A 20 MW solar thermal plant in Spain can put to rest the once legitimate claim that solar can "only provide power when the sun shines." This means that this power plant will provide clean solar energy to roughly 20,000 Spanish homes around the clock. Now, how is this achieved? This plant is unique in that instead of sending that energy straight to boil water to create steam to turn turbines to create electricity, the solar energy is used to heat molten salts. This is essentially a thermal battery. Below is a picture of the tank where the molten salts are stored.
Once "charged", it can provide power for 15 hours with the turbine operating at full speed without any further solar input. This is also great because it negates climatic variability as well providing predictable electric equillibrium, something grid operators appreciate greatly. This has exciting potential to succeed in providing cheap clean power to consumers because it can now provide power 24/7. To wrap up the post, here's an informative look into the Gemasolar CSP+ plant.
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