Installation and start-up of two modular rotary collectors for SHIP: first experimental results

Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP) is probably the application of concentrating solar technology with the largest growth potential. Indeed, the industrial sector contributes 20% of greenhouse gas emissions [1] while concentrating solar thermal energy generates a greater heat per field square meter than PV panels. An important share of thermal demand in the industrial sector is the range from 150 ºC to 300 ºC, which can be achieved by simple concentrators that can reduce costs.H2020 project ASTEP (GA 884411) is developing two small solar concentrators (for low and high latitudes, respectively) and a phase change material storage system, which will be installed in two industrial sites: one in Corinth, Greece, and the other in Iasi, Romania. During the first phase of the project, the solar collectors have been designed, constructed and commissioned on the premises of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Here, they will undergo testing to validate the technology. Solar collectors will subsequently be dismantled, and transported to the end-user, where they will be reassembled and tested in relevant conditions, in the local environments for which they were specifically designed.The present work presents the commissioning process of the solar collectors and the start-up process, including the first experimental results. It also evaluates the main strengths and weaknesses of the technology for a future improvement of the designs.