Novel approaches to concentrated solar power (CSP)

Expected Outcome:

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants supply renewable, dispatchable power and can therefore be an important element of the evolving energy system. Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Higher shares of variable output renewables in the energy system.
• Future, higher-efficiency CSP plants.
• Reduced levelized cost of electricity of future CSP plants.
• Significant performance regarding start-up, shutdown and load variation of future CSP plants.
• Improved environmental profile of future CSP plants.

Scope:

Support will be given to novel solutions that use concentrating solar thermal energy to generate power.

In terms of power dispatchability, the novel solutions will have to ensure a performance at least equivalent to current commercial installations.

Solutions that cogenerate power and heat are also in the scope. Moreover, solutions that support the concentrating solar thermal technology with photovoltaic technology are also in the scope.

Projects should assess the sustainability of the proposed solutions in environmental and socio-economic terms. Applicants are encouraged to consider a ‘circularity by design’ approach.