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Solar thermal technologies as a bridge from fossil fuels to renewables

Author

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  • Vishwanath Haily Dalvi

    (Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India)

  • Sudhir V. Panse

    (Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India)

  • Jyeshtharaj B. Joshi

    (Institute of Chemical Technology, Nathalal Parekh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
    Homi Bhabha National Institute, 2nd Floor, BARC Training School Complex)

Abstract

Integrating solar thermal systems into Rankine-cycle power plants can be done with minimal modification to the existing infrastructure. This presents an opportunity to introduce these technologies into the commercial space incrementally, to allow engineers to build familiarity with the systems before phasing out fossil-fuel energy with solar electricity. This paper shows that there is no thermodynamic barrier to injecting solar thermal heat into Rankine-cycle plants to offset even up to 50% fossil-fuel combustion with existing technology: with better solar-to-electricity efficiencies than conventionally deployed solar-thermal power plants. This strategy is economically preferable to installing carbon-capture and compression equipment for mitigating an equivalent amount of greenhouse-gas emissions. We suggest that such projects be encouraged by extending the same subsidy/incentives to the solar-thermal fraction of a ‘solar-aided’ plant that would be offered to a conventionally deployed solar-thermal power plant of similar capacity. Such a policy would prepare the ground for an incremental solar-thermal takeover of fossil-fuel power plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Vishwanath Haily Dalvi & Sudhir V. Panse & Jyeshtharaj B. Joshi, 2015. "Solar thermal technologies as a bridge from fossil fuels to renewables," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 1007-1013, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:5:y:2015:i:11:d:10.1038_nclimate2717
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2717
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gharat, Punit V. & Bhalekar, Snehal S. & Dalvi, Vishwanath H. & Panse, Sudhir V. & Deshmukh, Suresh P. & Joshi, Jyeshtharaj B., 2021. "Chronological development of innovations in reflector systems of parabolic trough solar collector (PTC) - A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    2. Desai, Brijesh & Barodawala, Azhir & Dalvi, Vishwanath H., 2021. "Efficient power generation along with thermal treatment of aqueous stream using low grade heat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    3. Biswas, D.B. & Bose, S. & Dalvi, V.H. & Deshmukh, S.P. & Shenoy, N.V. & Panse, S.V. & Joshi, J.B., 2020. "A techno-economic comparison between piston steam engines as dispatchable power generation systems for renewable energy with concentrated solar harvesting and thermal storage against solar photovoltai," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    4. Yuan, Shunpan & Yan, Rui & Ren, Bibo & Du, Zongliang & Cheng, Xu & Du, Xiaosheng & Wang, Haibo, 2021. "Robust, double-layered phase-changing microcapsules with superior solar-thermal conversion capability and extremely high energy storage density for efficient solar energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 725-733.
    5. Thalange, Vinayak C. & Dalvi, Vishwanath H. & Mahajani, Sanjay M. & Panse, Sudhir V. & Joshi, Jyeshtharaj B. & Patil, Raosaheb N., 2017. "Design, optimization and optical performance study of tripod heliostat for solar power tower plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 610-624.
    6. Gao, Yang & Ma, Shaoxiu & Wang, Tao, 2019. "The impact of climate change on wind power abundance and variability in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).

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