PROJECT TITLE

Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation for Industrial Process Heat

AIM

ESSteam is an R&D project funded by the Eurostars programme. Its core aim is to break the traditional boundaries of non-concentrated solar thermal in terms of energy conversion efficiency and operating temperatures. For this purpose, the project will develop a new generation of High Vacuum Flat Panels (HVFPs) capable of generating carbon free process steam up to 10bar.

OBJECTIVES

AND TARGETS

• Generation of steam all year round in South European climates (solar irradiance: GHI>1500kWh/  m2/year) with average annual conversion efficiency of >45%.

• Coating of the Selective Solar Absorber (SSA): Stability up to 400 °C; Spectral averaged emissivity lower than 0.04 up to 300 °C; Solar Absorptance higher than 0.9

• Substrate: Target emissivity 0.02

• Overall performance of the Selective Solar Absorber: efficiency 60% at 250°C;

• Operating range of the new solar collector: up to 250°C (stagnation temperature higher than 350°C)

• Mass manufacturing cost for the SSA: Goal: 11-13€/m2

APPROACH

To achieve its ambition ESSteam works:

• At solar panel level: R&D on a new selective solar absorber (SSA) that will substantially reduce radiative heat losses, while keeping absorptivity at a maximum for superior performance

• At a system level: re-design and optimise the solar thermal system to further reduce heat losses, cost and installation time

PARTNERS

TVP Solar SA (Switzerland) - Coordinator

Tresol Srl (Italy, subsidiary of TVP Solar) - Partner

CNR-ISASI (Italy) - Partner

Aalborg CSP AS (Denmark) - Partner

TOTAL BUDGET & FOUNDING

1’138’129€ (budget) - 529’615€ (funding)

TIMEFRAME

ESSteam started in August 2021 and will end in July 2024 (3 years)

WORKPLAN AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES

ESSteam’s activities are organised in 5 workpackages; two of them are horizontal ones (WP4: Dissemination, Training & Business Exploitation, and WP5: Project Management). The remain three WPs cover the following core technical activities:

ESSteam technology extends the operational limitations of non-concentrated solar thermal systems up to 250C and 10bar steam generation. It will provide solar steam at cost competitive terms compared to fossil-fuels. Being a non-concentrated solar technology it will enable steam generation even in locations with medium level of solar irradiance and/or high share of diffused light.

In this context, we aim at decarbonising industrial process heat with industries being the end-users. Early adopters may also include Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), renewable energy project developers and energy utilities. Engineering and EPC companies on industrial thermal energy systems will be able to extend their relevant competences and services to solar steam.

ESSteam will also create awareness on the decarbonisation potential of the new technology among energy & sustainability consultants, as well as energy decision/ policy makers. Finally, energy investors will be given an additional high ROI option for their projects.

PROJECT DIARY & NEWS

September 2021:

The 2-day kick-off meeting was held on Sep 13-14, at the manufacturing facility of Tresol in Avellino, Italy

October 2021:

Technical (virtual) meeting on system requirements for solar steam generation (Oct 20)

December 2021:

 Physical technical meeting on requirements for substrate and Selective Solar Absorber (SSA) in Avellino (Dec 22)

January 2022:

Teleconferences on progress review; Project logo

February 2022:

Report on project requirements; 1st 6-month reporting; Quality and Risk Management Plan

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 792276

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