Testing and Validation of Innovative on-Site Solar Field Measurement Techniques to Increase Power Tower Plant Performance: The LEIA Project

Abstract

The LEIA project aims to contribute to the development of the next generation of central receiver power plants focusing on validating a combination and integration of pre-commercial solar field control and O&M solutions for the central tower receiver technology using molten salts, as the most promising cost-effective solution with the highest market penetration potential. To effectively remove the existing technical and industrial barriers to optimize central receiver and heliostat field operation & maintenance and thus to improve overall CSP performance, the following innovations are being developed: 1) Smart heliostat field control, 2) Smart control systems, 3) Solar Field Operation and Maintenance control strategies. These developments will be tested and demonstrated in three flagship operational environments: a) Cerro Dominador (Chile), b) CIEMAT-PSA (Spain), and c) CENER-Tudela (Spain)