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Advanced materials solutions for next generation high efficiency concentrated solar power (CSP) tower systems

Project description

Shining a light on solar power system efficiency

Solar power is a crucial renewable energy source in the fight against climate change. It not only provides a commercially viable solution for energy but also ensures environmental safety. These benefits are of great importance, despite the current limited use of solar power. However, despite its significance, further innovation and novel ideas are necessary to advance solar energy technologies. In this context, the EU-funded NEXTOWER project aims to develop and introduce various novel materials. These materials have the potential to enhance efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and increase the overall energy output of air-based concentrated solar power systems. The project takes an innovative approach by using conceptual and manufacturing processes to create materials that improve the efficiency of central receivers and thermal storage, which are crucial components in solar power systems.

Objective

NEXTOWER shall introduce a set of innovative materials to boost the performance of atmospheric air-based concentrated solar power (CSP) systems to make them commercially viable. In particular, tower systems are appealing for the great environmental compatibility and offer tremendous potential for efficient (electrical and thermal) power generation. Yet, their industrial exploitation has been so far hindered by limitations in the materials used both for the central receiver - the core component - and for thermal storage. Such limitations dictate maximum working temperature and in-service overall durability (mainly driven by failure from thermal cycling and thermal shocks). Improving the efficiency of a tower system entails necessarily improving the central receiver upstream and possibly re-engineering the whole systems downstream to work longer and at much higher temperature, especially in the thermal storage compartment.

NEXTOWER will address this need by taking a comprehensive conceptual and manufacturing approach that will optimize bulk and joining materials for durability at the component level to achieve 25 years of maintenance-free continued service of the receiver and maximum thermodynamic efficiency at the system level. This is made possible through a unique combination of excellence in materials design and manufacturing, CSP full-scale testing facilities brought together in the Consortium, supporting the making of a full-size demo modules SOLEAD (tested in Spain and Italy) within the project. The successful achievement of a new generation of materials allowing for virtually maintenance free operations (limited to ceraminc parts) and increased working temperature shall result in the next-generation of air-coolant CSP highly competitive over other CSP alternatives and sustainable power supply options.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-NMBP-2016-2017

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Coordinator

AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 732 250,00
Address
LUNGOTEVERE GRANDE AMMIRAGLIO THAON DI REVEL 76
00196 ROMA
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 732 250,00

Participants (23)

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