Why solar energy?
- Why solar energy?
Why solar energy?
Abengoa Solar is convinced that solar energy can contribute significantly to addressing the current challenges in energy and climate change. There is a notable growing need for countries to reduce their emissions and achieve greater energy independence while facing these factors:
- Increasing volatility in fossil fuel prices
- Significant increase in energy demand and CO2 emissions in emerging countries
- Decreased nuclear generation in the energy mix of developed and developing countries
To do this, Abengoa Solar is committed to solar thermal energy through the two commercially proven technologies:
- Tower Technology
- Trough Technology
A technology with great development possibility
Solar thermal, is considered one of the main pillars to meet the energy needs of our world without CO2 emissions. It has many advantages for energy diversification, potential for reducing generation costs, dispatchability, is easy to hybridize and has a positive impact on local communities. Different international agencies agree on the enormous potential of this technology:
Solar energy is an inexhaustible source of energy
The sun is free and is an unlimited source capable of supplying large amounts of energy to our planet. In fact, deserts receive more energy in just less than 6 hours than the world consumes in an entire year.
Proven and ready for commercialization
Solar thermal is at an optimal point of its development, combining the reliability gained in the operation of CSP plants, like the SEGS plants put into operation in the late 80's in the United States, and the experience from the operation of the solar towers. There is also the potential development of next-generation solar thermal technologies.
Substitute for fossil fuels
The global energy system is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, so the generation cost is directly influenced by fuel prices, wich is affected by volatility. To ensure long-term economic development within a framework of a guaranteed energy supply, both developed and developing countries should have a clean energy mix that is independent and diversified clean energy mix that is independent and diversified in accordance with existing local resources.
Competitive generation costs
Solar thermal technology has great potential to reduce generation costs with the following:
- Reducing investment costs:
- Increased competition in the production chain
- Economies of scale
- Reducing the learning curve
- Increased efficiency through incremental generation innovation and the development of new technologies.
All these factors contribute to achieving a cost competitive with conventional sources in the coming years.
Dispatchable and adaptable to specific needs
One of the main advantages of solar thermal is the versatility and flexibility that gives us the ability to adapt power generation to the needs of the network. It can cover the base demand periods and the peaks with thermal inertia, storage and hybridization with conventional sources or other renewable sources. This capability provides invaluable dispatchability for utilities and power system operators.
Hybridize with conventional or other renewable sources
CSP can be combined with conventional or renewable sources energy sources, to achieve greater energy efficiency, reduce emissions in electricity generation and to "back-up" other renewables. There are two major types of hybrid plants:
- ISCC (Integrated Solar Combined Cycle plants), which consists of integrating a solar field of either parabolic troughs or a superheated tower into a combined cycleplant.
- Repowering of coal and gas plants with a solar field of parabolic troughs or a superheated tower.
Creating jobs and driving the economy
Solar thermal technology has an important impact on local communities through the creation of many direct jobs during the construction phase (over 500 jobs in construction and manufacture of components for a 50 MW plant) and operation (about 50 people responsible for operation and maintenance (O&M) during the lifetime of the plant). The development of solar plants is a major economic boost to the region and contributes to industrial development through:
- Development of the research sector through collaboration with R & D centers and universities.
- Development of ancillary industries and manufacturing components
- Investment opportunities for local businesses