Techno-economical evaluation of different   thermal energy storage concepts for CSP [PCI2020-120695-2/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; ERA-Net Action N° 838311]

[Call: Research projects of «Programación Conjunta Internacional» of the “Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020]

The objective of CSPplus is to reduce 30% the capital expenditure (CAPEX) and 3-4% the operating expenditure (OPEX) in the next generation of CSP plants. This reduction translates into a decrease of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) (with a final LCOE lower than 0.10 /kWh, as indicated by the SET-Plan strategic targets). Such objective will be achieved by increasing the peak operating temperature of the system to 750ºC, an upgrade that will be exploited fully thanks to CSP specifically designed components. Several storage candidates can theoretically achieve this goal, but there is no single solution when all the boundary system is considered. The aim of this project is to develop a new tool capable of fully identify, develop, and compare new storage concepts in an easy manner, providing a reliable and cost-effective solution based on the specific conditions of each possible scenario. This development will impulse the fully dispatchable CSP industry into new markets, and all the steps of this project will include societal objectives to increase awareness and acceptance of the new technology. CSPplus has a strong consortium of 6 partners from 3 countries and will be implemented through 5 WPs in a time frame of 36 months.