A different solar + storage technology

[Hillhater]

An Aussie company has a pilot plant running using solar energy to supply electricity 24/7 by employing a different approach to concentrated thermal solar and a different energy storage process. That uses hot water rather than salt.
They have developed a solar reciever that generates both electricity and heat.

RayGen’s module is four-square inches (10 cm2) yet has the power capacity of 7,500W (2.5kW electricity, 5kW heat)

.RayGen’s modules are almost 2,000x more powerful than traditional solar panels – withstanding almost 1,000x solar concentration, and using cells almost 2x efficiency. The modules are actively cooled with water, to prevent overheating. One third of the sunlight is converted into electricity, and two-thirds into heat (hot water at 90°C)

RayGen’s storage uses the world’s most abundant natural resource: water.

Two water pits – each to a depth of 15-20m and the size of a small farm dam – store energy as hot and cold water. The cold water pit is ‘charged’ using low-cost electricity and a standard ammonia-cycle chiller. The hot water is sourced from RayGen’s hi-tech solar or a heat pump. The pits are covered and insulated, meaning minimal water and heat loss.

When electricity is required from storage, the temperature difference drives an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) turbine. Ammonia, the working fluid in the turbine, is evaporated by the hot water to turn the turbine to generate electricity. The ammonia is then cooled and re-condensed by the cold water to go through the cycle again. No ammonia is consumed in the process. The ORC turbine drives a synchronous generator, which can operate as a synchronous condenser when de-coupled from the turbine.

More here..

Technology - Renewable Energy Storage | Solar Power Technology | RayGen

raygen.com

 

[neptronix]

That's actually pretty amazing.
Bet the cost of this is crazy, but maybe the gained efficiency offsets that..

Interesting that they are able to extract so much energy from heat.

 

[gromike]

....and to work in the thermal plant could be breathtaking experience.

 

[Papa]

I'm reminded of Solar One and Solar Two. A relative lived less than a mile away (near Dagget, Ca). The central receiving tower mid-day would glow so bright, you couldn't look at with unprotected eyes. IIRC it was never tied to the grid - what a waste

"The project produced 10 MW of electricity using 1,818 mirrors, each 40 m² (430 ft²) with a total area of 72,650 m² (782,000 ft²). Solar One was completed in 1981 and was operational from 1982 to 1986. Later redesigned and renamed Solar Two,"