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Page 5 of 11 Concentrated Solar Power / Solar Chemistry Research Source: CORDIS project search Contract Reference: ENK5-CT-2001-00540 Title: Integration of DSG Technology for Electricity Production ACRONYM: INDITEP Objectives Direct steam generation in the absorber pipes of parabolic trough solar collectors (the so-called DSG process) is a promising option for cost reduction and could achieve a 26% cost cut in the electricity produced. INDITEP is based on the experience and knowledge gathered by the partners of the DISS project and it is the logical continuation of DISS. Once the technical feasibility of the DSG technology has been validated experimentally in DISS-phase II, INDITEP will undertake four main work packages aimed at integrating DSG technology into the energy market: The engineering design of a first 5MWe pre-commercial DSG power plant. The development of advanced components to enhance the ability of DSG technology to compete, e.g. cheap water/steam separators, and advanced components to increase the steam temperature from 400ºC to 500ºC etc. The qualification of key components and operation procedures for DSG power plants. Socio-economic research on DSG technology. Expected Impact The main expected result will be the design of a modular parabolic trough system adaptable to both electricity and steam generation. The project is also expected to improve the cost reduction potential of the DSG technology so that installation costs could fall below 2000€/kWe. Co-ordinating institution Iberdrola Generation S.A. Hermosilla 3 ES-28001 Madrid Spain Start Date: 1 July 2002 End Date: 30 June 2005 Duration: 36 months Total cost: €5,397,570 EC funding: €2,698,784 Project title: Energy Storage for Direct Steam Solar Power Plants (DISTOR) Project Acronym: DISTOR Coordinator: DLR EUREC member(s): DLR, CIEMAT Start date: 2004-02-01 End date: 2007-11-01 Duration: Project Reference: 503526 Project cost: 3936650 EURO Project Funding: 2228917 EURO Programme Acronym: FP6-SUSTDEV Programme type: Sixth Framework Programme Subprogramme Area: New and advanced concepts in renewable energy technologies - Other RES Contract type: Specific Targeted Research Project Objective: Solar thermal power plants represent today's most economic systems to generate electricity from solar insulation in them-range in regions like the Mediterranean area. By demonstrating the feasibility of direct steam generation in the absorber pipes European industry and research institutions have gained a leading position in this technology area. A key element foray successful market penetration is the availability of storage systems to reduce the dependence on the course of solarinsolation. The most important benefits result from -reduced internal costs due to increased efficiency and extended utilisation of the power block-facilitating the integration of a solar power plant into an electrical grid-adoption of electricity production to the demand thus increasing revenues Efficient storage systems for steam power plants demand transfer of energy during the charging/discharging process at constant temperatures. The DISTOR project focuses on the development of systems using phase change materials (PCM) as storage media. In order to accelerate the development, the DISTOR project is based on parallel research on three different storage concepts. These concepts include innovative aspects like encapsulated PCM, evaporation heat transfer and new design concepts. This parallel approach takes advantage of synergy effects and will enable the identification of the most promising storage concept. A consortium covering the various aspects of design and manufacturing has been formed from manufacturers, engineering companies and research institutions experienced in solar thermal power plants and PCM technology. The project will provide advanced storage material based on PCM for the temperature range of 200-300°C adapted to the needs of Direct Steam generation thus expanding Europe's strong position in solar thermal power plants. Project title: Solar Steam Reforming of Methane Rich Gas for Synthesis Gas Production (SOLREF) Project Acronym: SOLREF Coordinator: DLR EUREC member(s): DLR Start date: 2004-04-01 End date: 2008-01-01 Duration: Project Reference: 502829 Project cost: 3451986 EURO Project Funding: 2100000 EURO Programme Acronym: FP6-SUSTDEV Programme type: Sixth Framework Programme Subprogramme Area: New and advanced concepts in renewable energy technologies - Other RES Contract type: Specific Targeted Research Project Objective: Methane reforming is an endothermic reaction between methane, steam and/or CO2. The products are a mixture of hydrogen and CO, called syngas. In solar reforming, the calorific value of the fuel is upgraded by 20-30%, accounted for the contribution of the solar energy. The products can be directly combusted in a gas turbine for electricity generation or, can be used as a source for hydrogen production. The process is attractive where the sun is plentiful and where natural gas is available close by (e.g. Italy). The products can be piped in the existing pipeline and can be used as a fuel by customers far from the solar plant. Solar reforming can also be applied to other methane containing feedstocks such as biogas, and CO2 contaminated wells. This makes solar reforming a powerful candidate for benign, pollution free fuel processing in the future hydrogen economy. In the framework of the EC/FP4 the fundamentals of this technology have been developed (SOLASYS project) and tested at a scale of few hundreds kilowatts solar input. Based on the results of the SOLASYS project, the SOLREF project aims to bring the technology forward to the edge of industrialisation. Three main subjects that are crucial to success of this technology will be studied in the SOLREF project. 1) A durable and stable catalytic system for reforming different feedstock?s at high temperatures that complies with the specific conditions imposed by the solar application, such as rapid thermal fluctuations. 2) Mechanical modifications and improvements to the reformer and the concept design of the industrial module. 3) Establishing operation procedures, especially for faster start up and shut down. Industrial partners who, following successful completion of SOLREF including the pre-design of a pilot plant, would look to demonstrate and apply the technology in southern Italy back the project. Project title: European Concentrated Solar Thermal Road-Mapping (ECOSTAR) Acronym: ECOSTAR Coordinator: DLR EUREC member(s): DLR, CIEMAT, CNRS PROMES Start date: 2003-12-01 End date: 2004-12-01 Duration: Project Reference: 502578 Project cost: 335293 EURO Project Funding: 223129 EURO Programme Acronym: FP6-SUSTDEV Programme type: Sixth Framework Programme Subprogramme Area: New and advanced concepts in renewable energy technologies - Other RES Contract type: Coordination action Objective: The European Union has adopted the potential of Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSP) to contribute significantly to the achievement of a truly sustainable energy system in the medium-to-long term in Europe. Thus, the EC currently supports the implementation of three pilot solar thermal power plants. Besides continuous implementation of this technology, cost targeted innovation approaches are needed to achieve cost-competitiveness of this technology in the medium-to-long term. Up to now a variety of different and competing approaches have been promoted by the fragmented research base in Europe. The major objectives of the ECOSTAR co-ordinating action are: - to identify the European innovation potential with the highest impact on CSP-cost reduction, - to focus the European research activities and the national research programs of the partners involved onto common goals and priorities, - and to broaden its basis of industrial and research excellence, capable to solve the multidisciplinary CSP specific problems. High level commitment of six large research centres from Germany (DLR), Israel (WIS), France (CNRS-IMP),Spain (CIEMAT), Switzerland (ETH) and Russia (IVTAN) each with long-year experience in the subject and most of them conducting a significant program on concentrating solar technologies and operating their own facilities express the readiness to combine their national expertise to achieve these goals. This group has teamed-up with the international association of power and heat generation (VGB Powerless),which includes many of the European players in the power sector, to ensure by an independent industry assessment, that the identified innovation pathways are feasible from an industry perspective, to disseminate them to the power sector, and to support the identification of further expertise needed. |