In the heart of Spain’s Escombreras Valley, a sun-drenched region with over 300 sunny days a year, a groundbreaking study is illuminating the path for industrial decarbonization. Maycon Figueira Magalhães, a researcher at CIRCE—Technoloy Centre in Zaragoza, Spain, has developed a novel framework for selecting and optimizing Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies, tailored specifically for industrial applications. This work, published in Energies, could significantly impact how industries approach renewable energy, offering a blueprint for scalable and efficient decarbonization.
Concentrated Solar Power, unlike its photovoltaic counterparts, provides both electricity and high-temperature process heat, making it an attractive option for industries aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. The European Union’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 has spurred significant interest in CSP, particularly in Southern European countries with high levels of Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI). Magalhães’ study focuses on the Escombreras Valley, an ideal candidate for CSP deployment with an annual DNI of approximately 2000 kWh/m2.
The research evaluates four candidate CSP technologies: Parabolic Trough Collectors (PTCs), Linear Fresnel Reflectors (LFRs), Parabolic Dish Collectors (PDCs), and Solar Power Towers (SPTs). Through a multi-phase approach integrating a decision matrix, performance simulations using SOLARPILOT and SAM, and techno-economic evaluation, Magalhães identified SPTs as the most suitable technology for the region.
“Solar towers emerged as the optimal solution, demonstrating superior performance based on technical, environmental, and economic criteria,” Magalhães explained. The study revealed that the characteristics of the deployment area can lead to over 3.2% difference in annual energy generation, highlighting the importance of site-specific analysis.
One of the key findings of the study is the optimal thermal energy storage duration. Magalhães’ team identified 11 hours as the sweet spot, achieving a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 24–25 cents/kWh and a capacity factor of 31–32%. This balance of energy dispatchability and cost efficiency is crucial for industrial applications, where consistent and reliable energy supply is paramount.
The study also delved into the characteristics of energy storage materials, comparing commercially available materials with an innovative molten salt named FERT-1. While conventional solar salt remains a strong baseline, FERT-1 demonstrated a 10% increase in heat capacity and a broader thermal stability range, offering enhanced thermal efficiency and operational flexibility.
The implications of this research are vast. As industries worldwide grapple with the challenges of decarbonization, Magalhães’ framework provides a robust, data-driven approach to identify the most suitable CSP configurations. The study’s findings could shape future developments in the field, paving the way for broader adoption of CSP technologies in industrial applications.
Moreover, the methodology’s flexibility and accessibility, using open-source tools, make it highly applicable to a wide range of industrial energy scenarios. This could lead to a significant shift in how industries approach renewable energy, driving innovation and investment in CSP technologies.
As the energy sector continues to evolve, studies like Magalhães’ are crucial in bridging the gap between technological advancements and real-world implementation. The research, published in Energies, offers a compelling case for the potential of CSP in industrial decarbonization, setting the stage for a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.
