Rediscovering Concentrated Solar Power: story from China

Recently some media, such as Energyskeptic, falsely accused CSP technology of being unreliable, full of glitches and having a low energy return. Their opinion refers to certain early development faults of the technology, mainly based on the US experience, where new CSP stations have not been built since 2015. Indeed, all power production technologies have …

Published at Chemical Engineering – Calcium-based composites directly irradiated by solar spectrum for thermochemical energy storage

Abstract The optical absorptance of calcium-based composites used in direct solar-driven calcium-looping thermochemical energy storage systems should be improved. Experimental data obtained by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) cannot adequately describe the realistic performance of such calcium-based composites. In this work, calcium-based composites filled in a fixed bed reactor were directly irradiated by concentrated sunlight to examine …

Saudi CSP giant ACWA Power now shelving coal power

ACWA Power’s Bokpoort Trough CSP plant in South Africa with SENER trough®-parabolic-trough-collector-technology-®SENER [ED: ACWA Power’s CSP projects, developed in whole or in part include Bokpoort and Redstone in South Africa, parts of DEWA in Dubai and NOOR I,II and III in Morocco. It has consistently broken current CSP prices with new record low prices, and …

How Turbulent Winds Can Increase Efficiency in Concentrated Solar Power

Most people have seen solar photovoltaic panels mounted on rooftops or lined up across sunny fields, but fewer people are as familiar with concentrating solar power (CSP). This form of solar power uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver filled with fluid. The sunlight heats the fluid, producing energy, which can be used to generate …

The Economics of Concentrated Solar Panel Efficiency: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

The economics of concentrated solar panel efficiency has been a topic of great interest in recent years, as the world seeks to transition to more sustainable and renewable energy sources. The cost-benefit analysis of this technology is essential in determining its viability and potential for widespread adoption. As the global community continues to grapple with …

China’s solar increased 33.7% in the 1st quarter of 2023, while coal increased 1.8%

China’s solar increased by 33.7 % in the first quarter, while coal power increased at 1.8%. Solar now has a cumulative 430 GW of solar online, almost half of China’s cumulative total of coal power plants; 1,130 GW. The latest quarterly report by the China Electricity Council titled Operational Situation of Electric Power Industry from …

NREL Postdocs Study Turbulent Winds To Boost Concentrated Solar Power Efficiency

Most people have seen solar photovoltaic panels mounted on rooftops or lined up across sunny fields, but fewer people are as familiar with concentrating solar power (CSP). This form of solar power uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver filled with fluid. The sunlight heats the fluid, producing energy, which can be used to …