Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
Utility-Scale Energy Storage
08 February 2012POSTED IN Applications Features
Energy storage is becoming an important aspect of our grid system as renewable energy sources replace more conventional, consistent, carbon-heavy power. Utilities can operate most efficiently from both an energy and financial standpoint, by following the demand curve as closely as possible. When intermittent electricity sources like solar make up more of the power supply mix, utility operators have less control over how much power is produced. This is one of the largest hurdles to increasing renewable grid penetration and it causes utility managers to have to constantly be prepared for dips in renewable output.
First Parabolic Trough Power Plant with DSG on Grid in Southeast Asia
03 February 2012POSTED IN Research
The first solar thermal power plant in Southeast Asia went on the grid last month. The five-megawatts plant is also the first parabolic trough power plant with direct steam generation (DSG) and superheating worldwide. Researchers from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) advised on the plant design, applying results of a lengthy research program on using DSG in parabolic trough collectors on a commercial scale.
Solar Power Generation USA Announces Award Recipients
02 February 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Solar Power Generation USA today announced the winners of its Solar Power Generation Awards at its conference in Las Vegas. The 2012 winners in the four categories are First Solar for PV Project of the Year, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System for CSP Project of the Year, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative for Solar Utility of the Year, and Soitec for CPV Breakthrough Achievement of the Year. These awards, chosen by the industry, recognize achievements in the field of utility scale solar power generation in the US.
AREVA Solar and Tucson Electric Power Partner on CSP Project
31 January 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) today announced it’s partnering with AREVA Solar on a concentrated solar power (CSP) addition to TEP's H. Wilson Sundt Generating Station in Tucson.
2012 Solar Power Generation USA Conference This Week
28 January 2012POSTED IN Business News
On the heels of a visit from President Barack Obama, the City of Las Vegas will host the 2012 Solar Power Generation USA (SPG) this week on 31 January-2 February 2012 at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Israel's AORA Solar Opens CSP Plant in Spain
27 January 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Israel’s AORA Solar will inaugurate its second power station in southern Spain on 7 February. The thermodynamic solar plant in Almeria, on the Mediterranean coast, is expected to produce 100 Kilowatt (KW) of electricity per hour for 80 homes, and 170KW per hour of heat energy as a byproduct, which will be used to power an adjacent desalination facility.
US DOE Announces University Solar Research Opportunities
20 January 2012POSTED IN Applications News
As part of the US Department of Energy's (DOE) SunShot Initiative, Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced DOE will provide up to US $10 million to advance research in solar energy.
Solar Power Generation USA: Which technology will win?
19 January 2012POSTED IN Applications News
As the amount of utility-scale solar power continues to increase across the United States, representatives from the country’s major utilities will meet at Solar Power Generation USA to assess the benefits, limitations, and future of different solar technologies.
GeoModel Solar Launches Online Tools for Site Prospecting and PV Yield Assessment
17 January 2012POSTED IN New Products
GeoModel Solar, an international provider of solar resource data, photovoltaic (PV) simulation tools and consultants, launched a new generation of solar software, iMaps and pvPlanner, delivering new industry standards at the World Future Energy Summit on 16-19 January 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
MIT’s Sunflower-Inspired Solar Panel Pattern Increases CSP Plant Efficiency
17 January 2012POSTED IN Research
Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants require ample supply of land and sunlight. Now researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, optimized the use of both by mimicking the spiral pattern of the face of a sunflower in laying out the big concentric mirrors—or heliostats—that reflect sunlight to the top of a power tower.
Solar Power Generation USA to Discuss US Role in Global Market
10 January 2012POSTED IN Business News
Solar Power Generation USA, a conference on large-scale utility solar, today announced that domestic utilities, investors and project developers across the industry will meet in Las Vegas, 31 January through 2 February, to share forecasts and insights and to discuss the steps required for the US to lead the global solar market.
Solar Power Generation USA Announces Lineup
20 December 2011POSTED IN Business News
Solar Power Generation USA, a conference on large-scale solar power generation in the US, announced its 2012 lineup of industry-leading speakers, focused streams covering the most critical topics to the industry, and a new emphasis on facilitating networking among attendees.
South Africa Solar Projects Awarded to Consortium of SolarReserve, Kensani and Intikon
09 December 2011POSTED IN Business News
The joint venture of SolarReserve, a US developer of utility-scale solar power projects, the Kensani Group, an experienced empowered infrastructure player in the Southern African market, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, today announced that the South Africa Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the consortium preferred bidder status for their two 75 megawatts (MW-DC) Letsatsi and Lesedi solar photovoltaic (PV) projects.
Abengoa Awarded Two CSP projects by South Africa's Department of Energy
08 December 2011POSTED IN Business News
Abengoa has been awarded two concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in the Republic of South Africa by that nation's Department of Energy: Khi Solar One and KaXu Solar One.
CPV Technology Demonstrated by Southwest Solar Technologies
08 December 2011POSTED IN Applications News
Southwest Solar Technologies Inc. announced today the successful on-sun testing and proof of concept of an innovative concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) solar power technology. The CPV technology leverages other core competencies of the Company and will be a new addition to its product portfolio.
On-Site: Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Power Plant of Kuraymat
29 November 2011POSTED IN Applications Features
Located some 90 kilometers south of Cairo and in reaching distance of the water sources of the River Nile, the integrated solar combined cycle power plant of Kuraymat is a first example of large-scale use of solar energy in Egypt.
World Bank Helps Fund Solar Plant in Morocco
25 November 2011POSTED IN Business News
The World Bank has approved loans of $297 million for a solar plant in Morocco.
SkyFuel's New ReflecTechPlus Unveiled
22 November 2011POSTED IN New Products
SkyFuel, Inc., maker of high-reflectance silvered film for concentrating solar applications and manufacturer of the SkyTrough parabolic trough concentrating solar collector, today announced the release of its next generation ReflecTechPlus mirror film.
Concentrated Solar Power Market Volatility Through 2020
18 November 2011POSTED IN Business News
A new report from Pike Research forecasts that the global CSP market will continue to experience ups and downs between now and 2020, rising dramatically from $2.1 billion in 2012 to $5.1 billion in 2013, and then experiencing a gradual decline to $2.0 billion by 2016 before resuming gradual growth again to $4.9 billion by 2020.
Solar Summit Freiburg: Solar thermal and energy storage
17 November 2011POSTED IN Editors Blogs
The second day at this year’s Solar Summit in Freiburg was dedicated to trends in solar thermal and energy storage. In the session about solar thermal energy for processes and power generation, Prof. Dr. Robert Pitz-Paal from the German Aerospace Center gave an overview about the trends in CSP and expected a cost reduction potential for the technology of around 50% in the coming 10-15 years based on the current level of about 18 €cents/kwh.
