Archimede, a combination gas and solar power plant in Sicily, is able to produce solar electricity around the clock thanks its huge molten salt solar heat storage capacity. The gas-solar power plant combines concentrated solar power (CSP) collection with solar heat storage, then uses the stored heat to run power generators at night.
Molten salt for solar heat storage is more efficient than other heat-storing methods. The ability to release heat to run power-generating turbines at night greatly reduces the need for natural gas and increases the viability of solar as a power source.
What's Driving This Trend
- Molten Salt Solar Heat Storage
- Using molten salt for solar heat storage increases the viability of solar as a power source.
- Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)
- Combining concentrated solar power (CSP) collection with solar heat storage allows for solar electricity production 24/7.
- Reduced Reliance on Natural Gas
- The ability to run power generators at night using stored solar heat greatly reduces the need for natural gas.
Who This Affects Most
- Renewable Energy
- The molten salt solar heat storage technology presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the renewable energy industry.
- Power Generation
- The combination of concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar heat storage can disrupt the power generation industry by enabling continuous electricity production.
- Energy Storage
- The use of molten salt for solar heat storage creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the energy storage sector.
