Linear Fresnel

DOE funds solar research and development (R&D) in linear Fresnel systems as one of four CSP technologies aiming to meet the goals of the SunShot Initiative. Linear Fresnel systems, which are a type of linear concentrator, are active in Germany, Spain, Australia, India, and the United States.

The SunShot Initiative funds R&D on linear Fresnel systems and related aspects within the industry, national laboratories and universities to meet the SunShot goals. An extensive set of core capabilities at the national laboratories support the R&D endeavors.

Industry Awards

3M Company: Next-Generation Solar Collectors for CSP (CSP SunShot FOA)
3M Company: Cleanable and Hardcoat Coatings for Increased Durability of Silvered Polymeric Mirrors (CSP R&D FOA)
Abengoa Solar: Reducing the Cost of Thermal Energy Storage for Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants (Thermal Storage FOA)
Abengoa Solar: Advanced Polymeric Reflector for CSP Applications (CSP R&D FOA)
Acciona Solar: Indirect, Dual-Media, Phase Changing Material Modular Thermal Energy Storage System (Thermal Storage FOA)
Acciona Solar: Sensible Heat, Direct, Dual-Media Thermal Energy Storage Module (Thermal Storage FOA)
General Atomics: Baseload CSP Generation Integrated with Sulfur-Based Thermochemical Heat Storage (Baseload CSP FOA)
General Atomics: Thermochemical Heat Storage for CSP Based on Multivalent Metal Oxides (Thermal Storage FOA)
Halotechnics: Deep Eutectic Salt Formulations Suitable as Advanced Heat Transfer Fluids (Thermal Storage FOA)
Infinia: Innovative Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Solution for Baseload Power (Baseload CSP FOA)
PPG: Next-Generation Low-Cost Reflector (Baseload CSP FOA)
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne: Long-Shafted Molten Salt Pump (CSP R&D FOA)
SENER: High-Efficiency Thermal Storage System for Solar Plants (Baseload CSP FOA)
SkyFuel: Commercial Development of an Advanced Linear-Fresnel-Based CSP Concept (CSP R&D FOA)
Southwest Research Institute: CSP Tower Air Brayton Combustor (CSP SunShot FOA)
Southwest Research Institute: Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Turbo-Expander and Heat Exchangers (CSP SunShot FOA)
Terrafore: Heat Transfer and Latent Heat Storage in Inorganic Molten Salts for CSP Plants (Thermal Storage FOA)
US Solar Holdings: CSP Energy Storage Solutions – Multiple Technologies Compared (Thermal Storage FOA)

National Laboratory Awards

Argonne National Laboratory: High-Efficiency Thermal Energy Storage System for CSP (National Laboratories CSP R&D)
Argonne National Laboratory: Chemically Reactive Working Fluids (CSP SunShot FOA)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Degradation Mechanisms and Development of Protective Coatings for TES and HTF Containment Materials (National Laboratories CSP R&D)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Particle Receiver Integrated with a Fluidized Bed (CSP SunShot FOA)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Nanomaterials for Thermal Energy Storage in CSP Plants (CSP Recovery Act)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Low-Cost Self-Cleaning Reflector Coatings for CSP Collectors (National Laboratories CSP R&D)
Savannah River National Laboratory: Fundamental Corrosion Studies in High-Temperature Molten Salt Systems for Next-Generation CSP Systems (National Laboratories CSP R&D)
Savannah River National Laboratory: Low-Cost Metal Hydride Thermal Energy Storage System for CSP Systems (National Laboratories CSP R&D)

University Awards

Boston University: Self-Cleaning CSP Collectors (CSP SunShot FOA)
City College of New York: A Novel Storage Method for CSP Plants Allowing Operation at High Temperature (Thermal Storage FOA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Concentrated Solar Thermoelectric Power (CSP SunShot FOA)
Texas Engineering Experiment Station: Molten Salt-Carbon Nanotube Thermal Storage (Thermal Storage FOA)
University of Alabama: Novel Molten Salts Thermal Energy Storage for Concentrating Solar Power Generation (Thermal Storage FOA)
University of Arizona: Halide and Oxy-Halide Eutectic Systems for High-Performance, High-Temperature Heat Transfer Fluids (SunShot MURI FOA)
University of Arkansas: Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Concrete for Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Generation (Thermal Storage FOA)
University of California, Los Angeles: High Operating Temperature Liquid Metal Heat Transfer Fluids (SunShot MURI FOA)
University of Connecticut: Novel Thermal Energy Storage Systems (TES) for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (Thermal Storage FOA)
University of South Florida: Innovative Thermal Energy Storage for Baseload Solar Power Generation (Baseload CSP FOA)

Core Capabilities

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: System Advisor Model Enhancements for CSP (National Laboratories CSP R&D)
Sandia National Laboratories: DOE National Solar Thermal Test Facility (National Laboratories CSP R&D)

Learn about other DOE competitive awards for concentrating solar power research that are in progress.