SolarReserve

Last updated
SolarReserve, LLC
Company type Private
IndustrySolar thermal power
Founded2008;16 years ago (2008)
Defunct2020
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
U.S.
Key people
Tom Georgis (CEO)
Bill Gould(CTO)
Website SolarReserve.com (archived)

SolarReserve was a developer of utility-scale solar power projects which include Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic (PV) technology. The company has commercialized solar thermal energy storage technology that enables solar power tower CSP plants to deliver electricity day and night. In this technology, a molten salt is used to capture the energy from the sun and store it. When electricity is needed, the stored liquid salt is used to turn water into steam to turn a turbine and generate electricity. [1] [2]

Contents

As of May 2015, SolarReserve has developed and secured long-term power contracts for 482 megawatts (MW) of solar projects representing $2.8 billion of project capital, with a development pipeline of more than 6.6 gigawatts (GW) globally. [3] SolarReserve reached its lowest price yet at ¢6.3/kWh for the 2019 Copiapó Solar Project. [4] By 2020, the company had ceased operations. [5] An affiliate of SolarReserve filed a lawsuit to inspect the books of Tonopah Solar Energy LLC, a power plant project SolarReserve invested but ended losing control. [6] A Delaware judged rule rejected SolarReserve's affiliate claim. [7]

History

SolarReserve was formed in early 2008 with seed capital [8] from US Renewables Group, in partnership with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), to commercialize advanced molten salt technology for utility-scale concentrated solar thermal power. [9] This technology was first developed and tested by Rocketdyne for two decades and had more than 100 US and international patents. [10] [11] [12] In September 2008, the company raised an additional $140 million in a Series B funding. [13]

In 2014, SolarReserve acquired ownership from Rocketdyne of its intellectual property rights and patents specifically for molten salt technology for concentrated solar-thermal power and electricity storage, heliostat designs and collector field control systems. [14] By 2020, the website was no longer active. [5]

Projects

Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project

The 110 MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is the world’s first utility-scale facility to use molten salt power tower energy storage. [1] It has 10,347 tracking mirrors [15] (heliostats) that follow the sun and reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a heat exchanger, a receiver, atop a 640-foot (200 m) tower. Crescent Dunes has 10 hours of storage and was to deliver 500,000 MW hours of electricity per year, day and night, to 75,000 homes. [16] In September, 2011, SolarReserve received a $737 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the project and broke ground. [17] The project had a 25-year agreement with NV Energy for 100 percent of the electricity, but after multiple failures of its molten salt storage tanks, one resulting in an eight month outage, [18] it was terminated by NV Energy in October 2019 due to the project having "failed to produce." [19] Alleging a takeover by the DOE, SolarReserve has raised the possibility of this project filing for bankruptcy. [20] The company canceled another Nevada project in 2019. [21]

Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project

The Redstone Solar Thermal Power Project is a planned 100 MW solar project located at Postmasburg, near Kimberly, South Africa. The project will have 12 hours of storage to deliver to more than 200,000 South African homes. [22] In May 2019, it was reported that financing for Redstone was almost complete. [23]

Aurora Solar Thermal Power Project

The Aurora Solar Thermal Power Project was a 150MW solar thermal plant proposed to be built about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Port Augusta in South Australia. [24] The project was expected to cost AUD $650 million and was to be completed by 2020. The promised power delivery price is noted to be competitive with combined-cycle natural-gas plants. [25]

On 5 April 2019, South Australian Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan announced the cancellation of the project. [26] The project may continue with other companies. [27]

Copiapó Solar Project

The Copiapó Solar Project near Copiapó, Atacama Region, Chile is a 260 MW hybrid solar power project consisting of CSP and PV energy. It will have 14 hours of storage to deliver to more than 560,000 homes in Atacama. The project is the first of its kind in Chile and will be the largest solar power plant in the world. [28] At the 2017 auction, SolarReserve bid $63/MWh (¢6.3/kWh) for 24-hour CSP power with no subsidies, competing with other types such as LNG gas turbines. [4]

Photovoltaic

  1. Lesedi Solar Energy Project
  2. Letsatsi Solar Energy Project
  3. Jasper Solar Energy Project

See also

Related Research Articles

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Solar thermal energy (STE) is a form of energy and a technology for harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. Solar thermal collectors are classified by the United States Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low-temperature collectors are generally unglazed and used to heat swimming pools or to heat ventilation air. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for heating water or air for residential and commercial use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemasolar Thermosolar Plant</span> Concentrated solar power plant

Gemasolar is a concentrated solar power plant with a molten salt heat storage system. It is located within the city limits of Fuentes de Andalucía in the province of Seville, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PS10 solar power plant</span> Concentrated solar power station in Spain

The PS10 Solar Power Plant, is the world's first commercial concentrating solar power tower operating near Seville, in Andalusia, Spain. The 11 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. It took four years to build and so far has cost €35 million (US$46 million). PS10 produces about 23,400 megawatt-hours (MW·h) per year, for which it receives €271 (US$360) per MW·h under its power purchase agreement, equating to a revenue of €6.3 million per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andasol solar power station</span> Concentrated solar thermal power station in Spain

The Andasol solar power station is a 150-megawatt (MW) concentrated solar power station and Europe's first commercial plant to use parabolic troughs. It is located near Guadix in Andalusia, Spain, and its name is a portmanteau of Andalusia and Sol. The Andasol plant uses tanks of molten salt as thermal energy storage to continue generating electricity, irrespective of whether the sun is shining or not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solana Generating Station</span> Solar thermal power station in Arizona

The Solana Generating Station is a solar power plant near Gila Bend, Arizona, about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Phoenix. It was completed in 2013. When commissioned, it was the largest parabolic trough plant in the world, and the first U.S. solar plant with molten salt thermal energy storage. Built by the Spanish company Abengoa Solar, the project can produce up to 280 megawatts (MW) gross, supplied by two 140 MW gross (125 MW net) steam turbine generators: enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 70,000 homes and obviate the emission of roughly 475,000 tons of CO2 every year. Its name is the Spanish term for "sunny spot".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concentrated solar power</span> Use of mirror or lens assemblies to heat a working fluid for electricity generation

Concentrated solar power systems generate solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight into a receiver. Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat engine connected to an electrical power generator or powers a thermochemical reaction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power tower</span> Type of solar furnace with a tower receiving focused light

A solar power tower, also known as 'central tower' power plant or 'heliostat' power plant, is a type of solar furnace using a tower to receive focused sunlight. It uses an array of flat, movable mirrors to focus the sun's rays upon a collector tower. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems are seen as one viable solution for renewable, pollution-free energy.

eSolar Concentrating solar power

eSolar is a privately held company that develops concentrating solar power (CSP) plant technology. The company was founded by the Pasadena-based business incubator Idealab in 2007 as a developer of CSP plant technology. The company aims to develop a low cost alternative to fossil fuels through a combination of small heliostats, modular architecture, and a high-precision sun-tracking system. In October 2017, an article in GreenTech Media suggested that eSolar ceased business in late 2016.

A compact linear Fresnel reflector (CLFR) – also referred to as a concentrating linear Fresnel reflector – is a specific type of linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) technology. They are named for their similarity to a Fresnel lens, in which many small, thin lens fragments are combined to simulate a much thicker simple lens. These mirrors are capable of concentrating the sun's energy to approximately 30 times its normal intensity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valle Solar Power Station</span> Two adjacent twin 50 MW solar thermal power plants

The Valle Solar Power Station is a two adjacent twin 50 MW solar thermal power plants in San José del Valle, Cádiz, Spain, near the border with the Arcos de la Frontera (north) and the Jerez de la Frontera (west) municipalities, in the comarca of the Campiña de Jerez, a county with no administrative role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project</span> Solar power station in Nevada, United States

The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project is a solar thermal power project with an installed capacity of 110 megawatt (MW) and 1.1 gigawatt-hours of energy storage located near Tonopah, about 190 miles (310 km) northwest of Las Vegas. Crescent Dunes is the first commercial concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with a central receiver tower and advanced molten salt energy storage technology at full scale, following the experimental Solar Two and Gemasolar in Spain at 50 MW. As of 2023, it is operated by its new owner; ACS, and in a new contract with NV Energy, it now supplies solar energy at night only, drawing on thermal energy stored each day.

Solar power in Chile is an increasingly important source of energy. Total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity in Chile reached 8.36 GW in 2023. Solar energy provided 19.9% of national electricity generation in Chile in 2023, compared to less than 0.1% in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouarzazate Solar Power Station</span> Concentrated solar power station in Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Ouarzazate Solar Power Station (OSPS), also called Noor Power Station is a solar power complex and auxiliary diesel fuel system located in the Drâa-Tafilalet region in Morocco, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ouarzazate town, in Ghessat rural council area. At 510 MW, it is the world's largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. With an additional 72 MW photovoltaic system the entire project was planned to produce 582 MW. The total project's estimated cost is around $9 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerro Dominador Solar Thermal Plant</span> Chilean electrical plant

Cerro Dominador Solar Power Plant is a 210-megawatt (MW) combined concentrated solar power and photovoltaic plant located in the commune of María Elena in the Antofagasta Region of Chile, about 24 kilometres west-northwest of Sierra Gorda. The project was approved by the Chilean government in 2013 and construction was started by Abengoa Solar Chile, a branch of the multinational Abengoa Spain. The plant was inaugurated on June 8, 2021. A follow-up project called Likana Solar bid $33.99/MWh in an auction in August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bokpoort CSP</span> Concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal energy

Bokpoort CSP is a concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal energy power plant, located near Groblershoop in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The project was procured pursuant to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) initiated by the South African Department of Energy.

Redstone Solar Thermal Power (RSTP) is a solar power tower with molten salt energy storage, located in Postmasburg, near Kimberley, in the Northern Cape Region of South Africa. Redstone will have a capacity of 100 megawatts (MW) to deliver power to 200,000 people and was awarded in bid window 3.5 of the REIPPP at a strike price of 122.3 ZAR/KWh including time of day pricing in 2015. The project was initially based on the technology of now bankrupt Solar Reserve, but was delayed for several years because the PPA was not signed by Eskom until 2018. After the project was revived the plant is now under construction and the technology will be provided by Brightsource and John Cockerill, as demonstrated in the Noor Energy 1 project in the UAE.

The Copiapó Solar Project is a 390 megawatt (MW) net solar thermal power project to be located near Copiapó, about 65 kilometers east of the coastal town of Caldera. The project is being developed by SolarReserve, and is scheduled to reach commercial operation in 2019.

Aurora Solar Thermal Power Project was a planned solar power tower solar thermal power plant to be located north of Port Augusta in South Australia. It was planned to generate 150 MW of electricity after it was completed in 2020. Storage capacity would have been up to 8 hours at full power. The facility was expected to produce 495 GWh of electricity annually. It was to be 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Port Augusta on Carriewerloo Station.

The Sandstone Solar Energy Project was an up to 1,600 megawatt (MW) solar thermal power project with 16 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, planned just to the east of Tonopah, about 170 miles (270 km) northwest of Las Vegas. The project was about up to eight 200 MW solar towers with integrated molten salt energy storage technology. The project, developed by SolarReserve and owned by Sandstone Solar Energy, LLC. was anticipated to cost about $5 billion. Planned energy output is 5,600 GW·h per year.

References

  1. 1 2 WIRED, The Window, Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project Part 1: The Facility-The Window-WIRED
  2. ↑ Grunwald, Mike. The Green Revolution is Here, TIME, June 5, 2014. (Subscription required)
  3. ↑ Dipaola, Anthony. SolarReserve Seeks South African Plants, Expansion Into MidEast, Bloomberg, May 9, 2014
  4. 1 2 Kraemer, Susan (13 March 2017). "SolarReserve Bids 24-Hour Solar At 6.3 Cents In Chile". CleanTechnica . Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  5. 1 2 Deign, Jason (20 January 2020). "America's Concentrated Solar Power Companies Have All but Disappeared". www.greentechmedia.com.
  6. ↑ Deign, Jason. "America's Concentrated Solar Power Companies Have All but Disappeared". America’s Concentrated Solar Power Companies Have All but Disappeared.
  7. ↑ Leonard, Mike. "SolarReserve Loses Second Suit Over Failed Nevada Energy Venture". Bloomber Law.
  8. ↑ Lunsford, Lynn. Solar Venture Will Draw on Molten Salt. The Wall Street Journal. January 2, 2008.
  9. ↑ Silver, Edward, Solar-to-Salt Energy Start up gets $140 Million in Financing LA Times, September 19, 2008
  10. ↑ Karuh, Carri. Concentrated Solar Power Tower Technology Hits Milestone, Breaking Energy, April 3, 2013
  11. ↑ Woody, Todd. Secret Ingredient to Making Solar Energy Work: Salt, Forbes, April 4, 2012
  12. ↑ Litwin, RZ, High Temperature Molten Salt Receiver, Patent Images, June 20, 2006.
  13. ↑ Kho, Jennifer. SolarReserve Raises $140M for Solar-Thermal Projects, GreenTechMedia.com website, September 16, 2008.
  14. ↑ Yang, Melissah. SolarReserve Buys Aerojet Rocketdyne Division, Los Angeles Business Journal, October 27, 2014
  15. ↑ Kraemer, Susan. CSP 2015 plant data to highlight output costs against tech risk Archived 2016-02-07 at the Wayback Machine , CSP Today, May 22, 2015
  16. ↑ Kile, Meredith; Johnson, Chanelle Berlin (2014-01-23). "Need to Know: How SolarReserve generates energy around the clock". america.aljazeera.com . Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  17. ↑ Energy Department Finalizes $737 Million Loan Guarantee to Tonopah Solar Energy for Nevada Project (Press release). Loan Programs Office (LPO), Dept. of Energy (DOE). September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "Post bankruptcy, Crescent Dunes CSP plant owner wants project back online by year's end". pv magazine USA. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  19. ↑ "NV Energy sends termination notice to massive Tonopah solar project, developer accuses Energy Department of taking over". 6 October 2019.
  20. ↑ "Will DOE take the Crescent Dunes solar project into bankruptcy?". 7 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "SolarReserve nixes Nevada plans for world's largest solar project". www.cspfocus.cn.
  22. ↑ "SolarReserve Wins Bid to Build South African Solar Plus Storage Plant". 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Kraemer, Susan (2019-05-27). "Morocco's Ourazazate Noor III CSP Tower Exceeds Performance Targets". solarpaces.org. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  24. ↑ Geuss, Megan (14 August 2017). "South Australia okays giant solar thermal plant from SolarReserve". Ars Technica. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  25. ↑ Lacey, Stephen (14 August 2017). "SolarReserve Inks Deal With South Australia to Supply Solar Thermal Power With Storage for 6 Cents". GreenTech Media. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  26. ↑ "Port Augusta solar thermal power plant scrapped after failing to secure finance". ABC News . 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "New hope for Port Augusta's failed SolarReserve Concentrated Solar Power project". www.cspfocus.cn.
  28. ↑ “Copiapo Solar”: La primera planta hibrida en el pais que operaria las 24 horas. CNN, March 04, 2015

Further reading

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