Solar thermal power technology: Present status and ideas for the future

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Energy Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00908319808970052· OSTI ID:599979

Goswami, D Y ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Rapid industrial developments and the resulting need for additional electrical power in major population centers of the world such as India, China, and Brazil have created a need and an opportunity for power from clean and renewable sources of energy. The need to develop and use resources such as solar energy, wind, and biomass has assumed even greater importance in view of the concern for environmental damage that could occur if all of the anticipated power demand in the expanding economies were met by fossil fuels. Recent advances in wind energy technology have made it economically competitive with fossil-fuel-generated electricity, wherever sufficient wind resource is available. Solar thermal power can be economically competitive with coal-generated electricity if environmental costs are accounted for. However, without considering such environmental costs (a realistic scenario for developing countries like India and China), solar resources are not cost competitive at present because of the high capital costs. The potential exists for reducing the costs by improving the performance of thermal power systems. The system performance can be improved by employing new and innovative ideas in thermal power cycles. This article reviews some recent developments in thermodynamic cycles as well as new and innovative thermal power cycles applicable to solar thermal power.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 599979
• Journal Information: Energy Sources, Journal Name: Energy Sources Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 20; ISSN 0090-8312; ISSN EGYSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
CAPITALIZED COST
COMPETITION
PERFORMANCE
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES