Progress in Research and Development of Molten Chloride Salt Technology for Next Generation Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Kurzfassung

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants with thermal energy storage (TES) system are emerging as one kind of the most promising power plants in the future renewable energy system, since they can supply dispatchable and low-cost power with abundant but intermittent solar energy. In order to significantly reduce the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of the present commercial CSP plants, the next generation CSP technology with higher process temperatures and higher energy efficiency is being developed. The TES system in the next generation CSP technology works with new TES materials at higher temperatures (>565°C) compared to the commercial nitrate salt mixtures (<565°C). This paper presents a review of recent progress in research and development of the next generation CSP and TES technologies. Moreover, emphasis is given on the molten chloride salt technology - one of the most promising next generation TES technologies due to excellent thermophysical properties and low prices of chloride salts. This review outlines the progress in research and development of the next generation CSP and TES technologies in the last years, particularly in the molten chloride salt technology.