Category: Recently Published CSP Papers in Journals

Abstract: Compact hybrid photovoltaic-concentrating solar thermal (PV-CST) systems have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance solar energy utilization by simultaneously delivering electricity and heat. Despite their potential, their assessment remains challenging due to the lack of consistent metrics capable of capturing the relative value of these distinct energy outputs. To address this gap, we …

Continue reading “Published at Applied Energy – The benefits of concentrating solar hybrid systems: A unified benchmarking framework”

Abstract: Decarbonising aviation, maritime transport, and heavy industry requires carbon-neutral liquid fuels producible at scale from renewable energy and atmospheric carbon dioxide without reliance on fossil resources. Although solar thermochemical redox cycles and direct air capture are individually promising for renewable fuel synthesis and atmospheric carbon removal, system-level performance consequences of different integration strategies within …

Continue reading “Published at Industrial Crops and Products – Integrated direct air capture and solar redox cycles for carbon-neutral methanol production”

Abstract: Accurate prediction of receiver thermal power in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants is crucial for maintaining efficient coordination between power plants and the grid, and for facilitating optimal energy storage and generation planning. However, existing solar prediction models often treat weather conditions as discrete categorical variables, assigning fixed weather types to each time period, …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – A clustering-based contrastive ensemble LSTM model for receiver thermal power prediction in CSP plants”

Abstract: Central tower Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is a renewable electricity generation method that uses heliostats to direct solar thermal radiation toward a central receiver. While it is considered a promising technology it still faces several challenges. One key issue is the implementation of a control strategy that can effectively manage the short-term variability …

Continue reading “Published at Energy Conversion and Management – Performance analysis of a predictive control strategy for a simulated central tower CSP plant using real-time solar radiation measurements”

Abstract: Flow-Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) is an emerging concern in high-temperature thermal systems employing molten solar salts (60 wt% NaNO3, 40 wt% KNO3). Despite their extensive use in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants, the behaviour of FAC in these media remains largely unexplored. This review provides the first integrated synthesis of hydrodynamic-driven corrosion in molten nitrate salts, …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – Short overview of flow-accelerated corrosion in CSP systems using molten nitrate salts: Mechanisms, challenges and outlook”

Abstract: This study evaluates the techno-economic performance of hybrid PV–CSP power plants using high-temperature particle receivers and compares them directly with molten salt-based alternatives, with all systems integrated into supercritical CO2 (sCO2) Brayton power blocks. A unified simulation and optimization framework is applied to quantify the cost and performance potential of particle-based CSP when combined …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – Techno-economic comparative analysis of hybrid PV-CSP systems: particle vs. molten salt based layouts integrated with sCO2 power blocks”

Abstract With the evolution of electricity market mechanisms and the increasing penetration of renewable energy, traditional empirical operation strategies for concentrating solar power (CSP) plants are becoming inadequate to meet the demands for system flexibility and economic efficiency. CSP-photovoltaic (PV) hybrid power plants have emerged as key support, effectively combining the regulatable thermal storage of …

Continue reading “Published at Energy onversion and Management – A data-driven stochastic model predictive control framework for optimal operation of CSP-PV hybrid system under grid coordination”

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) systems are renowned for low electricity generation costs, but their intermittent and non-dispatchable generation poses significant challenges to grid stability and curtailment. Concentrated solar power (CSP), equipped with thermal energy storage (TES), can provide firm, dispatchable power, but its wide deployment is constrained by high capital and operating costs. To address limitations …

Continue reading “Published at Journal of Energy Storage – Simulation and techno-economic optimization of a PV-CSP hybrid system with thermal energy storage under stability-oriented operation strategy”

Abstract: With the increasing application of Integrated Energy Systems (IES), more effective utilization of renewable energy and diversification of energy utilization forms have become urgent issues to address. IES faces challenges in the co-optimization of deep carbon reduction and multi-energy complementarity. This paper proposes a Carbon-Sequestration Geothermal-Integrated Solar Energy System (SGIES) that integrates Concentrated Solar …

Continue reading “Published at Applied Thermal Engineering – Optimal operation of an integrated energy system for a concentrated solar power plant based on a supercritical CO2 plume heat pump”

Abstract: Concentrated solar thermal (CST) systems based on solid particle receivers demand granular materials that combine mechanical resilience, stable flow behaviour, and favourable thermophysical properties at high operating temperatures. Although optical performance has received extensive attention in the recent literature, the mechanical attrition kinetics, flowability characteristics, and thermophysical property evolution of waste-derived particles remain insufficiently …

Continue reading “Published at Solar Energy – Development and durability assessment of recycled Waste-Derived particles for concentrated solar thermal applications”