The Solar Thermal Energy Research Group (STERG) at Stellenbosch University has received international recognition for their research excellence and standing within the concentrating solar power (CSP) community. STERG has as a consortium member been selected to receive a $2,0 million award from the United States of America (U.S.) Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office …
China Silk Road fund buys into $4bn Dubai CSP plant; South Africa’s Eskom shelves 100 MW project
China Silk Road fund to acquire 24% of giant 700 MW Dubai project China’s Silk Road fund is to acquire 24% of ACWA Power’s 700 MW DEWA CSP plant in Dubai, the developer announced July 22. The Silk Road fund invests in a range of sectors under China’s Belt and Road initiative, which expands China’s …
US high-temperature CSP developers eye commercial exports in 2020s
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Gen3 CSP program, launched in May, will see Brayton Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia Laboratories compete for a $25 million grant to build an integrated high-temperature system demonstrator. The three companies will develop and test their cost-effective CSP plus storage designs which heat transfer fluids (HTFs) …
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Saudi Arabia, South Africa to co-invest in CSP; Acciona, Abengoa restart Chile plant build
Saudi Arabia, South Africa agree to co-invest in CSP Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and the Central Energy Fund of South Africa have agreed to co-invest in renewable energy projects in South Africa, starting with the 100 MW Redstone CSP plant. Following the agreement, the construction of the Redstone plant will begin this year, ACWA Power …
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $53 Million in New Projects to Advance Concentrated Solar Power and PV Technologies
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced selections for up to $53 million in new projects to advance early-stage solar technologies. Through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, DOE will fund 53 innovative research projects that will lower solar electricity costs and support a growing solar workforce. Recipient DOE …
Can Spain Revive the CSP Industry it Killed?
Spain’s Gemasolar, the world’s first utility-scale tower CSP with storage for all night operation IMAGE@Wikipedia The time is right to consider what went wrong and what went right with Spain’s previous CSP policy – because an election in June put the renewable-friendly coalition that developed it back in power. Spain’s socialist-led coalition government jumpstarted virtually …
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Q&A on Chile’s CSP Lessons Learned: Carlos Arenas Coronil
Source: Center for Mediterranean Integration Lessons learned in Chile’s CSP program: A Word with Carlos Arenas Coronil, former Regional Secretary, Northern Chile Region CM. You have pushed for the development of concentrating solar power in Chile from the very beginning, why do you think CSP is a good choice for Chile? CA. I’ll give you …
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Sandstone CSP to offer storage below $90/MWh to California utilities
California’s SolarReserve is among a group of solar developers hoping to benefit from recent streamlining of permitting processes for U.S. federal lands. SolarReserve’s giant Sandstone CSP project would see up to 10 towers built in the Nevada desert, providing some 2 GW of renewable energy capacity across daytime and nighttime periods. The plant will feature …
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China to implement world’s first CSP tower design standards; South Africa build plan drops CSP focus
China to implement CSP tower design standards in December China is to implement in December the world’s first design standards for tower CSP plants, according to a stock-market announcement from China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC). The new technical standards will include the “latest design concepts, requirements and technical level” for solar tower plants and they …
Hybrid CSP-PV gains create openings for 24-hour solar supply
Last month, Spain’s Acciona and Abengoa resumed construction of the 110 MW Cerro Dominador CSP plant after receiving a notice to proceed (NTP) from project owners. The Cerro Dominador plant is a tower design with 17.5 hours of molten salt thermal storage capacity. Abengoa is acting as technology partner for the engineering and construction project. …
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