Are you looking to get energy security for your company through reduction in the use of diesel, furnace oil, LPG and costly grid power?
EAI can do a feasibility study for the use of solar PV & thermal, biomass for heat and power, waste heat recovery and energy efficiency to dramatically cut down fossil fuel use and reduce your energy bills. See EAI’s SURE-FIRE offering for more.
EAI presents Cleantech Snapshots: a quick summary of some of the most interesting and innovative areas in clean technology that will drive the sustainability movement in future.
This snapshot focuses on Small Scale CSP. Within this page you will find
Overview
- Concentrating solar power (CSP) that uses the heat of sunlight to run a turbine and generate electricity, has one key drawback – its minimum size has to be in tens of MW
- However, in the recent past, there have been significant advancements in the growth of small scale CSPs that could run at even 100s of kWs
- High costs and uncertainties in technical feasibility are still challenges for small scale CSP. If overcome, small scale CSP has a promising future in developing countries
- Small scale modular CSP plants can offer market solutions in industrial applications and grid-limited markets
- Modular plants can provide multiple benefits as they can be built in phases, the installation costs are lower as no construction is involved and standardization can reduce the technology risk
Small scale CSP(Image source)
Technologies used
- Parabolic dish – non tracking
- Parabolic dish – tracking
- Parabolic trough
- Fresnel reflector
Advantages
- Less complex operation
- Works at relatively lower temperatures
- Off grid systems can replace more expensive solutions e.g., diesel engines
Applications
- Industrial process heating
- Electric power generation
- Domestic hot water
Disadvantages
- Lower efficiencies
- Suitable heat engines not available
- Higher planning and investment costs
