Advanced Heat Transfer Fluids and Novel Thermal Storage Concepts for Concentrating Solar Power Generation

Funding: $60 million

Open Date: 04/30/2008

Close Date: 07/14/2008

Funding Organization: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Funding Number: DE-PS36-08GO98032

Summary:

This funding opportunity will identify and support long term research activities and near term demonstration in the following two areas:

Improved, advanced heat transfer fluids (HTF). The objective for this area is to identify and characterize novel fluids or fluid types that possess the physical and chemical properties required for an improved HTF and thermal storage fluid for concentrating solar power technologies (CSP).
Novel thermal energy storage (TES) concepts or systems. The objective for this area is to generate and evaluate novel concepts that have the potential to reduce the cost of TES to less than $15 per thermal kilowatt hour and achieve round trip efficiencies greater than 93%. Work in TES may be applicable to any or all CSP technologies, parabolic trough, power tower, linear Fresnel, or concentrating dish.

Both objectives work toward the 2015 and 2020 goals of making CSP technologies cost competitive. Work that includes a consortium of solar technology providers is encouraged.

Last updated: 08/03/2009

Funding amounts and schedules are subject to change.