PROGRESS BEYOND THE STATE OF THE ART:
The development and application of solar combined cycles allows to boost conversion efficiencies of solar thermal power plants. The CAPTure concept, represents here clearly a huge breakthrough
regarding state-of-the-art technology. Solar-to-electric peak efficiencies of up to 30% are possible, and this in dispatchable form due to the high-temperature thermal energy storage system – CAPTure’s dispatchable solar combined cycles. Unfortunately, at this point in time, the proposed power plant layout is not profitable for large-scale, high-capacity deployment; however, it will be very beneficial for a range of uses. The developed components are highly valuable for several applications. In particular, the solar receiver and regenerative system can be used for high-efficiency solar-heat integration in several processes. The regenerative system can work as a means of high-temperature thermal-energy storage, cost-effective heat exchanger between atmospheric and pressurised air circuits. It can also be used as a chemical reactor for either thermochemical energy storage with high-energy density or other types of high-temperature reactors.
IMPACT:
- Replicability: The CAPTure consortium includes two companies with expertise in high temperature materials (both ceramic and metallic), companies with expertise in receivers and turbo-compressor development, companies with expertise in high volume manufacturing (especially in drive systems), companies specialized in flow control solutions at different temperatures and finally reference Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) partners and promoters like EDF and FLAG ensuring strong industrial links with major European players and easily deployable technologies for quick market transfer.
- Socio-economics: The CAPTure project strengthens the European industrial technology base since key and more costly components (not only main heliostat components like drives, but also receivers, turbines, high temperature valves, etc.) of the system will be produced in Europe, implying a quite important demand of different employee skills, representing an intense integration of European enterprises and thereby contributing to creating growth and jobs in Europe.
- Environment: The CAPTure project will allow reducing the total amount of water consumed. On one hand due to the implementation of a combined cycle which demands less water per kWh produced, and on the other hand, because of increased efficiency which leads to an equivalent solar field size reduction for a given power and hence the need of water for cleaning can be reduced.
- Market Transformation: One of the key aspects of CSP tower power plants is the integration of thermal energy storage systems which make them a much more reliable and predictable source of electricity compared to other renewable energy sources. Utilizing stored thermal energy to operate a conventional synchronous generator, CSP plants with thermal energy storage can support power and provide ancillary services including voltage support, frequency response, regulation and spinning reserves, and ramping reserves – services that would otherwise be provided, at least in part, by conventional fossil-fuel generation.
- Policy: Concentrated solar power with its key advantage of thermal energy storage and/or hybridisation in combination with an abundant availability of solar energy, forms the obvious solution for providing clean, renewable, 100% safe and dispatchable electricity all at once. Hence, developing highly efficient and thus cost competitive solar thermal power plants is one of Europe’s strategic goals. The central receiver technology addressed in CAPTure is highly suitable for Europe’s “sun belt” (e.g. Spain, Italy and Greece) with the potential of providing a considerable amount of renewable and clean electric energy in the near future.
