PROJECT OVERVIEW

Summary

MSLOOP will improve the storage capacity of existing parabolic trough solar plants and it will be configured to make the integration of a hybrid plant concept possible, while providing firm and dispatchable electricity and using 100% renewable energy sources.

Regarding the environmental impact, MSLOOP will mitigate the oil issues by using an eco-friendly heat transfer fluid and will reduce the water consumption without penalizing the CSP plant performance.

MSLOOP has been focused on the market-drivers’ interests from the beginning of the Project in order to launch the solution in open tenders in less of 6 months after the start of the Project, boosting significant contributions to industry, environment and society. This will involve a deeper penetration of CSP plants in the generation mix and thus, an increase of the renewable share.

Project Timeline

General Objectives

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AT LEAST 20 % LCOE REDUCTION.
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INCREASE AVAILABILITY, FLEXIBILITY, AND DISPATCHABILITY THROUGH A HYBRID PLANT CONCEPT.
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MORE ECO‐FRIENDLY PROCESS BY ELIMINATING OIL FROM THE PROCESS AND REDUCING WATER CONSUMPTION.

Specific Objectives

To enhance, validate and certificate, under real operation conditions, the developed pilot loop to be replicated in solar fields at commercial scale and integrated in Parabolic Trough Power Plants.
To validate the feasibility of a CSP Parabolic Trough plant analysing the cost-benefits with ternary molten salts as HTF optimized with hybridization system, and counting on bankability report to support the total sum of a project.
To develop the selected business model and exploitation actions, quantifying system-wide benefits and the commercial strategies for MSLOOP market take-off.
To set a freezing point in 160 ºC adding security to the operation and reducing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.
To optimize Service Life of molten salts adding specific additives in order to minimize its degradation up to 565 ºC, reducing maintenance task and LCOE. Life Cycle Analysis of additivated molten salt will be performed.
To supply an electrical nominal power with independence of sun conditions, adjusting to demand curve with extremely short response times, by means of Hybridized Storage System, which can generate electrical power instantaneously.
To obtain bankability certification in order to guarantee the feasibility in tenders.
To mitigate environmental risks by replacing oil by ternary molten salts as HTF, eliminating in the process a toxic fluid.

Methodology

TRL6 - TRL7

  • Commercial Salt Properties Validation.
  • Reduction in water consumption.
  • Optimization of the loop prototype.
  • Optimization of operation modes and integration of the hybridization system.
  • Manageability and reliability of the plant.

TRL7 - TRL8

  • Manufacturing and assembling of the collector’s adjustments.
  • Operational test: recirculation, drainage, Hysol integration.
  • Homologation of the system.

TRL9 - TRL10

  • Scaling up of the prototype system to a commercial scale.
  • Real-Condition simulation of the final prototype.
  • Feasibility study at commercial scale.
  • Cost-benefit analysis.
  • Bankability process.
  • Development of business model and exploitation actions plans.
tr6-7
  • Commercial Salt Properties Validation.
  • Reduction in water consumption.
  • Optimization of the loop prototype.
  • Optimization of operation modes and integration of the hybridization system.
  • Manageability and reliability of the plant.
Imagen3
tr-7-8
  • Manufacturing and assembling of the collector’s adjustments.
  • Operational test: recirculation, drainage, Hysol integration.
  • Homologation of the system.
Fase-4-5-(5)
tr-9-10
  • Scaling up of the prototype system to a commercial scale.
  • Real-Condition simulation of the final prototype.
  • Feasibility study at commercial scale.
  • Cost-benefit analysis.
  • Bankability process.
  • Development of business model and exploitation actions plans.
Fase-5-6-(11)

Project Leader

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