Concentrated Solar Power
Luke Kirchner
Washington University
A Presentation to the
University of Queensland
June 6th, 2013
 Sun
produces over 8000 times our global
energy consumption
www.nasa.org/solar_energy_potential
PARABOLIC TROUGH



POWER TOWER

Mirrors are used
to concentrate
the sun’s rays
The heat
transfer fluid

creates steam
for turbines
Efficiency is
http://en.wikipedia.
limited due to org/wiki/Solar_Ther
imaging optics mal_Collectors#Par
and the heat
abolic_trough
transfer fluid
Large field of
heliostats
concentrate
energy to the
tower
Molten salts
(1000 C) act as
the heat
transfer fluid
Molten salts
double as an
energy storage
device
http://energy.gov/s
cienceinnovation/energysources/renewableenergy/solar
 High
temperature
production
 Better efficiency
 Mirrors are less
expensive
 Full range of
wavelengths
 Energy storage is
available
 Power
output
diminished under
cloudy conditions
 Requires sun
tracking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Thermal_Collectors#Parabolic_trough
 Energy
outlook requires diversity
 The future of CSP is bright




Ivanpah – 370 MW
Palen Solar Power Project – 500 MW
Solar Energy Project – 1840 MW
Research is being funded
 Energy
storage increases power security
 Investments in renewable energy is
sustainable