Conversion Tower for Dispatchable Solar Power
Technology Description:
Abengoa Solar is developing a high-efficiency solar-electric conversion tower to enable low-cost, fully dispatchable solar energy generation. Abengoa's conversion tower utilizes new system architecture and a two-phase thermal energy storage media with an efficient supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) power cycle. The company is using a high-temperature heat-transfer fluid with a phase change in between its hot and cold operating temperature. The fluid serves as a heat storage material and is cheaper and more efficient than conventional heat-storage materials, like molten salt. It also allows the use of a high heat flux solar receiver, advanced high thermal energy density storage, and more efficient power cycles.
Potential Impact:
If successful, Abengoa would reduce the cost of solar energy generation by 30% compared to existing state-of-the-art storage technologies—significantly reducing the cost of renewable solar electricity.
Security:
Cost-effective thermal energy storage would enable increased use of domestic energy resources like solar and nuclear—strengthening the nation's energy security.
Environment:
Cost-effective thermal energy power generation could help decrease fossil fuel-based electricity use and harmful emissions from coal-burning power plants.
Economy:
Thermal energy storage systems could make it less expensive to generate power from nuclear and renewable solar energy, which in turn could help stabilize electricity rates for consumers.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. James Klausner
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Partners
Barber Nichols
Abener
Impact Technology Development
Sandia National Laboratory
Related Projects
Release Date:
04/20/2011