CSP World

The EU funded project HITECO has welcomed ENEA as new member of the consortium researchng and developing a new solar collector concept for high temperature operations in CSP applications. The project is led by Spanish firm Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas.

The project is developing a key component of the technology; an innovative solar receiver tube for high temperature to "overcome the current limitations in the technology reconsidering concepts and looking for the flexibility in energy plant operation".

ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, will add its broad expertise in R&D projects and research programs of the main international bodies acting in science and technology.

In this case, the project is working to use molten salt as working fluid, a matter in which ENEA has the largest track record. The italian center also proves expertise for the definition of technical standards. ENEA will be involved in the on-field demonstration activities and in charge of the thermal fluid management system, operated with molten salts, as well as the collectors, with a total length of 100 meters. ENEA will carry out these research tasks until the end of the project in ENEA’s premises, located in Casaccia (Rome). The main objective is the validation of the new concept of solar absorber tube for high temperature included in HITECO project.

The HITECO Project analyzes solar receivers from the perspective of future profitability and viability of production, taking into account the technical barriers of the industrial processes involved: the feasible application and use of distinct materials, logistics, and the assembly process.

Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas coordinates this FP7 project and strives in an innovation strategy offering successfully our clients efficient, high quality solutions, meanwhile remaining committed to state-of-the-art clean energy technologies, through the entire value chain, from early stage development through plant operations. According to Hugo Cachafeiro, Aries R&D Department Director and HITECO project coordinator, the Consortium is really fond of joining forces with ENEA to strive on innovation and increase the parabolic-trough efficiency, reaching the current operational limitations, and to provide more reliable, more efficient, and cheaper energy solutions.

Aries is an engineering company specialized in the design and management of worldwide renewable projects. Some of the most remarkable successful case studies are Ouarzazate CSP plant in Morocco (as part of the awarded consortium preferred bidder for the first phase of a proposed 160 MW plant -500 MW overall-), Bokpoort CSP plant in South Africa (50 MW) or Ma’an Solar CSP plant in Jordan (46 MW). Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas’ portfolio exceeds 1,000 MW in international renewable energy projects. The firm, with offices in Spain, the United States, and in China, has successfully developed projects in more than 22 countries.