National Solar Thermal Energy Storage Production Plant

What is a solar thermal power plant?

Solar thermal power plants usually have a large field, or array, of collectors that supply heat to a turbine and generator. Several solar thermal power facilities in the United States have two or more solar power plants with separate arrays and generators.

What is thermal energy storage?

Thermal energy storage (TES) refers to heat that is stored for later use—either to generate electricity on demand or for use in industrial processes. Power cycles are used in CSP thermal energy plants to convert heat into electricity using sunlight to generate the heat to power a turbine.

Could a concentrating solar-thermal power plant provide one gigawatt of storage?

This demonstration is the culmination of a $100 million research effort to develop next-generation concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) plants and showcase storage technology that could provide one gigawatt of storage for one hour at a single plant.

Could a new solar-thermal processing plant reduce CSP costs?

SETO awardee, Hyperlight Energy, to launch a new solar-thermal processing plant at a Saputo Cheese production facility in California. A new metal composite for heat exchangers could improve energy conversion and cut costs in CSP plants.

What is a concentrating solar-thermal pilot facility?

Pilot demonstrates high-temperature technology that can be used for energy storage, power production, industrial process heat, and fuel production WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) celebrated the groundbreaking of its Generation 3 concentrating solar-thermal pilot facility at Sandia National Laboratories.

How are power cycles used in CSP thermal energy plants?

Power cycles are used in CSP thermal energy plants to convert heat into electricity using sunlight to generate the heat to power a turbine. Collectors reflect and concentrate sunlight and redirect it to a receiver, where it is converted to heat and then used to generate electricity.