Analysis on Global Solar Thermal Power Generation Market in 2021

Since the 1980s, a large number of solar thermal projects have been put into commercial operation. Spain and the United States are the countries with the largest number and capacity of solar thermal power plants in the world. According to statistics, in 2021, the world will add 110MW of installed capacity of solar thermal power generation, which is the solar thermal power station in the Chile solar thermal photovoltaic hybrid project. The installed capacity is 110mw/ heat storage duration is 17.5 hours, By the end of 2021, the cumulative installed capacity of global solar thermal power generation is about 6800mw (including the capacity of decommissioned power stations).

1、Global installed technology distribution of solar thermal power generation

Among the installed solar thermal power plants in major countries and regions in the world, the trough type technology accounts for about 76%, the tower type accounts for about 20%, and the linear Fresnel type accounts for about 4%. The statistics cover Spain, the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, Israel, India, Chile, France, China and other countries and regions.

2、Current situation of solar thermal power generation in the United States

On September 20, 2021, the official website of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that from July to September 2021, segs3~8 trough power stations put into operation from 1986 to 1989 were decommissioned, with a total net capacity of 230MW. SEGS solar thermal power station is the longest running solar thermal power generation system in the world, including 9 trough power stations with different capacities, with a total net capacity of 354mw. Segs1 and 2 trough power stations, built in 1984 and 1985 respectively, were decommissioned in 2015, with an operating life of more than 30 years. At present, there is also a segs9 trough power station (net capacity 80mW, total capacity 88mw) put into operation in 1990, which is still in operation.

In March, 2021, the US Department of energy (DOE) announced that it would cut solar energy costs by 60% in the next decade; In addition, nearly $128million was spent to reduce costs, improve performance and accelerate the deployment of solar technology. In October, 2021, the solar energy office (SETO) of the Ministry of Energy announced a list of 40 projects to promote the next generation solar energy, energy storage and industrial technology, which received a total of nearly US $40million

Among the various technologies that contribute to carbon emission reduction, solar thermal conversion and utilization technology are of great significance. We also suggest that we should start from the small things around us, such as turning off the lights and going green, so as to contribute to promoting carbon emission reduction.

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