SPIRE: Efficient thermoelectric generation with zero emissions/ Reference Nº: O-2018-T3-1

Level of development of Proposal

What is looking for?

The technology developers are looking for:

• Promote decarbonization, efficiency and environmental respect in the industry
• Support the energy transition, demonstrating the viability of a new disruptive technology to generate clean energy, based on solar thermoelectric energy
• Reduction of emissions at the industrial level, by supplying both electric and thermal energy from solar sources to supply the needs of industrial complexes
• Establish strategic alliances with entities, institutions and companies
• Involve leading companies in the industrial sector to scale the technology
• Search for an industrial partner to demonstrate the viability of the technology in real service conditions
• Financing for the development of the project
• Involve stakeholders to support the project

Objective and description of the proposal

Once the results of the proof of concept of this technology has been validated by prestigious institutions such as Fraunhofer and CSIC, the developers are interested to evaluate its behavior in conditions of real use, supplying electric power and heat for an industrial complex. Therefore, an industrial partner is sought whose strategic objective is to reduce CO2 emissions related to the supply of their energy needs (electricity and heat), in an efficient manner.

The collaboration with the industrial partner will allow the installation and operation of a pilot plant of Spire technology of small capacity, but sufficient to verify the efficiency of the technology and to establish the operability, the cost of power generation, fossil fuel reduction and the saving of CO2 emissions.

Following is a diagram of the pilot plant, with the two lines of electric power generation and heat (steam).

Description of the innovative nature of the proposal and advantages over competing technologies

The new Spire Technology is based on hybrid thermoelectric solar generation that will enhance the energy transition, by not emitting polluting gases nor CO2, incorporating an efficient storage system that allows a manageable generation, with a lower cost than battery storage and generation with conventional fossil fuels.

In a single solar installation, is possible the generation of 100% electricity and 40% in the form of heat for direct use or conversion into electricity.
To highlight the following strengths of technology:

• First global solution based on solar energy with thermoelectric generation and thermal storage
• Lower cost than the state of the art of electric and thermal solar power generation plants:
  • 50% smaller than CSP with storage
  • 66% lower than PV with batteries
  • In direct steam generation applications (SEOR -Solar Enhance Oil Recovery- for Upstream) presents a level cost 3 times lower than solutions of the Glasshouse type
• Excellent performance in locations of low DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance), taking advantage of diffuse irradiation
• The use of heat decreases the temperature of solar panels, which implies better efficiency and less degradation
• Modular and scalable concept. Thermal tower of 20-30 MW of PV
• It uses fast response turbines, delivering power when required. Reliably for 40 years

Spire technology can become into the basis of a new industrial energy model.