Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
drops a little and the costs increase slightly. On a long-term basis solar thermal
power plants with dry cooling should also become economically interesting enough
to resolve the cooling water issue. If solar thermal plants are installed near the sea,
the water from the sea can provide effective cooling. The waste heat of solar thermal
facilities can also be used to desalinate sea water. It should be possible to produce
carbon-free electric energy and drinking water at the same time but until now this
has not been done on a large scale.
7.6 Solar Power Plant Markets
The biggest markets for power plants exist in countries that have good solar radia-
tion conditions and offer favourable energy credits. The main markets are currently
in Spain and the USA (Figure 7.16).
The main reason for this is the favourable economic conditions in both countries.
Energy credits for solar thermal power plants in Spain are high and above the typical
market prices for electric energy. The USA uses Renewable Portofolio Standards
(RPS). These vary from state to state and establish quotas for renewable energy
plants. Plants are being built or planned in certain US states such as California and
Nevada. Other sunny and hot US states could follow their example.
In addition to Spain, plans are underway to improve the economic conditions for
solar thermal plants in other Mediterranean countries. Italy, Greece and countries
in North Africa could soon be following Spain's example. In Germany the focus
has been mainly on developing the appropriate technology. Germany is among the
market leaders in the world, specifi cally in the area of components for solar thermal
parabolic trough power plants. A prototype for a solar tower power plant in Jülich
aims to showcase German technology and attract new export markets.
Figure 7.16
Construction of a parabolic trough collector prototype in Andalusia. Spain is currently one
of the booming markets for solar power plants.
