Concentrating Solar Power-Power Towers

Summary

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems, like power towers, are an innovative solution for generating clean electricity in the United States, especially in sunny regions like the Southwest. These systems use thousands of mirrors (heliostats) to focus sunlight onto a central receiver atop a tower, generating heat that produces steam to power turbines. CSP also includes energy storage options, allowing for electricity production even during cloudy periods or at night. Notable plants, like those in California, have created jobs and power hundreds of thousands of homes, contributing to a clean energy future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Power Towers are a type of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system that harnesses sunlight to generate clean electricity.
• 😀 CSP systems are particularly well-suited for sunny regions like the Southwest United States.
• 😀 Power Towers use large flat mirrors, known as heliostats, to reflect sunlight onto a receiver at the top of a tower.
• 😀 The heat generated in the receiver produces steam that drives a conventional turbine to generate electricity.
• 😀 In the 1980s and 90s, U.S. Department of Energy projects demonstrated that Power Towers could store heat and generate electricity 24/7.
• 😀 The Mojave Desert saw the installation of a modular two-tower CSP system in 2009, powering over 5,000 homes.
• 😀 A 370-megawatt, three-tower CSP system with 175,000 mirrors began construction in 2010, providing power to over 350,000 homes and creating more than 1,000 jobs.
• 😀 Power Towers utilize thermal energy storage to continue generating electricity during cloudy periods or at night.
• 😀 Molten salt is used as a storage medium in some CSP systems, allowing for reliable power generation during extended cloudy periods.
• 😀 Ongoing innovations in CSP technology are helping to reduce costs and increase efficiency, making Power Towers a viable source of utility-scale, clean energy.

Q & A

What is Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)?

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a technology that uses mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a receiver, converting it into thermal energy that can be used to generate electricity.

Why is CSP particularly suitable for the United States, especially the Southwest?

The Southwest U.S. receives consistent and abundant sunshine, making it an ideal location for CSP, which requires large amounts of solar energy to be effective in generating electricity.

What is a Power Tower system in CSP technology?

A Power Tower is a type of CSP system that uses large flat mirrors, called heliostats, to reflect sunlight onto a central receiver atop a tower, where the heat is used to produce steam and generate electricity.

How did U.S. Department of Energy projects in the 1980s and 1990s contribute to the development of CSP?

In the 1980s and 1990s, U.S. Department of Energy projects in California demonstrated that Power Towers could collect and store heat, enabling the generation of electricity 24 hours a day, thus advancing CSP technology.

What are the benefits of storing thermal energy in CSP systems?

Storing thermal energy allows CSP systems to continue generating electricity even when the sun is not shining, such as during cloudy periods or at night, providing a reliable and consistent energy source.

How does a Power Tower generate electricity?

In a Power Tower, sunlight is concentrated onto a receiver, which heats water or molten salt. The heated fluid produces steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity.

What role do heliostats play in a Power Tower system?

Heliostats are computer-controlled mirrors that reflect sunlight onto the receiver atop the tower. They adjust throughout the day to maintain focus on the receiver from dawn to dusk.

What is the significance of the 2009 and 2010 CSP projects in California?

In 2009, a modular two-tower CSP system was built in the Mojave Desert, powering over 5,000 homes. In 2010, a 370-megawatt, three-tower system was constructed, generating electricity for 350,000 homes and creating over 1,000 jobs.

How does the molten salt system in CSP work?

In a molten salt system, cold molten salt is pumped to the receiver, heated, and stored in a hot tank. It flows through a heat exchanger to produce steam, which spins a turbine to generate electricity, with the hot salt used for extended periods of energy generation.

What are the ongoing innovations in CSP technology?

Ongoing innovations in CSP technology are focused on reducing costs and improving efficiency, which are helping CSP systems provide more reliable, utility-scale power and support the transition to a clean energy future.