Commerciality of solar thermal energy storage

Which thermal energy storage systems are used in solar power plants?

Thermal energy storage systems are key components of concentrating solar power plants in order to offer energy dispatchability to adapt the electricity power production to the curve demand. This paper presents a review of the current commercial thermal energy storage systems used in solar thermal power plants: steam accumulators and molten salts.

How does thermal energy storage work?

Thermal energy storage provides a workable solution to this challenge. In a concentrating solar power (CSP) system, the sun's rays are reflected onto a receiver, which creates heat that is used to generate electricity that can be used immediately or stored for later use.

What makes a solar thermal energy storage system feasible?

Excellent technical properties are the key factors to ensure the technical feasibility of a solar thermal energy storage system. Firstly, a high thermal storage capacity (sensible heat, latent heat or chemical energy) is essential to reduce the system volume and increase the system efficiency.

What is solar thermal electricity?

Solar thermal electricity or concentrating solar power, commonly referred to as STE and CSP respectively, is unique among renewable energy generation sources because it can easily be coupled with thermal energy storage (TES) as well as conventional fuels, making it highly dispatchable .

What is thermal energy storage (TES)?

Learn more about CSP research, other solar energy research in SETO, and current and former funding programs. Thermal energy storage (TES) refers to heat that is stored for later use—either to generate electricity on demand or for use in industrial processes.

How can solar thermal energy storage improve energy security?

Energy security has major three measures: physical accessibility, economic affordability and environmental acceptability. For regions with an abundance of solar energy, solar thermal energy storage technology offers tremendous potential for ensuring energy security, minimizing carbon footprints, and reaching sustainable development goals.