To further advance CSP technologies, DOE today also released a roadmap, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to guide research and deployment of heliostats, which are mirrors that follow the sun and concentrate sunlight in CSP plants. These components represent 30-40% of the cost of a CSP system, so reducing the cost of heliostats can make a significant impact on DOE’s goal of $0.05/kwh for CSP plants by 2030. Key areas the roadmap identifies as ripe for innovation include automated operation and machine learning, metrology, automated manufacturing and installation, as well as secure wireless controls. DOE’s Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon), a $25 million, 5-year research effort led by NREL and Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute, will work to implement the roadmap.
As the central hub for heliostat technology development in the United States, HelioCon seeks to significantly expand U.S. expertise in heliostats and increase the number researchers in the field. To achieve that goal, NREL today released a $3 million request for proposals (RFP) for research projects to work with them on these challenges. In addition to engaging external researchers, the RFP will seek to leverage unique expertise and test capabilities at the National Laboratories to advance the projects proposed by academic and industry partners. Responses are due by Nov. 8, 2022.
Learn more about the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, its research in CSP, industrial decarbonization, and how DOE’s research in desalination can help pave the way to greater adoption of CSP technologies.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
