1.1. Motivation
Industrial process steam as a market segment has been opened up poorly by renewable energies so far.
Concentrating solar collectors can efficiently utilize solar energy at the high temperature levels required for such
applications. Of great advantage with respect to investment cost and operation behavior, is the direct steam
generation (DSG) inside the solar collector system. The ideal combination of a solar steam generator with a fossil
fuel fired back-up ensures a safe and steady supply of steam for any production process, independent of weather
conditions or daylight hours.
A main obstacle for the dissemination of solar process steam systems is the disproportionally high cost of
demanding engineering services, permits for compliance with industrial regulations, and system certification, when
each system is individually tailored to suit a specific industrial process. This problem is addressed by developing an
integrated, modular system.
The project aims to answer the basic technical questions of combining a direct steam generating solar collector
with a fossil fuel fired steam generator, thereby laying the foundation for the development of a solar-fossil fuel
hybrid system. The commercial availability of such a system is the precondition for swift entry of renewable energy
into the industrial process heat market. This solution combines cost-efficiency with security of steam supply.
The results of this project will lead directly to the development of a marketable system. Additionally, new
insights into further optimization of the technology are expected, in addition to the identification of new scientific
questions. In 2 to 4 years, simulation tools will be optimized so that manufacturers will be able to plan cost effective
and accurate process heat systems with the integration of direct steam generating solar collectors.