RenewableS 2013 GlObal STaTUS RePORT - REN21

Figure 14. Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Global Capacity, 1984–2012
Megawatts
2,600
2,400
2,550
2,200
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
14
74
1,080
354 354 354 354 354 354 354 354 354 366 485
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012
1,580
Source:
See Endnote 1
for this section.
as well as ABB (Switzerland), BrightSource (USA), and ACWA. 31
Saudi-based ACWA emerged as a key player in 2012, with the
award of two major projects in alliance with Acciona and TSK
(Pakistan), in South Africa and Morocco. 32 Chinese firms have
begun to enter the CSP-related component business and are
expected to be major suppliers for the foreseeable future. 33
Spanish companies continued to lead the industry with ownership
interest in almost three-fourths of CSP capacity deployed
around the world, and more than 60% of capacity under development
or construction by early 2013. 34 But Spanish firms were
challenged by policy changes at home, and companies based
elsewhere were not immune from difficulties. The U.S. subsidiary
of Germany’s bankrupt Solar Millennium filed for insolvency
proceedings, as did SolarHybrid (Germany); BrightSource
continued to develop several projects including Ivanpah, but
did not go public as planned; and Siemens (Germany) decided
to exit the solar business in late 2012, citing intense price pressure
in solar markets. 35 Schott Solar produced its one-millionth
solar receiver in November, but as of early 2013 the company
was seeking bids for the majority stake in its CSP unit. 36
Because CSP requires large capital investments, individual
companies are involved in many parts of the value chain, from
technology R&D to project operation and ownership. Extensive
supply chains are emerging in Spain and the United States,
with an increasing number of companies involved in the CSP
business. 37
To increase product value or reduce costs, firms also have
begun to expand development efforts to include a variety of CSP
technologies. German Protarget released a new design for applications
in the 1–20 MW range to demonstrate that standardised
manufacturing processes and modular construction could
result in faster and more cost-effective installations. 38 3M and
Gossamer inaugurated a U.S. demonstration facility with the
world’s largest aperture parabolic trough; it uses lightweight,
highly reflective film rather than glass, with the purpose of significantly
reducing installed costs. 39 A few manufacturers have
begun to market solar concentrator technologies for industrial
heating and cooling, and desalination, including Solar Power
Group (Germany), Sopogy (USA), and Abengoa. 40
Thermal energy storage is becoming an increasingly important
feature for new plants as it allows CSP to dispatch electricity to
the grid during cloudy periods or at night, provides firm capacity
and ancillary services, and reduces integration challenges. 41
Molten salt is the most widely used system for storing thermal
energy, but other types—including steam, chemical, thermocline
(use of temperature differentials), and concrete—are also
in use or being tested and developed. 42
To reduce costs through economies of scale, the size of CSP
projects is increasing. While plants in Spain have been limited
to 50 MW because of regulatory restrictions, new projects in
the United States and elsewhere are in the 150–500 MW range
and even larger. Increasing size helps to reduce costs through
economies of scale, but appropriate plant size also depends
on technology. 43 Some projects are also integrating dry cooling
solutions that significantly reduce water demand, an advancement
that is important in the arid, sunny regions where CSP
offers the greatest potential. 44
CSP prices have declined significantly in recent years, for systems
with and without thermal storage. 45 (See Table 2, p. 54.)
Although subject to changes in commodity prices, the major
components of CSP facilities (including aluminum, concrete,
glass, and steel) are generally not in tight supply. 46
02
Renewables 2013 Global Status Report 45