Solar thermal power generation system structure diagram

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.

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 to choose a solar thermal power plant?

Solar thermal power plants for electricity production include, at least, two main systems: the solar field and the power block. Regarding this last one, the particular thermodynamic cycle layout and the working fluid employed, have a decisive influence in the plant performance. In turn, this selection depends on the solar technology employed.

How does a solar power plant work?

The solar energy heats the salt, which melts at 250 °C, to temperatures of up to 560 °C. As soon as electricity needs to be generated, the storage tank supplies a steam generator with thermal energy. The steam generated then drives a conventional steam turbine process. Storage and power plant section of the Andasol 3 parabolic trough power plant.

How much electricity does a solar thermal power plant generate?

As a reference, NREL estimates that the value of electricity from a utility scale solar thermal is 2.57 times that of electricity from a solar photovoltaic plant given a 40% Renewable Portfolio Standard .

How can a solar thermal power plant withstand a high temperature?

Together with industrial partners, we transfer innovations from the laboratory to large-scale applications. New heat transfer and storage media can withstand temperatures of 600 °C, higher than has previously been possible in solar thermal power plants. This increases the efi-ciency of converting solar radiation into heat and then into electricity.