In the past two years, the CSP industry in the world has made remarkable progress. Especially since June this year, the bid price of CSP in the world has achieved nearly 50% while meeting certain boundary conditions % Of the decline. Meanwhile, the official launch of China's solar thermal power generation market and the active participation of industry chain-related enterprises in overseas projects have also injected new vitality into the global solar thermal power generation industry and brought new hope for the further cost reduction of global solar thermal power generation in the future.
solar thermal power generation
So, the current investment threshold and cost of power compared to other renewable energy sources is still relatively high CSP Why have such a rapid development momentum? Future development prospects will be how? In response to the above questions, Dr. Luis Crespo, chairman of ESTELA and chairman of the Spanish Association of Solar Thermal Power Generators, recently expressed his opinions through overseas media.
Luis Crespo said renewable energy power generation can actually be divided into two categories: one is represented by photovoltaic power generation, but its generation cost is low but peak shaving can not be achieved. Another type of power generation represented by CSP is relatively expensive, but Achieve effective peak shaving. However, it is possible to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions only when the power generation technologies such as photothermal power generation that can achieve peak regulation are developed to a certain scale.
In recent years, CSP technology has developed rapidly in the world. According to Luis Crespo, this phenomenon is mainly due to the advantages of CSP technology in the following aspects:
1. CSP technology is the only renewable energy power generation technology that can realize friendly grid connection and effective peak regulation at the same time. It is fully capable of meeting the demand of electricity in the world and effectively reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. And CSP technology can be mixed with other renewable energy power generation technology, power generation is ideal.
solar thermal power generation
2. Localization of solar thermal power station equipment can promote the local GDP growth of the project, which will become one of the major driving forces for promoting the support policies of all countries.
3, Compared with the technology of combined cycle or "second investment", CSP technology has the cost advantage to meet the growing power demand of the countries in emerging markets. In addition, the cost advantage will be more apparent when the installed capacity of solar thermal power generation from the current 5GW to wind power (500GW) or photovoltaic (400GW).
Luis Crespo believes that as the proportion of PV power generation in renewable energy systems increases, its marginalcapacity value will gradually disappear and its marginal operating and manufacturing value will also drop significantly.
Moreover, the current LCOE (collocated electricity cost) of a CSP system configured with a 6-hour heat storage duration is much lower than a PV power generation system with the same installed capacity and configured with a battery energy storage, and this advantage lasts for at least 2030 year. In the meantime, continued investment in grid infrastructure will also help the development of thermal storage-based CSP technology. In addition, the current general expectation of the downward trend in the cost of solar thermal power is relatively conservative. Based on the successful bidding of some recent projects, the solar thermal electricity price has dropped to about 7 cents / kWh under certain marginal conditions.
solar thermal power generation
With the development of the times, Luis Crespo believes that solar energy will meet the energy needs of most humankind. At the same time, the solar thermal power plant with thermal storage system will be the most effective way to achieve peak power generation of solar power. According to its introduction, since 2008, cold-hot two-tank molten salt thermal storage system with its own reliability and performance advantages of successful commercial applications, and no signs of withdrawal from the market. And the same installed capacity of the tower of the thermal power plant molten salt consumption is only about one quarter of trough solar thermal power station and does not require oil / salt heat exchanger, the current molten salt storage costs about 35 € / kWhe (about RMB 269 yuan / kWhe).
At the present time, CSP technology has become a necessary choice for countries with sufficient light resources to expand their solar capacity, which is also an ideal choice for policymakers after considering all the factors such as technology and economy. With regard to the future development of CSP technology, Luis Crespo said that in the next long term investment, cost valuation should be replaced by full valuation, which will make intermittent renewable energy generation and The distribution of adjustable peak renewable energy generation is more balanced and this is the only sustainable way to achieve a true energy transition.