Solar Thermal Power Plants

Clean Power for the Future

PowerGen Middle East 2004, Manama

 Advantages of
Solar Thermal Power Plants
„ The sun is by far the largest and
most reliable energy resource
„ Lowest solar power generation
costs
„ Guaranteed power supply with
hybrid operation or thermal storage
„ Less area required than for Hydro-
and Biomass Power Plants
 Suitable Regions for
Solar Thermal Power Plants
Parabolic Trough Power Plants
Principle of Parabolic Trough Collector
Absorber Tube

Reflector

Solar Field Piping

Principle of Parabolic Trough Power Plant
Steam generator
and superheater

Turbine Generator
Boiler
(optional)

Solar Field

Condensor
Solar circle Steam Circle Cooling Tower
 SEGS III-VII in California
Five 30 MW Solar Power Plants, producing 380 Mio. kWh/a
Collector Field Installed in
North-South Position
Accumulated Energy Produced by
Parabolic Trough Power Plants
10,000 1300
Annual GWh Cumulative GWh
9,000
Cumulative Revenues 1100
8,000
Net Electric Production [GWhe]

Electricity Revenues [MUSD]

7,000 900

6,000
700
5,000
500
4,000

3,000 300
2,000
100
1,000

0 -100
1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

50% of the worldwide produced solar energy has been

generated in 9 SEGS power plants in California
Rankine Cycle Configuration

„ Advantages:
– High solar share up to
100%
– Industrially well-proven
system
– Different Fuels
– Thermal Storage Option
 ISCCS Configuration
(Integrated Solar Combined Cycle System)

„ Advantages:
– Lower price of
power plant
– High efficiency:
approximately 55%
 Typical Key Data for
Rankine – ISCCS Configuration

Technology 130 MW Hybrid 130 MW Hybrid

Rankine Cycle ISCCS
Electricity Production:
- total 1.047 Gwhe/a 1.013 Gwhe/a
- solar 282 Gwhe/a 75 Gwhe/a
- solar share 27 % 7%
Solar Field Area 2,4 km2 1,8 km2
SKAL-ET Testloop at SEGS V, Kramer
Junction (aereal map)
,
Advanced Technology
„ Advantages of
SKAL-ET Design
– Higher accuracy
– Higher efficiency
– Less maintenance
– Easier assembly
Benefits of a Parabolic Trough Plant
„ Proven technology
„ Low generation costs for clean power
„ Guaranteed power supply
„ Reduction of CO2 and other emissions
„ Creation of qualified jobs
„ Major tourist attraction
Solar Chimney for Arid Countries
Principle Function of a Solar Chimney
Principle of Energy Storage
Power Output over 24 Hours
 Technical Characteristics of a
100 MW Solar Chimney
„ Chimney:
– Height: 1000m
Chimney diameter: 130m
– Diameter: 130m
– Wall thickness at base: 1m
– Wall thickness at top : 0,25m

„ Collector: height: 1000m

– Radius: 3500m
– Height outside: 3,5m
– Height at chimney: 35m
Collector radius: 3500m

Electricity Output: 700 GWhel/a

Installation of Collector Roof
 0,25 m 1000 m

Chimney Construction 840 m

660 m

0,25 m
Cross Section

0,32 m 500 m

0,41 m
130 m

0,53 m

0,68 m

wall 0,87 m
thickness 0,99 m
Turbine Overview
Prototype Plant at Manzanares

„ Tower height 200 m

„ Collector ø 240 m
„ 7 years test phase
successfully completed
Key Data of a 100 MW Solar Chimney

Nominal Power 100 MW

Plant Load Factor 0,8
Annual full load hours 7.000 h
Net Generated Electricity 700 Million kWh
Annual Operating & Maintenance Cost 2,95 Mio €
Benefits of a Solar Chimney Power Plant
„ No cooling water needed
„ Base load plant
„ Low generation costs for clean power
„ Reduction of CO2 and other emissions
„ Creation of many local jobs
„ Major tourist attraction
Solar Chimneys under Construction