Molten Salt Solar Tower: The Possible Way Towards Competitiveness Salzturm: Der machbare Weg zur signifikanten Kostenreduktion Kai Wieghardt 14. Kölner Sonnenkolloquium Jülich, 13.07.2011
Contents 1. Introduction: Solar Millennium 2. Criteria for Competitiveness 3. Competitiveness of Molten Salt Solar Tower Technology 4. Summary & Outlook Seite 2
Contents 1. Introduction: Solar Millennium 2. Criteria for Competitiveness 3. Molten Salt Solar Tower Technology: Pros & Cons 4. Summary & Outlook Seite 3
The specialist for solar-thermal power plants Solar Millennium AG... is a successful pioneer with a long track-record thanks to the early entry into the market (1998) developed the first parabolic trough power plants in Europe... pursues projects globally with an overall capacity of more than 2,000 MW... has an experienced management and invests in R&D with the aim of achieving and securing sustainable technology leadership is developing its own solar tower technology in addition to parabolic trough Seite 4
Solar Millennium gains revenues from each step of the value chain for solar-thermal power plants Project development and financing Technology and Construction Power plant investment & Others Power plant investment Project Development Project Financing Technology Sales of stakes in power plant projects Supply of engineering and components Construction Turn-key construction of solar-thermal power plants Revenues from plants in operation Entry of business partners in power plant projects: project entrance fee Financial Closure: payments for successful project development Seite 5
Contents 1. Introduction: Solar Millennium 2. Criteria for Competitiveness 3. Molten Salt Solar Tower Technology: Pros & Cons 4. Summary & Outlook Seite 6
Levelized Costs of Electricity (LCOE) Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time per day per year during lifetime Parity Rate [ /kw] LCOE [ ct/kwh] LCOE is criterion for CSP competitiveness. Exclusive focus on cost or parity rate is not sufficient. Seite 7
LCOE of CSP and Competitive Technologies CSP must reduce LCOE or will fail! Fierce competition by PV and wind! Costs-by-cause principle needed for conventional sources: Significant costs & risks are still taken by society! 1) STE: Solar Thermal Electricity; Source: A.T. Kearney (2010), DNI Values for Spain Seite 8
Increased Share of Renewables in the Grid Share of renewable energies in gross electricity consumption in Germany until 2020 The share of renewable energies might reach 47% by 2020 Terrawatthours/year Gross power consumption Power generation from renewable energies Prognosis BEE: 47% Obligation by government: 30% Source: Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie e. V., 2009 Seite 9
Today and Example: Germany 2007: Power Generation vs. Load with 15% renewables Source: Simulation by Fraunhofer IWES (Kassel) Seite 10
in the Future Example: Germany 2020: Power Generation vs. Load with 47% renewables Source: Simulation by Fraunhofer IWES (Kassel) Seite 11
Criteria for Evaluation of Competitiveness Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time Parity Rate [ /kw] LCOE [ ct/kwh] LCOE + Dispatchability Dispatchability Dispatchability (the ability to provide energy on demand due to storage system) is a main benefit of CSP technology. No dispatchability = direct competition with PV! Simplest solution available today: Molten salt as HTF and storage medium. Storage is cost beneficial and pays off through higher utilization of the power block. Seite 12
Contents 1. Introduction: Solar Millennium 2. Criteria for Competitiveness 3. Molten Salt Solar Tower Technology: Pros & Cons 4. Summary & Outlook Seite 13
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros & Cons Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability 540C 565C 540C Seite 14
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros & Cons Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability High number of simple heliostats Central Receiver 2-axial mirror tracing HTF = Storage. No thermo oil High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Seite 15
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros & Cons Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability High number of simple heliostats Central Receiver 2-axial mirror tracing HTF = Storage. No thermo oil High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Seite 16
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability High Process Temperatures Reduction of specific storage Central Receiver Seite 17
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Homogenization of operation (/d, /a, Σ) 2-axial mirror tracing Seite 18
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Reduction of specific storage Homogenization of operation (/d, /a, Σ) Large Optimum Solar Multiple: Storage Capacity 12-16h Seite 19
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Simplification of systems HTF = Storage. No thermo oil Seite 20
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Simplification of systems HTF = Storage. No thermo oil Reduction of Risks Seite 21
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Industrialized production High number of simple heliostats High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Reduction of Risks Seite 22
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros (Summary) Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Industrialized production High Process Temperatures Reduction of specific storage Homogenization of operation (/d, /a, Σ) High number of simple heliostats 2-axial mirror tracing Central Receiver Simplification of systems HTF = Storage. No thermo oil Large Optimum Solar Multiple: Storage Capacity 12-16h High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Reduction of Risks Seite 23
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros & Cons Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Industrialized production High Process Temperatures Reduction of specific storage Homogenization of operation (/d, /a, Σ) High number of simple heliostats 2-axial mirror tracing Central Receiver High Complexity. No Modularity. Simplification of systems HTF = Storage. No thermo oil Large Optimum Solar Multiple: Storage Capacity 12-16h High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Reduction of Risks Seite 24
Molten Salt Solar Tower: Pros & Cons Investment Costs Efficiency Operating Time (/d, /a, Σ) Dispatchability Industrialized production High Process Temperatures Reduction of specific storage Homogenization of operation (/d, /a, Σ) High number of simple heliostats 2-axial mirror tracing High allowable ground slope, Retention of natural grounds Central Receiver High Complexity. No Modularity. Reduction of Risks Simplification of systems HTF = Storage. No thermo oil Increase of Risk Level Large Optimum Solar Multiple: Storage Capacity 12-16h Effort & Time for Development, Validation & Scale-up Seite 25
Contents 1. Introduction: Solar Millennium 2. Criteria for Competitiveness 3. Molten Salt Solar Tower Technology: Pros & Cons 4. Summary & Outlook Seite 26
Solar Tower Projects >1MW el Electric Output (Peak) [MW] 100 Solar One (1982) Solar Two (1997) 10 SPP-5 (1985) hemis (1982) 1 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 CESA-1/PSA (1983) Technology: Direct Steam Molten Salt Air Filled: Commercial Abengoa: PS20 Abengoa: PS10 Bright Source: SEDC esolar: Sierra Sun Tower KAM: Jülich Sener@PSA Solar Reserve: Crossroads Bright Source: Bright Source: Coyote Springs 1-2, ff. Ivenpah 1-3 Solar Reserve: Rice esolar: Gaskell I + II ACME: Bikaner Phase 1 Abengoa: Eureka Sener/Masdar: Gemasolar Solar Reserve: Crescent Dunes ACME: Bikaner Seite 27 Solar Reserve: Alcázar Sener/Masdar: Abu Dhabi KAM: AlSol ESKOM Solar Towers turning from pilots to large-scale commercialization. Start Production
Summary CSP will provide dispatchable power at it s lowest LCOE possible or will fail. Consequently, Solar Millennium s technology portfolio focuses on Parabolic troughs with molten salt storage, Molten salt solar tower, PV, if no dispatchability is required. Molten salt solar tower technology has high potential, but also risks. Solar Millennium s molten salt solar tower technology is under development. DLR is a close partner with outstanding competence. Seite 28
Welcome to the Solar Millennium! Seite 29