International Energy Agency (IEA) Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems Annual Report 2011 Edited by C. Richter in cooperation with J. Blanco, P. Heller, M. Mehos A. Meier, R. Meyer Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Cover picture: Gemasolar 20 MW Solar Tower Plant, in commercial operation since May 2011, Property of Torresol Energy (© Sener) Further information on the IEA-SolarPACES Program can be obtained from the Secretary, from the Operating Agents or from the SolarPACES web site on the Internet http://www.SolarPACES.org. The opinions and conclusions expressed in this report are those of the authors and not of DLR. Editors Dr. Christoph Richter Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Tel.: +34 950 271486 Executive Secretary Institute of Solar Research Fax: +34 950 260315 SolarPACES Aptdo. 39 e-mail: [email protected] 04200 Tabernas (Almería) Spain Mark Mehos National Renewable Energy Laboratory Tel: +1 303 3847458 Operating Agent Task I (NREL) Fax: +1 303 3847495 1617 Cole Blvd. e-mail: [email protected] Golden, CO 80401-3393 Dr. Anton Meier Paul Scherrer Institute Tel.:+41-56-3102788 Operating Agent Task II CH-5232 Villigen-PSI Fax: +41-56-3103160 Switzerland e-mail: [email protected] Peter Heller Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Tel: +34 950 362817 Operating Agent Task III Institute of Solar Research Cell: +34 629541729 Apartado 39 Fax: +34 950 365313 04200 Tabernas, email: [email protected] Spain Dr. Richard Meyer Dr. Richard Meyer Cell: +49 151 1477 2775 Task Representative Task V Director Information& Analytics Tel: +49 40 767 9638-12 Suntrace GmbH Fax: +49 40 767 9638-20 Brandstwiete 46 e-mail: [email protected] 20457 Hamburg Germany Dr. Julián Blanco Galvez Dr. Julián Blanco Gálvez Tel.: +34 950 387939 Operating Agent Task VI Plataforma Solar de Almería Fax: +34 950 365015 Aptdo. 22 e-mail: [email protected] 04200 Tabernas Spain SOLARPACES FOREWORD iii Foreword On behalf of SolarPACES, it is a pleasure to present the 2011 annual report. We are living in challenging times, full of reasons for hope and despair. Never before has humanity been more aware than now of the finiteness of our planet, the negative impact of human activities, and the many advantages of solar and other related renewable energy sources and their potential to satisfy the ever growing energy demand of human societies. But, at this point in time, when, finally, it seems that we all are starting to grasp the vital importance and the urgency to evolve towards a much more sustainable and environmentally friendly world energy system, based upon the extensive use of solar and other renewable energy sources, we are confronted with a financial and economic crisis that is producing devastating and long range consequences at an unprecedented scale. In this environment, where the competition for financial resources worldwide among competing energy options have never been so intensive and their proponents have never been so aggressive, SolarPACES is more needed than ever to ensure that the Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (CSTP) and Solar Chemistry technologies fulfill their promise to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of billions of people. The rapid expansion that the CSTP industry is experiencing since 2003 owes much to the unfaltering work of SolarPACES, the international research community that started at the Small Solar Power Systems (SSPS) demonstration project in the 80’s. One of the main assets of our organization is its scientific authority: SolarPACES is a neutral, independent organization, fully committed to facilitate, through international cooperation, rational decision making and the success of CSTP and Solar Chemistry technologies. The annual report gives an overview of the achievements reached by the SolarPACES research community during the year 2011. I wish you a fruitful lecture! Manuel J. Blanco, Ph.D., Dr. Ing. Chair, SolarPACES Executive Committee SOLAR PACES TABLE OF CONTENTS v Table of Contents Page FOREWORD ........................................................................................................................................................................................... iii 1 REPORT OF THE SOLARPACES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 2011 C. Richter .............................................................................................................................................................. 1.1 1.1 Objectives, Strategy and Scope ................................................................................................................. 1.1 1.2 Participation of Countries, R&D Institutions, Utilities and Industry ......................................................... 1.3 1.3 The SolarPACES Work Program .............................................................................................................. 1.4 1.4 Coordination with Other Bodies ................................................................................................................ 1.4 1.5 Information Dissemination ........................................................................................................................ 1.5 1.6 SolarPACES Awards ................................................................................................................................. 1.5 1.7 Meetings and Presentations in 2011 ......................................................................................................... 1.6 2. GUIDELINES FOR CSP PERFORMANCE MODELING .......................................................................... 2.1 2.1 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................ 2.1 2.2 Conclusions and Outlook .......................................................................................................................... 2.4 2.3 References ................................................................................................................................................. 2.4 3 TASK I: SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRIC SYSTEMS M. Mehos ............................................................................................................................................................. 3.1 3.1 Nature of Work & Objectives ................................................................................................................... 3.1 3.2 Organization and structure ........................................................................................................................ 3.1 3.3 Status of the Technology ........................................................................................................................... 3.1 3.4 Reported Task I activities .......................................................................................................................... 3.2 3.4.1 Performance Acceptance Test Guidelines for Parabolic Trough Solar Fields .......................... 3.2 3.4.2 guiSmo - Guidelines for CSP Performance Modeling .............................................................. 3.5 4 TASK II: SOLAR CHEMISTRY RESEARCH A. Meier . .............................................................................................................................................................. 4.1 4.1 Nature of Work & Objectives ................................................................................................................... 4.1 4.2 Status of Technology ................................................................................................................................. 4.1 4.2.1. Solar Production of Energy Carriers ........................................................................................ 4.2 4.2.2. Solar Processing of chemical commodities ............................................................................ 4.13 5 TASK III: SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED APPLICATIONS P. Heller ................................................................................................................................................................ 5.1 5.1 Nature of Work & Objectives ................................................................................................................... 5.1 5.2 Reported Task III Activities in 2011 ......................................................................................................... 5.1 5.3 Task III Objectives 2012-2016.................................................................................................................. 5.1 5.4 Summary of Achievements in 2011 ........................................................................................................... 5.3 vi Annual Report 2010 SolarPACES 6 TASK V: SOLAR RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND FORECASTING ...................................................... 6.1 R. Meyer 6.1 Nature of Work and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 6.1 6.2 Activities During 2011 .............................................................................................................................. 6.1 6.3 Subtask A: Solar Resource Applications for High Penetration of Solar Technologies.............................. 6.2 6.3.1 Activity A1: Short-term Variability .......................................................................................... 6.2 6.3.2 Activity A2: Integration of Solar with Other RE Technologies