SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY · STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025 STELA is an association created by...

European Solar ThermalElectricity Association

december

2012

SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY

STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025


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

[email protected]

www.estelasolar.eu

Printed on Satimat green, silk coated paper, FSC® certified, produced from 60% FSC® certified

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


SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY


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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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


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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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


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

SOLAr THermAL eLecTrIcITY · STrATegIc reSeArcH AgendA 2020-2025 STELA is an association created by...

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