PV and Thermal Cogeneration Technology

BLUESOLAR TECHNOLOGY

BlueSolar Technology is a new kind of Solar plants that are based on a smart hybridization of Photovoltaic Technology (PV) with Solar Thermal Technology (ST)

BlueSolar is the first commercial hybrid technology that intelligently integrates photovoltaic (PV) technology with solar thermal (ST) technology. BlueSolar enables an efficient PV technology with thermal cogeneration and low cost thermal energy storage.

Reproducir video acerca de BlueSolar panel

A standard PV panel is converted into a PV/CSP panel using an integrated optical light selective filter embedded in the glass. This BlueSolar panel is configured similarly as a ST tower so that is able to cogenerate direct electricity via PV as well as heat via the reflectance of the filter collected in the thermal receiver. The filter transmits to the PV cell only wavelengths where the silicon is very efficient while simultaneously reflecting IR and blue wavelengths (that represent between 45 to 50% of energy) to the thermal receiver generating heat. By this combination, the overall energy production of the BlueSolar panel is around 50% more energy efficient than a standard PV panel.

BlueSolar Technology is a new kind of Solar plants that are based on a smart hybridization of Photovoltaic Technology (PV) with Solar Thermal Technology (ST)

BlueSolar is the first commercial hybrid technology that intelligently integrates photovoltaic (PV) technology with solar thermal (ST) technology. BlueSolar enables an efficient PV technology with thermal cogeneration and low cost thermal energy storage.

Reproducir video acerca de BlueSolar panel

A standard PV panel is converted into a PV/CSP panel using an integrated optical light selective filter embedded in the glass. This BlueSolar panel is configured similarly as a ST tower so that is able to cogenerate direct electricity via PV as well as heat via the reflectance of the filter collected in the thermal receiver. The filter transmits to the PV cell only wavelengths where the silicon is very efficient while simultaneously reflecting IR and blue wavelengths (that represent between 45 to 50% of energy) to the thermal receiver generating heat. By this combination, the overall energy production of the BlueSolar panel is around 50% more energy efficient than a standard PV panel.

BlueSolar Plant Concept

All in one, BlueSolar panels are able to work with similar efficiencies than a conventional PV panel while recovering an extra of 45-50% of more radiation collected in the form of heat.

The technology is much more efficient and thus cost effective than generating the heat via mirrors as used in standard CSP plants. The thermal load on the turbine can be regulated and adjusted via resistance heaters to go to baseload approaches of more than 6.500 hours of operation per year.

Main advantages of BlueSolar Technologies

Technological

Investment

    • Best technical attributes: storage, synchronism.
    • Highest socio-economic impac.

Social

Main advantages of BlueSolar Technologies

Technological

Investment

    • Best technical attributes: storage, synchronism.
    • Highest socio-economic impact.

Social

Main advantages of BlueSolar Technologies

Technological

Investment

    • Best technical attributes: storage, synchronism.
    • Highest socio-economic impact.

Social

CSP vs BlueSolar

The technology produces much more energy than a current CSP or PV plants due to a better utilization of the solar spectrum and a better operational performance of the plant by using the diffused radiation on PV panels and not only direct radiation as current CSP mirrors.

Standard CSP

  1. Big solar field (approx. 2,5 km diameter)
  2. Very tall tower (200-250 m)
  3. Very complex receiver (T < 600C, non uniform flux)

BlueSolar Plant

  1. Use of mature heat transfer fluids (HTF) such as thermal oils, much easier to operate than molten salts.
  2. Smaller solar fields with North-South solar configuration. Typical distances < 500 m from tower center.
  3. Low height towers of up to 40 m.
  4. Simple thermal receivers due to small solar fields and easy to use HTFs.
  5. Molten salts used as thermal storage is possible by stepping up the temperature via electric heaters.

 

 

Standard CSP vs BlueSolar

The technology produces much more energy than a current CSP or PV plants due to a better utilization of the solar spectrum and a better operational performance of the plant by using the diffused radiation on PV panels and not only direct radiation as current CSP mirrors.

Standard CSP

  1. Big solar field (approx. 2,5 km diameter)
  2. Very tall tower (200-250 m)
  3. Very complex receiver (T < 600C, non uniform flux)

BlueSolar Plant

  1. Use of mature heat transfer fluids (HTF) such as thermal oils, much easier to operate than molten salts.
  2. Smaller solar fields with North-South solar configuration. Typical distances < 500 m from tower center.
  3. Low height towers of up to 40 m.
  4. Simple thermal receivers due to small solar fields and easy to use HTFs.
  5. Molten salts used as thermal storage is possible by stepping up the temperature via electric heaters.

Hybridizing
the sun