| Hybrid Solar Thermal Power Plants | | | | Non-hybrid thermal solar power plants operate using |
| Hybrid solar thermal power plants are extremely | | | | clean solar energy, and the fuel in them is completely |
| efficient plants that can operate regardless of the time | | | | replaced by the sunlight. The only problem is that such |
| of day or weather, and produce the required power | | | | solar plants work only when it is sunny. That is why |
| output. When there is no sun, the plant will use natural | | | | hybrid plants that use the combination of the two: solar |
| gas or clean bio-fuels instead. A hybrid plant will | | | | power and fuels (natural gas or bio-fuels) have |
| typically consist of the following: a solar tower (a large | | | | become so popular today. |
| insulated tower with air), heliostats (devices that | | | | Testing Hybrid Thermal Solar Power Plants |
| concentrate solar power and follow the sun using | | | | Solar hybrid plants exist in real, and one was recently |
| tracking sensors and drive motors), as well as a solar | | | | installed and tested in Spain. This plant managed to |
| energy receiver. | | | | replace around 60% of the required fuel by feeding |
| Here is how the plant operates | | | | solar-heated air into a gas turbine. |
| Solar power is first concentrated by the heliostat (up | | | | Improving It Further |
| to 1000 times), and then absorbed in the solar energy | | | | We can improve solar hybrid power plants if we |
| receivers mounted on the tower. The solar receiver's | | | | replace gas with bio-fuels. Thus, we would achieve |
| surface starts to emit hot air into the tower (towers | | | | carbon-free electricity generation. |
| have a porous surface for the air to pass through). | | | | Today, solar power is employed in all types of |
| Hot air is drawn through the tower by a fan, until it | | | | constructions, including regular PV panels (collect the |
| reaches the thermal cycle engine. When it does, the | | | | sunlight, and then feed it into the grid or store it in a |
| engine begins to convert the air into mechanical | | | | battery), water heating and pool water heating |
| energy. The mechanical energy is then converted into | | | | systems, passive solar air heating systems, and so on. |
| electric by an electric generator. | | | | Solar energy opens new horizons for humanity. The |
| Hybrid solar plants equipped with solar receivers can | | | | environmentally friendly solar powered systems pay |
| heat the steam up to 600 degrees Celsius due to high | | | | for themselves within years and then start to generate |
| optical concentration. The higher the steam | | | | free electricity. Using solar energy receivers can |
| temperature, the less of the external fuel (natural gas | | | | increase the conversion of solar energy into electricity |
| or bio-fuels) is needed to bring it up to the necessary | | | | in some systems, as well as save on the initial costs of |
| turbine inlet temperature. | | | | these systems. |
| Non-Hybrid Thermal Solar Power Plants | | | | |