Molten salt for Fresnel Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology by Novatec Solar

Novatec Solar has started construction of a direct molten salt (DMS) demonstrator at its demonstration Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant PE 1 in Spain.

Novatec Solar has started construction of a direct molten salt (DMS) demonstrator at its demonstration solar thermal power (CSP) plant PE 1 in Spain.

For the first time in Europe, the use of molten salt as heat transfer fluid in a linear Fresnel collector will be tested. Novatec Solar will integrate a molten salt loop in its existing solar thermal plant PE1. The construction and operation of the DMS-Fresnel demonstrator will allow gaining significant experiences and will be the basis for further commercialisation of this technology.

Novatec Solar has developed a cost efficient Fresnel collector technology based on direct steam generation. In order to develop a storage system for its technology, Novatec Solar has identified molten salt as medium with the greatest potential as storage medium. Molten salt is widely applied in solar thermal power plant technology as storage medium. Novatec Solar intends to use molten salt not only as heat storage medium but as heat transfer fluid directly in its linear Fresnel collector (direct molten salt), allowing process temperatures of up to 550