Fresnel power plants

Like parabolic trough power plants, Fresnel power plants also produce electricity using a steam turbine and an attached generator. But there are also some decisive differences. Fresnel technology will permit a new scale of cost-effectiveness for solar thermal power plants.

Solar Power Group: Groundbreaking strategy

To view this content you need the Flashplugin. Download here

The Solar Power Group specialises in the technological development and engineering of solar thermal energy plants based on Fresnel technology. Solar Power Group and Ferrostaal operate a demonstration plant in Almería, Spain, which proved the technical feasibility of this technology.

The collectors work with low-cost flat mirrors that are available worldwide. Instead of thermo oil, water flows through the absorber tube. It is heated to 450 degrees Celsius and generates the power in the steam turbine without any delays. The energy- and cost-intensive heat exchange is not required. Fresnel plants offer very little resistance to the wind and therefore do not require complex foundations. Additionally they are easy to maintain. And not least of all, a Fresnel power plant only needs around two thirds of the land area required by an equally powerful parabolic trough plant. In commercial use we expect lower investment costs, which means that solar energy can be generated significantly more cheaply despite the lower efficiency. This also permits quicker amortization.