The problem or issue addressed by CSP ERANET is the need to bridge the gap between research and commercial deployment in the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology so it can play a key role in the European renewable electricity generation. The main countries and regions that can have a key role in this deployment have committed their economic resources resulting in CSP ERANET, and this has allowed the creation of synergies to finance strategic CSP research. The collaboration between CSP ERANET and the SET Plan, through its working group on CSP, has been necessary to define the CSP R&I topics to be prioritized for funding. Europe has witnessed a rapid growth of the renewable power deployed in the last decade; this implies an increase of renewables in the energy mix, but it is mainly due to intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar photovoltaic. CSP technologies, together with thermal energy storage systems, need to be integrated in the system to ensure stability and dispatchability.
CSP ERANET has addressed these matters by funding projects with high TRLs, close to commercial deployment; by involving in the consortium countries from all around Europe and Associated Countries, covering industrial leaders in the technology and countries with good conditions for deployment and testing facilities, allowing them to work together to achieve the best results possible; and financing research in advanced thermal energy storage (TES) systems, as 40% of the projects funded in the co-fund call were in this topic.
There are several reasons why CSP ERANET and its funding opportunities for research projects is relevant for society: this technology generates renewable electricity, reducing the use of fossil fuels; it produces very little greenhouse gas emissions, helping mitigate climate change; it enhances energy security and stability thanks to the use of thermal energy storage; and the CSP industry creates jobs, from research to construction and operation.
The overall objectives set by CSP ERANET were:
To pool 15 million euros of public funds from Member States, Associated Countries and regions, allowing the creation of big-scale funding synergies to bridge the gap in CSP technology. The funding objective was reached by CSP ERANET but, despite there were over 15 million euros available considering both calls launched, it wasn’t all granted.
To coordinate the R&I activity by blending financial resources from the countries, the European Commission and the private sector, and mainstreaming them to the priorities defined by the SET Plan. Indeed, the priorities in CSP technology topics that were addressed in the calls, were based on the research priorities identified in the SET Plan, the consultation process was repeated before the co-fund call and again before the additional call, remaining the priorities the same.
To establish a long-lasting joint programme to finance strategic R&I projects in CSP, contributing to the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA). The long-lasting collaboration started before CSP ERANET, with the previous SOLAR ERANETs, and continued after with the Clean Energy Transition Partnerships (CETP). There were also collaborations with other EU-funded initiatives and European CSP stakeholders.
To mobilize over 29 million euros for investment in CSP projects, involving key institutions in 8 countries, and covering 8 topics. All the countries, except for three in the additional call, and all the topics were covered, but the total amount mobilized was below expectations, reaching 19,5 million euros.
In summary, CSP ERANET has supported and funded 10 research projects that have contributed, in different areas, to reach the targets established in the SET Plan: reducing the costs of CSP technologies, increasing the efficiency of the systems and advancing towards a more secure, sustainable and independent energy system.
