Concentrated solar power: What a South African company has learned from designing, building and commercialising a Linear Fresnel Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plant

BBEnergy developed a prototype and subsequent 150kW demonstration Linear Fresnel Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Plant. This demonstration plant was commissioned in January 2013 and is the first of its kind in South Africa. It was designed, constructed and commissioned with South African know-how, labour and materials. This facility consists of 6 rows of mirrors, in a north-south alignment with slight curvatures that reflect and focus the sunlight onto a central carrier pipe (the receiver). This receiver is heated up and generates steam or pressurised hot water at temperatures up to 250°C and 40 Bar pressure. The purpose of the original prototype was to investigate the feasibility of designing and constructing such plants in South Africa and what the possible applications may be. The pilot plant has been well received with large amounts of interest shown and applications investigated. This technology demonstration project proved that Concentrated Solar Power [CSP] is a viable alternative thermal energy source and that opportunities exist that fit this specific solution.