Integration of solar energy into industrial process heat and cogeneration systems

Industrial process heat requirements account for around 30 % of the end energy consumption in industrialised countries. Examination of the experiences of early solar process heat applications indicate that the non-availability of appropriate collector technology and / or inadequate system integration have contributed to the lack of success of these systems. In the light of the current status of parabolic trough technologies and the prospects of ongoing R&D like the development of direct steam generation, it seems worthwhile to take a new look at this potential market segment. A case study will be presented, comparing options to integrate steam from a solar system into different industrial co-generation plants based on gas turbines or steam turbines respectively. Identical meteorological and financial boundary conditions are applied to the different technical solutions designed to satisfy identical thermal and electrical loads. Technical aspects of the different concepts will be commented, and fossil fuel savings and overall economics will be assessed.