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Middle size solar thermal plants
The ALSOLEN company develops medium power thermodynamic solar power plants (up to 20 MWe) using the technology of Fresnel mirrors. These power plants called ALSOLEN use oil as heat-transfer fluid. This oil is heated at 300°Celsius and transfers its thermal energy to an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which generates electricity via a turbine.
The originality of ALSOLEN thermodynamic solar power plants consists, amongst other points, in a design that maximizes on site fabrication, in a minimum maintenance, in an optimized performance and a in long lifetime. ALSOLEN power plants comprise a thermal storage which is directly integrated in the thermal fluid loop and uses the technology of the thermocline. The thermal storage ensures an electricity distribution that fits the consumption requirements. The electricity produced can either be used to power local households or to power local industry. ALSOLEN plants can also be connected to the Grid to value its production. Once electricity is produced the residual heat may be used for applications such as, but not limited to, seawater desalination or solar cooling.
All the development work conducted for Alsolen power plants has been done in cooperation with the CEA LITEN.
Development of high-power thermodynamic solar power plants (50 MWe and over) called ALSOLEN SUP is also close to completion. ALSOLEN SUP technology will directly generate superheated steam at 450°Celsius. ALSOLEN SUP plants will operate with a 3 stages thermal storage able to unstore superheated steam. ALSOLEN SUP technology will launch new innovations on the market and will also benefit from Alsolen innovations.