Concentrated solar power (CSP) is typically associated with solar energy. As a matter of fact, it is an indirect method of converting sunlight to produce electrical power. The process involves the use of mirrors or lenses to focus a huge area of sun-rays onto a limited area. Electrical power is a by-product of the concentrated light that has been transformed into heat which can make a heat engine, like a steam turbine run.
CSP has been widely commercialized. Based on statistical data, CSP market had added generating capacity of about 740MW between 2007 and at the later part of 2010. An estimated 478MW was installed some time in 2010. Spain also put up 400MW in 2010, while the US closed the year with 509MW after brining in 78MW and two (2) hybrid plants of fossil CSP.
CSP has soared to an escalating growth. Some time in April 2011, the construction of CSP with a 946MW generating capacity was started in Spain with the target to operate before 2013 ends. Furthermore, the US started to construct an additional 1.5GW of parabolic trough and power-tower installations, and the contracts for at least another 6.2GW were signed.
The booming interest on concentrated solar power is likewise seen in North Africa, the Middle East, China and India. The parabolic trough plants, which mark 90% of CSP plants, have found a prominent position in the world market.
Historical Development of CSP
A story was told about Archimedes of Syracuse -- the Greek mathematician, astronomer, physicist, engineer and inventor - who made use of a burning glass forconcentrating sunrays in a small area.
The burning glass also known as a burning lens is a huge convex lens that has the capacity to concentrate sunlight onto a tiny spot to heat up that spot thereby igniting its exposed surface. Archimedes employed the burning glass tactic against the invading fleet of the Romans. Because of that, he was able to drive the Romans away from Syracuse in 212 BC.
Some time in 1866, a parabolic trough was used by Auguste Mouchout to produce steam to run the first solar steam engine. In the same year, the Italian Alessandro Battaglia obtained in Genoa, Italy the first patent for a solar receiver. After some years, innovators like John Ericsson and Frank Shuman introduced CSP devices for locomotives, refrigeration and irrigation systems.
It was in 1913 when Frank Shuman completed a parabolic 55-HP solar thermal energy (STE) station situated at Meadi of Egypt to support irrigation. Dr. Robert H. Goddard, who was famous for his liquid-fueled rockets, built the first mirror-dish solar power system.
In 1968, Prof. Giovanni Francia designed and built the first CSP plant located at Sant'Ilario, somewhere near Genoa of Italy with the architectural design of the modern CSP plants with a solar collector in the midst of solar collectors' field. In the year 1981, the power-tower for Solar One with a generating capacity of 10MW situated at Southern California was developed.
However, the 1984 Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) parabolic trough innovation proved to work better. The world's largest solar-power plant is still the 354MW SEGS.
Modern CSP Technology
There are four (4) existing forms of CSP technologies. These are the: (1) parabolic trough; (2) solar power tower; (3) dish Stirlings; and (4) concentrating linear Fresnel reflector. These simple solar concentrators have attainable maximum concentration and can be further increase with the use of more sophisticated or elaborate concentrators.
In the present time, concentrated solar power which is used to generate the so-called solar thermo-electricity or simply electricity is usually steam-generated. Modern developments in CSP technology are carefully engineered to become the leading and more cost-effective systems.
CSP has been widely commercialized. Based on statistical data, CSP market had added generating capacity of about 740MW between 2007 and at the later part of 2010. An estimated 478MW was installed some time in 2010. Spain also put up 400MW in 2010, while the US closed the year with 509MW after brining in 78MW and two (2) hybrid plants of fossil CSP.
CSP has soared to an escalating growth. Some time in April 2011, the construction of CSP with a 946MW generating capacity was started in Spain with the target to operate before 2013 ends. Furthermore, the US started to construct an additional 1.5GW of parabolic trough and power-tower installations, and the contracts for at least another 6.2GW were signed.
The booming interest on concentrated solar power is likewise seen in North Africa, the Middle East, China and India. The parabolic trough plants, which mark 90% of CSP plants, have found a prominent position in the world market.
Historical Development of CSP
A story was told about Archimedes of Syracuse -- the Greek mathematician, astronomer, physicist, engineer and inventor - who made use of a burning glass forconcentrating sunrays in a small area.
The burning glass also known as a burning lens is a huge convex lens that has the capacity to concentrate sunlight onto a tiny spot to heat up that spot thereby igniting its exposed surface. Archimedes employed the burning glass tactic against the invading fleet of the Romans. Because of that, he was able to drive the Romans away from Syracuse in 212 BC.
Some time in 1866, a parabolic trough was used by Auguste Mouchout to produce steam to run the first solar steam engine. In the same year, the Italian Alessandro Battaglia obtained in Genoa, Italy the first patent for a solar receiver. After some years, innovators like John Ericsson and Frank Shuman introduced CSP devices for locomotives, refrigeration and irrigation systems.
It was in 1913 when Frank Shuman completed a parabolic 55-HP solar thermal energy (STE) station situated at Meadi of Egypt to support irrigation. Dr. Robert H. Goddard, who was famous for his liquid-fueled rockets, built the first mirror-dish solar power system.
In 1968, Prof. Giovanni Francia designed and built the first CSP plant located at Sant'Ilario, somewhere near Genoa of Italy with the architectural design of the modern CSP plants with a solar collector in the midst of solar collectors' field. In the year 1981, the power-tower for Solar One with a generating capacity of 10MW situated at Southern California was developed.
However, the 1984 Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) parabolic trough innovation proved to work better. The world's largest solar-power plant is still the 354MW SEGS.
Modern CSP Technology
There are four (4) existing forms of CSP technologies. These are the: (1) parabolic trough; (2) solar power tower; (3) dish Stirlings; and (4) concentrating linear Fresnel reflector. These simple solar concentrators have attainable maximum concentration and can be further increase with the use of more sophisticated or elaborate concentrators.
In the present time, concentrated solar power which is used to generate the so-called solar thermo-electricity or simply electricity is usually steam-generated. Modern developments in CSP technology are carefully engineered to become the leading and more cost-effective systems.
I provide an information website that explains and educates the importance of switching over to Green Energy production for your home. Not only does it save you a bundle on your monthly electrical bill, but you are also doing our planet a favor. Our sun provides an infinite amount of energy, why not use it?
Visit Solar Panel Building for more on this topic that is growing in popularity with every passing day!
- Giovanni Pugliese
Visit Solar Panel Building for more on this topic that is growing in popularity with every passing day!
- Giovanni Pugliese
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