Global review of CSP technologies

Abstract

This global review of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies is based mainly on an assessment of available international literature, up to 31 October 2011. It includes a review of major CSP projects currently operating or under development at this time; the respective CSP technologies employed; and an assessment of the present and future economics of CSP relative to other conventional and renewable energy electricity-generating technologies. Global outlook scenarios for CSP are discussed, as well as specific conditions and proposals for CSP developments in South Africa. The economic analysis has been limited by several challenges. Since the CSP industry is new, there are few well-documented projects on which to base the analysis. Most of the projects referenced here are from the USA and Spain. As the CSP market rapidly expands, competition in the industry tends to restrict the disclosure of detailed financial/economic information for projects under development. In general, it has been difficult to compare the publicly available economic data, on a reliable basis, since the financial costing parameters used may vary from case to case. In addition, most of the economic forecasts, which have been reviewed, are based on forward modeling rather than practical proven costs. There are uncertainties and quite wide variations in such predictions. This dissertation concludes, however, that there is great optimism for the growing employment of CSP technology in the near future and that CSP electricity-generating costs, in areas with high solar energy resources, are expected to become competitive with levelised electricity generating costs from other conventional and renewable energy technologies. The cost reduction potentials for CSP lie mainly in expected technical research and development advances, and production economies of scale, achieved by high volume deployment, supported by mid-term investment incentives from governments and other agencies. Another cost reduction potential, especially in the South African context, lies in the localization of skills and local fabrication of some plant structures and components.