Thermal power station with energy storage

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.

Can thermal storage power plants achieve 100 % renewable power supply?

The paper at hand presents a new approach to achieve 100 % renewable power supply introducing Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) that integrate firm power capacity from biofuels with variable renewable electricity converted to flexible power via integrated thermal energy storage.

What are the characteristics of thermal storage power plants?

They must be energy efficient and cost-effective in spite of low annual utilization rates (equivalent full load hours). Thermal Storage Power Plants comply with the abovementioned characteristics, are based on state-of-the-art technology and are on the verge of being realized in first-of-a-kind pilot plants .

What is thermal storage power plant (TSPP)?

Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) that integrate solar- and bioenergy are proposed for that purpose. Finally, in the third phase, renewable power supply can be extended to other sectors via power-to-X technologies, reducing fossil fuel consumption for transport, heat and industrial purposes.

How can thermal storage power plants reduce the residual load gap?

The following key measures were introduced for its realization: 1. Introducing Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) with about one third annual photovoltaic electricity share will reduce the need of renewable fuels for firm and flexible power generation to close the residual load gap.

Why is bioenergy used in thermal storage power plants?

Bioenergy is used as primary fuel for Thermal Storage Power Plants in order to guarantee firm power capacity at any time just on demand in order to close the residual load gaps of the power sector. PV and energy storage integrated to TSPP save as much biofuel as possible in order to reduce the pressure on the limited available bioenergy resources.