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Solar Tower Stores Sun's Heat for Night Power
24 Jul
Summary
- Mirrors focus sunlight to heat molten salt for storage.
- Stored heat generates steam to drive turbines for electricity.
- Project tested thermal storage for reliable solar power.
In the Nevada desert, the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project utilizes a unique approach to solar power. Instead of immediate energy conversion, it stores the Sun's thermal energy within molten salt. Over 10,000 mirrors track the sun, concentrating its rays onto a central tower. This intense heat warms molten nitrate salt, which is then transferred to insulated tanks for storage.
When electricity demand increases, the stored heat is released to create steam. This steam powers a conventional turbine, generating electricity long after sunset. The project aimed to prove that concentrated solar power, combined with molten salt storage, could enhance the reliability of renewable energy sources.
Funded partly by a $737 million federal loan guarantee, Crescent Dunes was a large-scale test of this technology. Its capacity to generate 110 megawatts is significant, but its greater impact lies in demonstrating solar power's flexibility through thermal energy storage. This method allows solar energy to be available when needed, addressing a key limitation of solar power.
