Headline: IASS Workshop on Concentrating Solar Power

On January 22, 2013, the IASS hosted an international workshop themed “Concentrating Solar Power for electricity generation: Assessing alternatives, Opening new ways”. Under the chairmanship of IASS Scientific Director Prof. Carlo Rubbia, solar energy experts from the German Aerospace Center CSP research group gathered to evaluate possible ways to improve Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies, and discuss the latest findings of the research group.

In particular, the participants exchanged ideas and compared alternatives on a number of issues pertaining to heat storage, optimization of the solar field, reducing capital costs, and finding the best system for transforming the generated heat into electricity. Those aspects are key elements of the CSP research group’s scientific project, which seeks to identify the technical innovations needed to enhance the overall cost-efficiency of CSP plants. Its research activities are conducted in close collaboration with the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and follow a transdisciplinary approach.

CSP is a solar power technology which, contrary to photovoltaics, offers the possibility of providing power continuously by storing heat and transforming it into electricity when needed. This feature would compensate the inherent intermittency of solar power, and has thus the potential to make CSP one of the most promising renewable energy sources. A broad identity of views was reached amongst the participants.