SOLAR THERMAL

The energy of the sun, the primary renewable source, comes to the earth in the form of light and heat. Solar energy is captured, stored and transformed through various technologies to produce electricity and thermal energy.

Solar Thermal Power Plant: electrical generation

Plants that generate energy by the concentration of solar power (CSP/Tower) from the heating of a thermal fluid by radiation, storage in molten salts and transformation into electricity using a Rankine steam cycle with a  turbine.

The most important parts to highlight in this type of plants are:

• Solar Field: Reflective surface concentrate solar radiation along parabolic trough receiver tubes, heating heat transfer fluid, named HTF to desired temperature.
• Thermal Energy Storage System: Excess of solar thermal energy not used by steam generation system, is stored in molten salts tanks. This system allows increasing autonomy and dispatching ability of the power plant.
• Steam Generation System: Thermal power collected by solar field is used to generate steam superheated.
• Steam Turbine - Generator: Steam expands in the turbine with the purpose to generate electricity.
• Cooling System: Power plant has a cooling system that can be dry or wet as per availability of water resources and environmental conditions.
• HTF Boiler: It is used to hybridize with fossil fuel plant and prevent freezing of the HTF.
  
• Electrical Switchgear: It allows electrical generation evacuation.

The benefits derived from these plants are:

• Local Content: CSP technology allows that a large part of the components and equipments are manufactured locally.
• Dispatchability: Unlike other renewable energy technologies, CSP power plants with thermal energy storage ensure electrical generation predictable and manageable, independent of solar radiation and able to provide constant electrical generation (24/7).

Solar Thermal Plant: heat generation

Plants that generate energy by the concentration of solar power (CSP) from the heating of a thermal fluid by radiation and generation of hot water or steam for use in industrial installations.

The most important parts to highlight in this type of plants are:

• Solar Field: Reflective surface concentrate solar radiation in the parabolic trough collector receiver tubes, heating heat transfer fluid, named HTF, to desired temperature.
• Thermal Energy Storage: Solar thermal energy excess not used by thermal module is stored with the purpose to increase autonomy and integration with the existing thermal generation system.
• Pump and Control Module: Host heat transfer fluid pumping equipment, control system and auxiliary systems.
• Meteorological Station: It allows checking the correct operation for the solar thermal plant and verifies thermal generation guarantees.  

Rooftop Plant	Ground Plant

The benefits derived from these plants are:

• Saving: CST technology allows conventional fuel saving and reduce dependence on supply, reducing operation costs.
• Simple: Simple and fast assembly with low operation and maintenance cost.
• Automated: Automated solution and integrated with boiler backup.
• Renewable Solutions: Carbon footprint and CO₂ emissions reduction.