Introduction of concentrated solar thermal power generation

    Concentrated solar thermal power generation become a very attractive renewable energy production system among all the different renewable options, as it has a better potential for dis-patchability. Solar thermal power plants produce electricity in the same way as other conventional power plants, but using solar radiation as energy input. This energy can be transformed, for example to high-temperature steam, to drive a turbine or a motor engine.

    Thermal energy storage (TES) allows the use of multiple oper-ating strategies at Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. It gives flexibility to the power plant in order to follow the demand profile, to carry out peak shaving or to adapt to changes of the specific country legislation.