dispatchability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 7.1.5.5 Systemcomponentswithenhancedmaterialproperties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 7.1.5.6 Controlsandoperationissues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
7.2Objective2:Improvedispatchability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 7.2.1 Hybridisationandintegrationsystems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 7.2.1.1 Integrationwithlargesteamplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 7.2.1.2 Integrationwithgasturbineandcombinedcycleplants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 7.2.1.3 Integrationwithbiomassplants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 7.2.1.4 Hybridisationforthedirectsystemsusingthesamemoltensaltmixture
asHTFandHSM(heatstoragemedium) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 7.2.2 Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 7.2.2.1 Storagedesign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 7.2.2.2 Storageoptimisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 7.2.2.3 Newstorageconcepts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 7.2.2.4 Storageasenergyintegrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 7.2.3 Forecastingtools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 7.2.3.1 Operationstrategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 7.2.3.2 Solarresourceassessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
7.3Objective3:Improveenvironmentalprofile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 7.3.1 Heattransferfluids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 7.3.1.1 Heattransferfluidsvsenvironmentimpact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 7.3.1.2 Heattransferfluidcharacteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 7.3.1.3 Leakageconsequences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 7.3.2 Reductionofwaterconsumption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 7.3.2.1 Improvedcoolingsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 7.3.2.2 Desalination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 7.3.2.3 Solutionsfordesertlocations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Conclusion 104
Bibliography 105
IndexFiguresandTables 106
ANNEXI:KeyPerformanceIndicators 108
ANNEXII:PastandpresentEU-fundedprojects 110
ANNEXIII:Heattransferfluidsvs.environmentalcomponents 111
Notes 112
hePresidentandtheSecretaryGeneraloftheEuropeanSolarThermalElectricityAssociationwouldliketotakethisopportunitytoexpressourdeepappreciationtotheauthorsandothercollaboratorsfortheirexcellentworkanddedicationprovidedbyallofthem.Withouttheirsupportthishugeprojectwouldnothavebeenaccomplished.
Weexpressourdeepestgratitude to the followingpeople for theirdevoted time,valuablecontributionandanalyticalandtechnicalsupporttothispublication:ManuelBlanco,ManuelCollaresPereira,FabrizioFabrizi,GillesFlamant,GuglielmoLiberati,HansMueller-Steinhagen,RobertPitz-Paal,WernerPlatzer,ManuelSilvaandEduardoZarza.AllofthemarethemembersofESTELA’sScientificandTechnicalCommitteethathavetakenonboardthetasksofelaboratingthefirstresearchagendaforsolarthermalelectricity.
WewouldliketothankourstaffandinternofESTELA,FernandoAdán,ElenaDufour,StefanEckhoff,MicaelaFernández,JanisLeung,JoséMartínez-Fresneda,for theirexcellentcollaborationtoboththeauthorsandtheAssociationinmakingthisprojectasuccessfulone.
Inaddition,aspecialthanktoJoséMartinwhohasbeenour“PierredeRosette”forhisengagementinmakingacomprehensivedocument.
FinallywewouldliketothankthesuccessivemembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeofthelasttwoyears-NikolausBenz,EduardoGarcía,MichaelGeyer,HennerGladen,CayetanoHernández,LeonardoMerlo,JoséAlfonsoNebrera,JoséManuelNieto,MarcoSimiano,ShmuelFledel-andtheMembersofESTELAforsupportingtheinitiativethatweproposedaboutoneyearandahalfago.WehopewewillhavetheirsupportforthenexteditionoftheStrategicResearchAgenda.
Dr.LuisCrepo MariàngelsPérezLatorrePresidentofESTELA Secretary-General
AcknOwLedgmenTS
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december 2012 7
enewableenergy isakeycomponentof thefutureenergysupplyasacknowledgedintheEU2050EnergyRoadmap.TheEUhaspursuedasustainedsupportfortheintroductionofrenewable
energiesintheenergymixbecauseoftheirimportancefor reducing thecarbon footprintof theeconomy, forimproving thesecurityof theenergysupplyand forpromoting theregionaleconomicandsocialdevelop-ment.Moreandbetterresearchanddevelopmentcanhelpovercometwomajorobstaclestothewideruptakeofsomepromisingrenewables,whicharetheirhighercostsandintermittency.
ConcentratingSolarPower(CSP)hasthepotentialtosupplysubstantialquantitiesofrenewableenergyinEuropeandabroad.Europe'sleadingpositionworldwideonmanykeytechnologicalcomponentsofCSPandthereadinessoftheEuropeanstakeholderstoworktogetherinviewofspeedingupthecommercialisationofthistechnologyledtothelaunchoftheSolarEuropeIndustrialInitiativeundertheStrategicEnergyTechnologyPlan.
DGResearchand Innovationwelcomes thisStrategicResearchAgenda,whichprovidesavisionforthedevel-opmentofthesectorintheyearstocomeandhighlightsprioritiesandareasforcooperation.ThisdocumentwillbeofusetothesectortocontributetothediscussionontheforthcomingFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovation -Horizon2020.Mywish is for thesectortocontinueconsolidatingitspositionthroughindustrialandresearchcollaborations,notablyatEuropeanlevel.
Robert-JanSmitsDirector-GeneralforResearch&InnovationEuropeanCommission
Pre
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PreFAce
8 STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
glo
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AENOR SpanishAssociationforNormalisationandCertification
AEN/CTN SpanishAssociationforNormalisation/TechnicalCommitteeforNormalisation
AHS AuxiliaryHeatingSystem
ARENA AustralianRenewableEnergyAgency
ASME AmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineers
CAES CompressedAirEnergyStorage
CAPEX CapitalExpenditure
CENER NationalRenewableEnergyCentreofSpain
CIEMAT CentrodeInvestigacionesEnergéticasMedioambientalesyTecnológicas
CLFR CompactLinearFresnelReflector
CNRS FrenchNationalCentreforScientificResearch
CR CentralReceiver
CSP ConcentratedSolarPower
DNI DirectNormalIrradiation
DKE GermanCommissionforElectrical,Electronic&InformationTechnologies
DSG DirectSteamGeneration
EC EuropeanCommission
ECMWF EuropeanCentreforMedium-RangeWeatherForecasts
EERA EuropeanEnergyResearchAlliance
EIB EuropeanInvestmentBank
EII EuropeanIndustrialInitiative
ENEA ItalianNationalAgencyforNewTechnologies,EnergyandSustainableEconomicDevelopment
EPC EngineeringProcurementConstruction
ERANET EuropeanResearchAreaNetwork
ESFRI EuropeanStrategyForumonResearchInfrastructure
ESTELA EuropeanSolarThermalElectricityAssociation
EU-Solaris EuropeanSolarResearchInfrastructureforCSP
EU EuropeanUnion
FiT Feed-in-Tariff
FP7 SeventhFrameworkProgramme
GDP GrossDomesticProduct
GUISMO GuidelinesCSPPerformanceModelling
GWh Gigawatthour
HCE HeatCollectionElement
HDH Humidification-Dehumidification
HSM HeatStorageMedium
HTF HeatTransferFluid
HVDC HighVoltageDirectCurrent
ISCC IntegratedSolarCombined-Cycle
IEC/TC InternationalElectro-technicalCommission/TechnicalCommittee
gLOSSArY
9december 2012
KPI KeyPerformanceIndicator
kWp Kilowattpeak
LCOE LevelisedCostofElectricity
LF LinearFresnelReflector
LWC LevelisedWaterCost
MBE MeanBiasError
MD MembraneDistillation
MED Multi-EffectDistillation
MENA MiddleEastandNorthAfrica
MoU MemorandumofUnderstanding
MSH MoltenSaltHeater
MS MoltenSalt
MSP MediterraneanSolarPlan
MTBF MeanTimeBetweenFailure
MWe Megawattofelectricity
MWth MegawattofThermalEnergy
NER300 NewEntrantReserve300
NREAP NationalRenewableEnergyActionPlan
NWP NumericalWeatherPrediction
OHL OverHeadLines
O&M OperationandMaintenance
OPEX OperatingExpenditure
OPTS OptimisationofaThermalEnergyStorageSystemwithIntegratedSteamGenerator
ORC OrganicRankineCycle
PCM PhaseChangeMaterial
PD ParabolicDish
PPA PowerPurchaseAgreement
PT ParabolicTrough
PV Photovoltaic
R&D ResearchandDevelopment
REFIT RenewableEnergyFeed-In-Tariff
RES RenewableEnergySources
RMSE RootMeanSquareError
RO ReverseOsmosis
SEGS SolarEnergyGeneratingSystems
SETIS InformationSystemfortheEuropeanStrategicEnergyTechnologyPlan
SET-Plan StrategicEnergyTechnologyPlan
SEII SolarEuropeanIndustrialInitiative
SFERA SolarFacilitiesfortheEuropeanResearchArea
SolarPACES SolarPowerAndChemicalEnergySystems
STE SolarThermalElectricity
TES ThermalEnergyStorage
wt% PercentinWeight
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STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
STELAisanassociationcreatedbytheEuropeanindustrytosupporttheemergingEuropeansolarthermalelectricityindustryforthegenerationofgreenpowerinEuropeandotherregions,particularlytheMediter-raneanandNorthAfricanregion.
ESTELAinvolvesandisopentoallmainactorsinEurope:promoters,developers,manufacturers,utilities,engi-neeringcompaniesandresearchinstitutions.
OneofthemainactivitiesofESTELAanditsmembersistocollaboratewithinstitutionsintheEuropeanUnion(EU)todevelopsolarthermalelectricitygenerationanditssupportingindustryacrossEurope.
Anothercoreactivityinclosecollaborationwithacademiaistoproduceandcoordinatestudiesonscientific,technical,economic,legalorpolicyissuestofurtherdevelopsolarthermalelectricitytechnologies.
Finally,ESTELAconsidersofparamountimportancetoraiseawarenessbydisseminatinginformationaboutsolarthermalelectricityandtheEuropeanAssociationbyorganisingmeetings,workshops,conferencesandothereventstopromotesolarthermalelectricity.
TheemergingindustryofsolarthermalelectricityhasstrongEuropeanroots.Itisgrowingtoagreatextentduetothetechnicalandeconomicsuccessofthefirstprojectsandtothestablegreenpricingorsupportmechanismstobridgetheinitialgapintheelectricitycosts–mechanismssuchasfeed-intariffs(FiT).FuturegrowthwilldependonasuccessfulcostsreductionandastrongeffortinR&Dtorealisethegreatexistingpotentialfortechnicalimprovement.Inthelong-term,itisenvisionedthatnewmarketsandmarketopportunitieswillappear:aparticularlyexcitingpossibilityisthegenerationofsolarthermalpowerintheMediterraneanregionanditstransmissiontootherpartsofEurope.
ESTELAmemberswillensurethesolarthermalelectricityindustrycontributiontotheachievementofrenewableenergyobjectivesby2020,providedthatthenecessarymeasuresaretakenbothinthemarketandinresearchtosupporttheeffortsoftheindustry.
ESTELAmembersbelievethattheEU,intheshortandmedium-term,shouldinstalldemand-pullinstrumentsandpromotesupportmechanismssuchasfeed-in-lawsasthemostpowerfulinstrumentstofurthersolarthermalelectricitygenerationgoals.Inthelongterm,theEuropeantransmissiongridshouldbeopenedtobringsolarelectricityfromNorthAfricaandregionalagreementsshouldbeimplementedtosecurethisreliablepowerimport.
Theworld’s“SunBelt”,thatextendsfromaboutlatitudes35Northto35Southandborderareas,receivesseveralthousandtimestheenergyneededtomeettheworld’senergydemand.Thisresourceisnotbeingcurrentlyexploited.Atthesametime,dramaticchangesaretobeimplementedinthecurrentenergysystemstomitigatetheirnegativeimpactontheenvironmentandontheworld’sclimate.AlargepartoftheenormousenergyresourceavailableintheSunBeltcouldbeharnessedthroughsolarthermaltechnologies,conveyedandusedinasustainableway.
THe eurOPeAn SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY ASSOcIATIOn (eSTeLA)
The objectives of ESTELA are:
n To promote high and mid temperature solar tech-nologies for the production of thermal electricity to move towards sustainable energy systems;
n To promote thermal electricity in Europe at policy and administrative levels (local, regional, national and European);
n To support EU’s action in favour of European industry development and to contribute to reach the Union’s energy objectives and its main renewable energy targets;
n To support research and innovation, including vocational training, and favouring equal op-portunities for all;
n To promote excellence in the planning, design, construction and operation of thermal electric-ity plants;
n To promote thermal electricity internationally, mainly in the Mediterranean area and in de-veloping countries;
n To cooperate at the international level to combat climate change;
n To represent the solar thermal electricity sector in Europe and the world.
11
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inceitscreationin2007,ESTELAhasdevelopeditsscientificandtechnicalactivitiesinsupportofresearchandinnovation.Ithasestablishedguidingprioritiesfortheshortandlong-termeffortstofosterthemarketpenetra-tionofsolarthermalpowerplantsandtoconsolidatethegloballeadershippositionoftheEuropeanindustry.
Tocreateaninnovationstrategy,ESTELAhastakenadvantageofhavingamongitsmembersthemainresearchinstitutionsactiveinthisfieldinEurope.
InSeptember2011,ESTELAsteppedupitseffortsbycreatingtheScientificandTechnicalCommitteetohelptheAssociationbuildaStrategicResearchAgendafor2020andbeyond.Thisistherightmomenttostrengthentheseeffortsfortwomainreasons.First,theeconomicandfinancialcrisiscallsformoreinnovationandforamid-andlong-termvision.Second,ESTELA’smissionistocontributetotheEU’sdebateontheprogrammestosupportresearch,demonstrationandinnovationintheframeworkofthefinancialperspectivesfortheperiod2014-2020.
TheScientificandTechnicalCommitteehastenmembers,eightofthemfrominstitutionswhicharemembersofESTELA,andtwofromuniversities:
n Dr.GuglielmoLiberati(Coordinator):ESTELA,Italyn Dr.ManuelBlanco:CENER,Spainn Prof.ManuelCollaresPereira:ÉvoraUniversity,Portugaln Dr.FabrizioFabrizi:ENEA,Italyn Dr.GillesFlamant:CNRS,Francen Prof.HansMüller-Steinhagen:DresdenUniversity,Germanyn Prof.RobertPitz-Paal:DLRSolarResearchInstitute,Germanyn Dr.WernerPlatzer:FraunhoferISE,Germanyn Dr.ManuelSilvaPérez:SevilleUniversity,Spainn Dr.EduardoZarzaMoya:PlataformaSolardeAlmería,Spain
ThesemembersconstitutewhatcanjustifiablybeconsideredaTeamofExcellence,becausetheyrepresentsomeofthebestscientificknowledgeinthesectorinEuropeandbeyond.
THe ScIenTIFIc And TecHnIcAL cOmmITTee
12 STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
he totalamountofelectricitygeneratedbySolarThermalElectricity (STE)plantsaround theworld isgrowingsteadily.Morethan1GWhavebeenconnectedtothegridinSouthernEuropeinthepastfewyears,andthisfigureisexpectedtogrowtomorethan2GWbytheendof2012.Operatingexperiencehasledtoreductionsincostsandrisk,andplantsgeneratinganother1GWarenowunder
constructioninNorthAmerica,Africa,AsiaandAustralia.TheEuropeanindustryhasastrongpresenceinmanyofthoseprojects,andtheRenewableEnergySources(RES)DirectiveopensthewayforevenmoreopportunitiesinSouthernEuropeandintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica(MENA)region.
Generatingtheelectricitythattheworldneedswithoutreleasingadditionalgasesisnowtechnicallypossible,andthecharacteristicsofSTEplantsmakethemanessentialpartofaneffectiverenewableportfolio.Dispatchabilityisamajoradvantageoftheseplants,andthischaracteristicmaymakeitpossibleforautilitytoaccommodateanevenlargeramountofotherintermittenttechnologies.
STEtechnologieshaveahugepotentialandresearchanddevelopment(R&D)isessentialtoimprovethecompe-tivenessofthecurrentdesigns.Animportantpushmustbegiventospecifictechnologydevelopmentactivitiesandtosupportinnovativedemonstrationplantsofcommercialsizeinordertocontributetolowergenerationcostsandtoenhancethebankabilityoftheprojects.
Theregulatoryconditionsfor implementingSTEplants, includingtheRESDirectiveandtheFeed-in-Tariff (FiT)systemsinsomeEuropeancountries,particularlySpain,havebeenthedrivingforceforthedeploymentofthefirstgenerationofSTEplants.Duetotheexpectedcostreductionsthroughtechnologicaladvancementandmassproduction,thetechnologywillprobablynolongerdependonsuchsupportinafewyears,whenitwillbecomecompetitivewithelectricitygenerationusingfossilfuels.
ThisStrategicResearchAgendahasbeenelaboratedbytheEuropeanSolarThermalElectricityIndustryAssocia-tioninordertoalignR&Deffortswiththesupportofthepublicadministrations,includingtheEuropeanUnion.
WehavedecidedtobeinclusiveandtheStrategicResearchAgendacoversthefourbroadcategoriesthatuptonowhavebeenproposedforthethermalconversionofsolarenergybythescientists.Tovaryingdegrees,theyhavebeenthesubjectofconsiderableinterestanddevelopmentandarealreadymakingsmallbutmeaningfulcontributionstosatisfyingelectricityneedsinmanyregionsoftheworld.Itispossiblethatadvancesinotherfields(materialsandcontrols,tonametwo)maycreatetheconditionswhereotherthermalconversiontechnolo-gieswillbeconceived.Thereisnowaytoknowwhat,ifany,approachmaysomedayrevolutionisethefield,but,thekindofresearchanddevelopmentsuggestedinthisreportisthebestwaytofosterinnovationandopenpossibilitiesastheclockticksfortheinhabitantsofourplanettofindasustainablepath.
WehopethisStrategicResearchAgendawillcontributetoacoherentdevelopmentofthesectorandtoamoreefficientallocationofR&Dresourceswiththefinalgoalofreachingcompetitivenessassoonaspossible.
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heStrategicResearchAgendaisthefirst-of-its-kindfortheSolarThermalElectricity(STE)technology.DraftedbyhighlyqualifiedexpertresearchersinEuropecomposingESTELA’sScientificandTechnicalCommittee,itsetsasolidbasisforpresentandfutureresearchuntil2025.
Uncertaintydetersmarketpenetrationforanytechnology.ThediversityofviabletechnicalapproachesforsolarthermalenergyconversionisoneofthegreatadvantagesofSTE,becausedifferentoptionshavethepotentialtoaddressdifferentneedsandmarketnichesmosteffectively.Diversityalsoposeschallenges,becausethereissomeuncertaintyassociatedwitheachoption.Uncertaintyderivesfrommanysources,fromweathertothechangingpoliticalandeconomicenvironment.Anothersourcearisesfromtechnologyitself,andfromtheexpectationoffuturetechnologicaladvances.Fortunately,supportforresearchanddevelopmentisaneffectivetooltolowerthisuncertainty,andgovernmentsandconsortiacanwieldthistoolmosteffectively.
Itisthegoalofthisdocumenttoassistdecisionmakersbyprovidingareviewofthecurrenteconomic,financialandtechnologicaltrendsoftheSTEsectoraswellastheexistingpolicyandlegalframeworkindifferentcountrieswithintheEU.Thesearedescribedinchapters1to6.Thedetailedresearchtopicsandrelatedtargetsforeachtechnologyconstitutechapter7.ThetopicsarebasedonthreemainobjectivesdefinedbytheSTEindustry.
eXecuTIVe SummArY
1- General overview 2- Technical aspects STE-SEII SET-Plan
n Historyn Industryoverviewandrelated
economicaspectsn Policyoverviewn State-of-the-artofSTEtechnologiesn STEmainchallengesoninnovation
n Cross-cuttingissuesn ParabolicTroughcollectorsn CentralReceivern LinearFresnelreflectorsn ParabolicDishes
Objective 1: Increase efficiency and reduce costs
n Hybridisationandintegrationsystems
n Storagen Optimisedispatchability
Objective 2: Improve dispatchability
n Environmentprofile Objective 3: Improve environmental profile
Economic and political trendsGlobalwarmingandeconomicgrowtharemajorcurrent issuesworldwide.STE technologiescancontributesignificantlytomitigatetheimpactofelectricityproductionontheglobaltemperatureincreaseandtoreachamuchmorebalancedsituationregardingavailabilityofaffordablepowerinindustrialisedanddevelopingcountriesthanitisthecasetoday.
Acarbon-freegenerationsystemcanonlybeachievedwith renewableanddispatchable technologies,andSTEplantsarethealternativewiththelargestpotentialamongstallrenewableenergysystems.Atthesametime,STEplantsaddthelargestadditionallocalvalue,evenforthefirstplantinarow.ThisfactwillbeakeydriverforpolicydecisionsinfavourofSTEplantsinmanycountries.
ThatiswhySTEisanadvantageoustechnologywhichhelpstopavethewayoutoftheeconomiccrisisintheSouthernEuropeancountries.BecauseoftheleadingpositionoftheEuropeanindustry,thisrepresentsahistoricopportunitytocreatepartnershipsandcreatebusinessthroughouttheworld,andparticularlyintheneighbouringMENAregion.
Bymid-2012,thetotalelectricpowergeneratedbySTEplantsintheworldhasreached2GW;plantsgenerating3GWarecurrentlyunderconstruction.ThemajorityoftheseplantsaresitedinSpainandintheUnitedStates.Interestgrowsintherestoftheworld,asnewprojectsarebeinglaunchedinNorthAfrica,India,ChinaandSouthAfrica.Plantsgenerating10GWcanbeexpectedtobeinplaceworldwideby2015.
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14 STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025
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InEurope,thecompulsorytargetsestablishedonJune30,2010throughtheNationalRenewableEnergyActionPlans(NREAP)for2020includetheuseofsolarthermalelectricityforthesunniestEuropeancountries.
Country Cyprus France Greece Italy Portugal Spain TotalNREAPtargetsfor2020 75MW 540MW 250MW 600MW 500MW 5,079MW 7,044MW
Regardingnationalsubsidies,thesituationinEuropeiscurrentlyuncertainduetotheeconomiccrisis,andnewmeasuresarebeingtakenatthenationalleveltoleverageinvestmentinitiativesforrenewableprojects.Atthemoment,forsolarthermalelectricity,theFeed-in-Tariffisaround0.30c€/kWh,dependingonthecountryandtheplantparameters.
TheSTEindustrycreatesmanyjobs.InSpain,inparticular,thenumberofjobsrelatedtoSTEhasmorethandoubledbetween2008and2010.ThissuggestsaverypromisingfutureforjobscreationfromtheplannedSTEprojects.
Thelevelisedcostofelectricity(LCOE)isthemaineconomicparametertocomparedifferentrenewabletechnologies.Thisfiguredependsontheratiobetweenallcostsandelectricitygeneration,anditreliesonthedirectnormalirradiation(DNI)foragivenarea(InSpain,theDNIreachesupto2,100kWh/m2).AlowerLCOEisexpectedinthenextfewyearsbecauseofforthcomingtechnologicalimprovements.
TheEuropeanresearchpolicycontextissetbytheCommonFrameworkProgrammeforResearchandInnovationfortheperiod2014-2020,knownas‘Horizon2020’.TheProgrammeplacesagreatemphasisonrenewableenergiesandfirst-of-a-kinddemonstrationplants.ItalsoincludestheStrategicEnergyTechnologyPlan(SET-Plan)anditsindustrialinitiatives,aninstrumentespeciallyfocusedonthedevelopmentoflowcarbontechnologies.Inparallel,theexpansionofthegridandtheimplementationoftheinter-continental‘electricityhighways’areunderway.
Standardisation:StandardsforSTEtechnologyarecrucialforacceleratingcostreduction.Manyeffortshavebeenmadetowardsstandardisation,butmuchimprovementisstillneeded.TheEN12975standardforsolarconcentratorsisnowapartoftheISO9806standard,currentlyunderrevision.Workinggroupshavebeencreatedinthelastyears,particularlyintheframeofSolarPACES,andfurtherguidelinesareexpectedtobereleasedin2012and2013.
Standardsmustevolvetowardsacommonframeworkandeffortsneedtobeintensifiedinthefollowingfields:qualification,certification,testingprocedures,componentsandsystemsdurabilitytesting,commissioningproce-dures,model-basedresultsandsolarfieldmodeling.
Objective 1: Increase efficiency and reduce generation, operation and maintenance costsThedifferenttargetstoreachthefirstobjective(‘Improveefficiencyandreducecosts’)arelistedforeachtechnologyintheschemesonnextpage.However,cross-cuttingissuesexistbetweenthedifferenttechnologiesandneedtobetakenintoconsideration.Thetransversalresearchtopicstobeinvestigatedare:
MirrorsLight reflectives surfaces
Antisoiling coatingsHigh reflective
HEAT TrAnsfEr fluidsLow melting temperature mixtures
Pressurised gasesDirect steam generation with high
pressure absorber tubesHigh working temperatures
OTHERSSelective coating receivers
with better optical propertiesNew storage concept
Improve control, prediction and operation tools
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Schemes listing the different investigation topics for each typical technology plant
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PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORSResearch topics to be investigated to reach objective 1 for parabolic trough collectors
COLLECTORS-Scale-upeffect-Bettercollectordesignandmanufacture-Bettersolarfieldcontrol-Autonomousdriveunitsandlocalcontrols(wireless)
RECEIVERTUBES-Betteroptimalstabilityoftheselectivecoatings-Designswithvacuum,withoutweldsorwithoutlowerH2permeation
-Cheaperinterconnectingelements
HEATTRANSFERFLUID-Useofcompressedgases(CO2,N2,air…)
-Directsteamgeneration-Moltensalt+auxiliaryheating
CENTRAL RECEIVERSResearch topics to be investigated to reach objective 1 for central receivers
NEWCONVERSIONCYCLESANDSYSTEMS-Braytoncycles-Combinedcyclesandsupercriticalsteamcycles
-Hybridisationwithbiomass-Secondaryconcentrators
HEATTRANSFERFLUID-Moltensaltforsupercriticalsteamcycles
-AirandCO2asprimaryfluids-Directsuperheatedsteam-Particlereceiversystems
HELIOSTATFIELD-Multiplesmalltowersconfiguration-Reliablewirelessheliostatcontrolsystems
-Optimisedheliostatfield-Improvedrivemechanisms-Autonomousdriveunitsandlocalcontrols(wireless)
RECEIVER-Advancedhightemperaturereceiver(directabsorption)-Newengineeredmaterials(ceramictubes)
LINEAR FRESNEL REFLECTORSResearch topics to be investigated to reach objective 1 for linear Fresnel reflectors
HEATTRANSFERFLUID-Super-heateddirectsteamgeneration-Moltensaltsonly-PressurisedCO2orairinnon-evacuatedreceivers
RECEIVERS-Evacuatedtubularreceivers-Newgenerationofnon-evacuatedtubularreceivers
MIRRORS-Secondstageconcentration-Thinfilmsoncurvedsupportsurfaces
CONTROLANDDESIGN-Bettertrackingoptions-HybridisationoftowerandFresneltechnologies
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Objective 2: Improve dispatchabilityDispatchabilityisoneofthecharacteristicsthatmakesSTEafavoredoptionamongotherrenewableresources,and“Improvingdispatchability”isevenmoreisamostobjectiveforSTEdevelopment.Indeed,systemswiththeflexibilitytofeedthegridondemandarethekeyforsolarthermalelectricitytoreachitspotential.Althoughmanyplantsarealreadybuiltwithastoragesystem,moreeffortsneedtobedone.
Integration systems:The integration of solar heat in large steam plantscanbeachievedthroughthewaterpreheatinglineorthroughtheboilersteam/watercircuit.Inthefirstcase,anappropriateboilerdesignisrequiredtodealwithtemperaturedifferences.Iftheintegrationisdonewiththeboiler,animprovementofitsdesignandcontrolsystemisneeded.
The integration of solar heat with gas turbine or combined cycle plants isalsoanoption.Withagasturbine,the temperatureof theaircanbeincreasedinhigh temperaturesolarcollectors, leadingtohighconversionefficiencies.Theabilitytohandletransientphasesrequiresanimprovementofthedesignofthecontrolsystem.
The integration of solar heat with biomass, moreappropriateforsmallsizedfacilities,isagoodcombinationforanall-renewablefuelledplant.Althoughthecombustionofbiomassisnoteasy,itispossibletouseorganicfluidthermodynamiccycles(ORC),whichsimplifyoperationwhileincreasingtheoverallefficiency.
Storage:DependingontheHTF(HeatTransferFluid),differentdesignscanbesetup:
If the HTF is thermal oil,asinglestoragetankwithgoodtemperaturestratificationinsteadofatwotankconfigu-rationcangreatlysimplifystorage.Asingletankcanalsobeoptimisedbyasolidseparationbetweentheheatexchangerandthestoragematerial.
If the HTF is molten salts, noexchangerisneededbetweenthesolarfieldandthestoragecircuit.Newsaltmixtureswithlowerfreezingpointandwhichavoidcorrosionproblemsaretheresearchanddevelopmentgoalsforthistopic.
If the HTF is steam,noexchangerisneededbeforethepowerblock.Solid/liquidphasechangematerialsappliedforsaturatedsteamaretobeinvestigated.
If the HTF is gas,veryhightemperatureapplicationsarefeasible.Thechallengesarehowtodesigneffectiveheattransfersystemsandtofindsuitablestoragematerials.
Ingeneral,improvedstrategiesforcharginganddischargingthermalheatarenecessarytomaximisestoragecapacity.Conceptsforthermo-chemicalenergystoragesystemsarealsotobeinvestigated.
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PARABOLIC DISHESResearch topics to be investigated to reach objective 1 for parabolic dishes
GASTURBINES-Hybridisationwithnaturalgasorbiogas
-CombinationofdishturbinewithCAESsystems
RECEIVERS-Refluxreceiversagainstthelowerthermalinertia
SYSTEMCOMPONENTS-Synergieswithcarmanufacturingindustry-Improvedtrackingsystem
DISPATCHABILITY-Electromechanicalandthermalstorage-Alternativeenergysource(biomass)inthereceiver
STIRLINGENGINE-KinematicengineoLesscomponentfailuresoLessH2leakageoMassproduction-FreepistonengineoBettercontrolanddesignoflinear
generator
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HTF VERSUS TECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
Improve forecasting:Goodforecastsareessentialforreliableestimatesofthecostsofaplantinagivensite.Manysolutionscanbeenvisioned,suchaselaboratingaveryshorttermforecastforvariableskyconditions,developinganelectricityforecastingsystemsoftwaretoregulateandmanageelectricityproduction,improvinggroundbasedDNImeasure-ments,usingmeteorologicalsatelliteresults,andimprovingnumericalweatherpredictionmodelsforDNIforecasting,analysingitsinter-annualvariabilityandthetimeandspacecorrelationbetweensolarandwindenergysources.
Objective 3: Improve environmental profileHeat transfer fluidsareofconcernbecauseoftheirpotentialimpactontheenvironment:thepollutionfromsyntheticoilisoneofthemostworrying.Theenvironmentalandeconomicparametersofdifferentfluidshavebeenstudied.
Desalination isavery interestingapplicationofsolar thermalenergy.Despite thedrawbacks related to therequirementsforsiting,desalinationpresentssignificanttechnicalandeconomicadvantages.Thereareseveraltechnicalsolutions,suchasmulti-effectdistillation,reverseosmosis,humidification-dehumidificationprocessandmembranedistillation.Thedesalinationsystemcanalsobe thecoolerpartof theconventionalpowerblock.Thus,theoptimisationoftheintegratedorcombinedcoolingprocessneedstobeconsideredasaresearchtopic.
Conclusion:Thenumerousinvestigationsunderwayafterthecreationofresearchprojectsconsortiaatdifferentlevels(local,national, international)haveopenedthewayfor theSTEsector toachievegreat technological improvementsandlowergenerationcosts.Despitethepresentcircumstancesaffectingnationallegislativeframeworksandthechangingsupportschemes,manyeffortsarebeingmadeattheEuropeanleveltostabiliseandharmonisethemarketandtoachievecompetitiveness.
ThesetofKeyPerformanceIndicators(KPI)elaboratedbyESTELA’sScientificandTechnicalCommittee(ANNEXI)liststhemostimportantparameterstobetakenintoconsiderationfortheassessmentofthetechnologyimprove-mentsanddeterminestheprogresstobeachievedby2015andforthetimeframebetween2020and2025.Thelevelisedcostofelectricity(LCOE)isthemaincompetitivenessindicatorandtheestimatedimpactonthiscostfromdifferentexpectedimprovementsisreportedseveraltimesinthedocument,andinparticularinthetableswithineachchapter.
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Soil pollution
Water pollution
Air pollution
Toxicity to human presence
Cost
Freezing temperature
Cost of handlingequipment and system
Upper thermal limit8
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n Thermaloiln Na,K(MS)n Li,Na,K(MS)n Ca,Na,K(MS)n HitechMSwithnitriten CO2
n H2On Na,KMS+nanopn CO2+nanopn H2O+nanop