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A small pipe extending along the central focal point of the parabolic trough is the solar reciever in Trough CSP Researchers have developed a completely different way for Trough CSP to collect solar energy. Normally, in this form of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), long lines of huge ‘trough’-shaped parabolic mirrors move slowly all day as …
Continue reading “How rotating the solar receiver could cut Trough CSP land use”
Artificial Intelligence & Digital Twins for Concentrated Solar Power (EU SUN‑DT Project) About the project SUN‑DT (“Smart Use of Novel Digital Tools for advanced performance and reduced costs in CSP tower plants”) is a three‑year Horizon Europe initiative coordinated by The National Renewable Energy Center of Spain (CENER). The consortium is composed of the most …
Continue reading “CENER seeks RESEARCH ENGINEER / PHD CANDIDATE SUN-DT PROJECT”
Abstract The production of alternative renewable fuels is imperative for decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors. Dimethyl ether (DME) is an aerosol propellant and a low-emission candidate for fossil fuel substitution. The main conventional DME production process is the indirect dehydration of methanol produced from fossil natural gas. This work analyses the direct use of green methanol for …
Synhelion delivers first solar aviation fuel to SWISS Source: Press Release SWISS becomes world’s first airline to integrate Synhelion solar fuel into its flight operations Zurich, July 24, 2025 SWISS has become the first airline in the world to integrate the solar fuel manufactured by Swiss-based clean-tech pioneer Synhelion into its flight operations. The action …
Continue reading “Synhelion has now delivered its first solar aviation fuel to SWISS”
Abstract This research, developed in the framework of the SCARABEUS project, studies the off-design performance of transcritical power cycles running on C2-S2 mixtures in Concentrated Solar Power applications. The objective of this work is to identify optimum operational strategies that maximize net energy production when exposed to variable ambient temperature, with special focus on the …
Abstract This paper proposes and builds the first megawatt thermal (MWth) class particle/supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) fluidized bed heat exchanger system for next generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. In this CSP plant, particles were chosen as the heat absorbing medium for solar collectors, and transfered heat to sCO2 through the heat exchanger, and then …
Abstract This paper aims to present a numerical study that aims to enhance the thermal efficiency of externally finned solar absorber tubes for use in the solar parabolic trough collector (SPTC). Compared to the internal finned tube, the external finned radiation absorber tube boasts an improved geometry and a simple and straightforward manufacturing process. This …
Abstract: This paper concerns solar-to-thermal energy conversion processes in an open cavity volumetric receiver for a 50-MWth integrated beam-down receiver-storage concentrating solar thermal system. A multiphysical model was developed in a COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 environment. The model was validated against experimental and modelling data from the literature. The model incorporates specific solar irradiation profiles tailored …
Star receiver compared to cylindrical receiver. IMAGE © Enhancing solar tower competitiveness with star-shaped receivers. In a comprehensive new study published in Applied Energy, researchers at Politecnico di Milano and Queensland University of Technology find that a new streamlined version of a star-shaped solar receiver can collect more thermal energy and last significantly longer than today’s …
Continue reading “New star-shaped solar receiver cuts costs and prolongs tower CSP life”
The first 350MW triple tower CSP approved 2025 PowerChina Northwest / Energy China Northwest have won bidding to design two 350MW CSP projects One of two 350 MW triple solar field CSP projects in China This pair of 350MW CSP projects marks the beginning of the third generation of CSP technology in China. Each features …
Continue reading “Two 350MW pilot projects mark start of China’s Gen-3 CSP”