Thermal storage systems can enhance the dispatchability of power output from concentrated solar power plants and increase the plant
annual capacity factor.

This project aims to demonstrate the financial viability of high temperature thermal storage systems through:
• development of a world-class Australian test facility for developing solar thermal storage systems and technologies
• design and prototype testing of two thermal storage systems incorporating phase change materials (PCMs)

The facility will be available to solar thermal researchers in research institutions and industry around the world to test and demonstrate prototype high temperature storage systems. It will have a heat supply capacity of 50 kilowatts for storage temperatures from 150°C
to 900°C.

The project involves the design, construction and testing of two thermal storage systems that will incorporate new PCMs, which are being developed by the University of South Australia. Key benefits of the new PCMs:

• PCMs are able to store/release large amounts of latent energy at a set temperature.
• Compared to sensible heat storage such as molten salts or oil, PCMs enable large amounts of energy to be stored in relatively small volumes, resulting in some of the lowest storage media costs of any storage concepts.

The project also involves using techniques currently being investigated for enhancing the heat transfer rate within the PCM storage system to enable fast response of the storage system.

Fact Sheet: Development of high temperature phase change storage systems and a test facility (PDF 319KB)