What is solar thermal power plant?

The solar thermal power plant is one of the promising renewable energy options to substitute the increasing demand of conventional energy. The cost per kW of solar power is higher and the overall efficiency of the system is lower.

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.

Are solar thermal power plants efficient?

The cost per kW of solar power is higher and the overall efficiency of the system is lower. In the present communication, a comprehensive literature review on the scenario of solar thermal power plants and its up-to-date technologies all over the world is presented.

How will solar thermal power plants affect the future electricity mix?

The rapid expansion of the capacities of solar thermal power plants and the grid services available as a result will enable growing proportions of photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy in the future electricity mix. Andasol 3 solar thermal power plant in the province of Granada, Spain. Image: Marquesado Solar 1.

Do solar thermal power plants come out of the experimental stage?

It is observed that the solar thermal power plants have come out of the experimental stage to commercial applications. Case studies of typical 50 MW solar thermal power plants in the Indian climatic conditions at locations such as Jodhpur and Delhi is highlighted with the help of techno-economic model.

Are medium and high temperature solar thermal power plants viable?

From the above reported findings, the technical viability and reliability of the medium and high temperature solar thermal power plants is proved. Another most important issue for commercialization of the technologies is the system cost. Reported installation costs of PDCSSPP are very high, i.e., approximately $10,000 per kW.