Solar thermal power generation project monitoring

Why are solar thermal power plants important?

Since solar thermal power plants can feed their electricity into the power grid even after sunset, they are of particular value for an energy system based on renewable energy sources. Solar thermal power plants are of strategic importance in sunny countries to be able to phase out coal and gas power plants in the future.

How will solar thermal power plants affect the future electricity mix?

The rapid expansion of the capacities of solar thermal power plants and the grid services available as a result will enable growing proportions of photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy in the future electricity mix. Andasol 3 solar thermal power plant in the province of Granada, Spain. Image: Marquesado Solar 1.

Can solar thermal power plants be used in sunny countries?

In energy systems in sunny countries that rely on renewable energy sources, solar thermal instead of fossil fuel power plants will be able to supply cost-effective base-load and peak-load electricity at low cost and stabilise the power grids.

Can solar thermal energy be a reliable component of industrial process heat supply?

An IEA working group, in which German research insti-tutions and industrial partners are playing a significant role, is addressing these challenges with the aim of making solar thermal energy a recognised and reliable component of indus-trial process heat supply (IEA 2020: Task 64).

What is a solar thermal power plant?

Since steam turbines can only be operated economically above a certain minimum size, today’s solar thermal power plants have rated outputs in the range of 50 to 200 megawatts. The main difference to a conventional steam power plant is the solar field, which supplies the heat for the steam generator.

How do solar thermal power plants work?

Solar thermal power plants therefore rely on the storage of the intermediate product heat and not the end product electricity. Electricity is generated by means of a steam turbine cycle, which is oper-ated according to demand and is supplied from the thermal storage system.