Technologies

A variety of concentration technologies are used to provide solar heat, offering a range of options depending on requirements. Concentrating solar thermal energy can also be easily combined with other renewable energies and can thus supply industrial processes and heating networks in a sustainable and resilient manner.

Collector types and possible applications

Various technologies are available for generating solar thermal heat with concentrating collectors. Linear concentrating collectors such as parabolic troughs are well suited for use in industrial processes up to 400 °C and heating networks. Higher temperatures, such as those required in metal processing, can be provided by solar towers.

Parabolic troughs in combination with other technologies

Solar thermal energy converts direct sunlight into heat and is therefore subject to seasonal and hourly fluctuations that can vary depending on the position of the sun and the weather.

Operating Principle of Thermal Energy Storage Systems

With the increasing expansion of renewable energy, thermal heat storage systems are becoming increasingly important. They help to balance out fluctuations in energy generation and make renewable heat more usable.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Lüpfert

Head of Concentrating Solar Technologies Department

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Institute of Solar Research

Linder Höhe, 51147 Köln-Porz

Germany

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