Title: Molten salt solar central receivers for utility electricity: energy storage and dispatchability

Authors: Michael R. Prairie, James E. Pacheco, Gregory J. Kolb, J. Paul Sutherland

Addresses: Solar Thermal Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185-0703, USA. ' Solar Thermal Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185-0703, USA. ' Solar Thermal Technology Department, Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, NM 87185-0703, USA. ' Southern California Edison Company, Irwindale, CA, USA

Abstract: Solar power towers offer the only source of utility-scale solar electricity with cost-effective thermal energy storage. This is achieved most effectively using molten nitrate salt as the energy storage and heat transfer medium. Other options exist, e.g., liquid sodium or air with ceramic storage, but are either less developed, less efficient, or more expensive. The 10 MWe Solar Two power tower plant will illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of molten-nitrate-salt technology.

Keywords: energy dispatchability; energy storage; energy transport; molten salt solar central receivers; utility electricity; molten nitrate salt; heat transfer; solar energ; solar power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1997.063331

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1997 Vol.9 No.3, pp.150-161

Published online: 10 Jul 2014 *

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