Skip to main content

Enabling Greater Penetration of Solar Power via the Use of CSP with Thermal Energy Storage.

Share

At high penetration of solar generation there are a number of challenges to economically integrating this variable and uncertain resource. These include the limited coincidence between the solar resource and normal demand patterns and limited flexibility of conventional generators to accommodate variable generation resources. Of the large number of technologies that can be used to enable greater penetration of variable generators, concentrating solar power (CSP) with thermal energy storage (TES) presents a number of advantages. The use of storage enables this technology to shift energy production to periods of high demand or reduced solar output. In addition, CSP can provide substantial grid flexibility by rapidly changing output in response to the highly variable net load created by high penetration of solar (and wind) generation. In this work we examine the degree to which CSP may be complementary to PV by performing a set of simulations in the U.S. Southwest to demonstrate the general potential of CSP with TES to enable greater use of solar generation, including additional PV.

Resource Type
Publisher
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Browse Resources by Related Topics:

Related Resources

Thursday, Sep 07, 2023

Solar Market Insight Report 2023 Q3

The quarterly SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables U.S. Solar Market Insight report shows the major trends in the U.S. solar industry. Learn more about the U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. Released September 7, 2023.

Read More
Monday, Mar 20, 2023

Permitting Reform: Unleashing Clean Energy Jobs & Investment

The U.S. solar industry’s top priority for permitting reform is the speedy deployment of more transmission infrastructure that fairly distributes costs among everyone who benefits from it.

Read More
Thursday, Mar 09, 2023

Solar Market Insight Report 2022 Year in Review

The quarterly SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables U.S. Solar Market Insight report shows the major trends in the U.S. solar industry. Learn more about the U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. Released March 9, 2023.

Read More