Energy development company Siemens Energy on April 6 highlighted the benefits of its new solar thermal energy and storage solution, highlighting the potential it could have to “revolutionise” the way in which energy is produced and used to power society.

Outlining the innovation, Siemens Energy project director Dr Ulrich Hueck said solar power exceeds all other energy reserves; therefore, there needs to be a means to make use of it at night, with it having the potential to power the world during the day.

He highlighted that, therefore, this innovation from Siemens entailed cheap thermal storage and an innovative solar receiver in a robust and simple concept.

Hueck acclaimed that this solution had the potential to be a “game changer” for concentrated solar power (CSP) – a multibillion-dollar business.

The solution uses a closed air receiver and solid storage to unlock the potential of CSP.

Hueck explained that this was a new CSP concept using a closed air receiver that was robust and simple, efficient and scalable, sustainable and renewable, and economical and profitable.

He highlighted that the air received, in addition to solid storage, outperformed molten salt CSP in terms of both capital expenditure and efficiency.

With regard to funding, Hueck said Siemens Energy would look to receive public research and development funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany.

There is also the potential to get European Union (EU) funding for companies working with EU companies.

Hueck emphasised that the efficiency of the solar receiver was crucial for competitiveness.

He noted that the closed air received used physical effects for especially good heat transfer.

Hueck also pointed out that numerical analysis indicated competitive thermal receiver efficiency.

He outlined that the numerically generated heat transfer design was manufacturable with silicon carbine ceramics.

Hueck said the first receiver module was made of plastic and then, later, ceramic and steel. He noted that the design of the receiver module was already mature.

He added that the calculated and measured pressure drop of the receiver module ensured high accuracy. He acclaimed that the receiver module accomplished high temperatures for heating of air.

He informed that the design to test seven receiver modules was almost complete, with manufacturing having begun.

Moreover, Hueck said there was considerable cost reduction potential through industrial mass production of identical receiver modules.

Hueck also informed that Siemens Energy was taking an approach to reduce the time required for the installation of several prototypes, to speed up the process.

He said the next steps were aimed at rapid further development and market launch of the innovation.

Hueck noted that the learning curve of development enabled an ever-broader range of applications.

He outlined that the Siemens Energy solar thermal approach allowed for numerous different applications. This could entail a solar thermal annex to an industrial facility; a solar thermal annex to a fossil power plant; CSP extension of photovoltaic plants; desalination of seawater; midsize standalone plants for power generations; and small standalone plants for power generation.

Hueck also averred that solar heat and thermal storage could make existing fossil industrial plants “green”.

He highlighted that the new the technology provides multiple benefits, mainly, savings of fossil fuel; a reduction in carbon emissions; improved plant availability; the creation of a sustainable business model based on innovations; and acceleration of the transition to a low-cost renewable energy supply.