Technology Status - NET Nowak Energie & Technologie AG

Table 26
Cost Reduction Opportunities for Concentrating Solar Power (%)
CSP technology R&D Economy of Economy of Economy of
scale I scale II scale II
(component (manufacturing (plant
size) volume) size)
Parabolic trough up to 5 up to 5 up to 10 up to 10
Power tower
Dish/engine
up to 10 up to 5 up to 10 up to 10
system up to 10 up to 10 up to 10 up to 5
Source: NET Ltd. Switzerland.
Table 27
Key Factors for Concentrating Solar Power
Factor Fact
Variable influencing energy output Direct irradiation
Limiting factors Area availability / grid capacity
Capacity installed in 2000 in GW 0.4 GW
Potential in 2010 in GW 2 GW
Future potential beyond term year given
Rule of thumb for conversion ratio*
Medium-high
(installed power to electric output) 1 kW --> 1,900 kWh per year
* Assumptions: solar irradiation 1700 kWh/m 2 and year, system efficiency 15%.
Source: NET Ltd., Switzerland.
Improved Plant Design
System design offers another opportunity for cost reduction. Current
investigations and pilot projects are combining CSP technology with new
designs in gas-turbines and combined-cycle plants (ISCCS). The ISCCS
design offers a number of potential advantages over a plant using only fossil
fuels. The incremental capital and O&M costs of the ISCCS plant are
outweighed by their higher efficiency, reduced start-up losses and dual use
of critical system elements, e.g. the boiler. Additional opportunities in this
area include better management of plant parasitic load and operation, as
well as better matching of the solar output to existing turbines.
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