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Next generation solar power could replace fossil fuels says WRI
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Pangea on 10/12/2009 22:00:00
 
CST uses reflective material to concentrate the sun's rays to power steam
turbines or engines. When combined with thermal storage CST can generate
electricity on demand by storing heat in a transfer fluid like water, oil or
molten salt and enabling a plant to produce power under cloud cover and after
the sun has set, according to the report.
It can also be integrated with other kinds of backup power. "We are seeing
hybrid systems deployed which involve adding CST technology to the natural gas
combined cycle plants so you end up with a hybrid plant which uses solar when
the sun is out and uses natural gas when it isn't. This results in a huge
emissions reduction compared to a coal is plant of the same size," says Britt
Staley associate at WRI and lead author of the report.
CST replaces lifetime fuel payments with upfront capital in its cost structure
but the upfront investment is significant and is increased further by adding
thermal storage. However, costs are expected to decline as new capacity comes
online because of the low operating costs. "It also enables companies to make
back those costs, as CST plants with storage can produce power at 6pm when power
is most expensive and can compete with natural gas peakers on the grid," says
Staley.
CST has been disadvantaged by high commodity prices as plants require large
volumes of glass, cement, and steel and future price trends have a significant
impact on the cost of power and its competitiveness with coal. The report says
that key areas of cost improvement will come through research and development
(R&D) and Federal and state policy support will also help bring down costs over
time.
The most generous incentives at present are provided through Spain's feed-in
tariff. "Particularly in the US we have the solar resources for CST but to
really take full advantage of that potential we will need new infrastructure to
get that power from where solar resources are good, to where urban centres of
demand are," says Staley. "In the near term, deploying CST will be like building
any other power project, you have to figure out where and how you are going to
connect to the grid," she says.