Overall optimization of power plant technology
Solar thermal power plants (CSP) with integrated thermal storage units generate electricity as needed,decoupled from fluctuating solar radiation. To bridge longer periods of low radiation, the power plant can fire up fossil or regenerative fuels. In a future energy system that relies predominantly on renewable energy sources, base-load-capable solar thermal power plants can in sunny countries therefore make an important contribution to securing the power supply 24/7. With increasing electricity supplies from the volatile energy sources of wind and solar, solar thermal power plants will in the future relieve the electricity grids, as they can fill or discharge their storage facilities as needed.
Power Plant Hami in China. Picture: sbp GmbH & Dongfang Boiler Corporation
In the "CSP Reference Power Plant" project, researchers from the Institute of Solar Research, together with project participants from German industrial companies, have prepared a concept study for a solar tower power plant with molten salt. This type of power plant has the potential to replace in the future the modern power plants with parabolic trough technology and thermal oil as heat transfer fluid, which are currently considered the reference, as the reference power plant.
The main objective of the concept study is to define a CSP power plant that is superior to the state of the art from a technical, economic and ecological point of view, whose subsystems are offered by German manufacturers and for which financeability can be ensured despite the use of innovative technology. This is to be achieved through a holistic optimisation of the power plant technology. In addition, special emphasis is placed on plant technology that can be realised in the short term. A high level of acceptance and "demand" for such a system on the part of the power plant industry is expected, which will lead tothe realisation of many power plant projects of the same design.
The concept study provides a template for potential customers who want to tender CSP power plants. If they use the specifications of the reference power plant defined in this concept study as a template, it is guaranteed that technically sensible tenders will be issued, which can be competently offered by the project partners.
The full final report on the project is available here.
Plant scheme and responsibilities of the project partners
Example for the optimisation of combining heliostat field, solar receiver and tower hight
Projekt:
MAN Energy Solutions SE
sbp sonne GmbH
Steinmüller Engineering GmbH
Tractebel Engineering GmbH