Approaching the Future of CSP with SUNSON Solar-to-heat-to-power (S2H2P) system: Industrial Application of Uninterrupted Renewable Heat and Electricity Generation

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies constitute an essential part of the European pathway toward a net zero CO2 emissions future by 20501. New solutions encompass integrating CSP technologies with Solar Heat-to-Power (S2H2P) systems to achieve this goal. High-temperature CSP with thermophotovoltaic devices (TPV) systems can pave the way to industry decarbonisation by providing uninterrupted green heat and electricity generation. Still, process heating, which accounts for 47 % of energy demand in the European industry, comes from almost 80 % of non-renewable sources2. CSP technologies face challenges related to limited temperature operations (600ºC- 800ºC), thermal storage capacity and efficiency losses in conversion3. Additionally, CSP technologies must find solutions regarding scale-up and the still high energy generation cost (0,11 c€/kWh)4 to achieve further industry integration. The SUNSON project5 proposes a disruptive concept in the field of S2H2P generation. Firstly, the SUNSON-Box prototype has a highly compact thermal energy storage (TES) and a modular design. This novel TES with outstanding capacity (>1MWh/m3) eases power generation using fluctuating solar RES and stores energy at ultra-high-temperature (>1200ºC, more than twice the conventional CSP-TES). Secondly, the SUNSON-TOOL is a smart digital tool based on artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This innovative tool will create a framework for a Decision Support System (DSS) to ease the up-scaling and replicability for energy, building and industrial sector applications. It substantially potentiates the overall prototype energy management by enhancing storage management, generation/demand coupling and optimising operating mode selection. A replicability and feasibility analysis reveals that temperature range and LCOH (levelized cost of heat) are the key parameters to consider when comparing renewable technologies for industry decarbonisation. SUNSON overcomes other CSP technologies (Linear Fresnel Collector and Parabolic Trough Collector) since it can operate up to 1200ºC. SUNSON technology has the potential to provide CO2-free electricity and high-temperature heat for energy-intensive industries and other sectors, such as agroindustry, plastics, and textiles. Overcoming operation temperatures at 600ºC will enable covering high demands of hightemperature heat, mostly in the chemical sector (steam reforming) and metallurgical process (preheating, dry calcination, ore reduction) where needed temperatures can reach up to 1000 ºC. Moreover, it has paramount potential in the fields of electricity storage, grid flexibility, and district heating.