Part of the sun’s heat can be collected in heat storage tanks during the day and then run through steam circuits at night or specifically during peak hours, depending on the demand. With this technology, renewable and controlled energy can be provided according to the demand of the electricity grid.
 

 

Klaus Bernhard Hofmann: There are no ratios definied in this phase of DII. But current plans call for CSP to play a major role for Desertec. Concentrating solar power is the most economical way to generate solar power and has the longest track record of large-scale commercial renewable electricity generation in deserts. For over twenty years, the first parabolic trough power plants in the Californian Mojave Desert have been reliably supplying over 300 MW of dispatchable peak power. Parabolic troughs are today the most common and most mature solar concentration technology.

Manfred Engelhard: There is no fixed ratio defined. Morocco, for example, has good potential for an energy mix including wind, in other MENA countries this will mainly be CSP and PV as well from a view of fluctuating power delivery out of wind.

 

 

Klaus Bernhard Hofmann: The current focus lies on CSP and wind, but we are open to other renewable technologies.

 

Manfred Engelhard: Yes, CPV offers high conversion rates from sun radiation to electricity. Depending on the cost of installation (2 axis tracking required) and operation, CPV will find its share in the future. The first start-up companies are established with interesting tracking solutions.

 

 

Klaus Bernhard Hofmann: Energy security is a main focus of the Desertec project. Technological and political risk will be mitigated by a) installing numerous CSP power plants, b) in numerous North African countries, c) transmitting the power via at least three main lines to Europe d) creating a smart grid balancing unstable power loads.

 

Manfred Engelhard: Wind, PV and CSP power plants are able to produce power with quite high availability figures. By using High- Voltage Direct Current transmission lines (HVDC), it is possible to transfer power with losses of no more than 3 percent per 1,000 km. High Voltage DC transfer is a proven technology, so that a wide network of desert power installations can be a reliable source.   

To find out more: Part I: General Questions

 

 

Useful links:

 

 

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to ask some questions in addition to the Desertec meeting.
My question for the technical aspect, is:

 

How will the CSP-plants be cooled? The Andasol plants need 800.000 m³/year cooling water

Is the option for dry cooling operation of CSP-plants considered in the financial budget? Does this cooling option, with its higher investment and lower plant efficiency, still ensure a future cheap electricity price?

 

— Michael NOLL, Freudenberg Dichtungs- und Schwingungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

 

 

Response from Manfred Engelhard:

Not everywhere like in Andasol we have water available for cooling. In case of water shortage, a general possibility is a dry cooling facility for the power plant, which uses surrounding air as cooling media. Dry cooling will slightly decrease the efficiency of the power block in comparison to wet cooling.

Dry cooling will most probably be the option as the cooling solution for areas where water is too precious to use it for cooling. Financial
models will respect invest cost, parasitic loss and maintenance cost of dry coolers.

Since the overall efficiency of solar thermal power plants are furthermore developed at the moment, electricity price will be still in the range. Higher temperatures on heat transfer media will be one development goal that can be reached soon and can contribute to higher plant efficiencies.

 

 

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