If CSP technology is to realise large-scale deployment, it must represent a value to the commercial market that is, at the very least, equal to its competitors. This will require a quantum drop in cost, similar to that achieved by photovoltaics in recent years.
The project will bring together the most efficient power cycles operating in the 600-800°C range with a high precision, low cost solar collector with the aim to provide the lowest cost solar electricity in the world. This temperature range is also suitable for thermal storage to ensure dispatchability. It will link with CSIRO projects funded by ASI in supercritical CO2 cycles. The key in this project will be to understand the full life-cycle cost of heliostats, and an improved understanding of receiver performance in this particular temperature range. Based on these inputs, a detailed model will be developed to assess the preferred heliostat layout and receiver geometry.
This project will focus on optimising the interaction between heliostats and high flux receivers through practical knowledge of real-world heliostat and receiver performance, and costs.
The intention is for a fully integrated system to realise the greatest benefits, though improvements in these areas will also benefit other CSP technologies such as solar fuels.
With the results of this investigation the project team will drive new research into the next generation of ultra low-cost heliostats, providing direction for the required size, cost and performance of any such new technologies.
By deliberately targeting the defined set of operating conditions for CSP technologies that are most likely to reach the SunShot Initiative cost target, the outcomes of this project will assist in the future development of, potentially one of the lowest-cost forms of zero greenhouse gas emission energy.
This project will benefit greatly from its partners, which include the two key US labs involved in CSP research – Sandia and NREL; and also from the local input of Graphite Energy.
Fact Sheet: Optimisation of central receivers for advanced power cycles (PDF 782KB)