From Physics to Daily Life

6Solar Thermal Electricity Plants

Cayetano Lopez

Since physics can be broadly defined as the general analysis of Nature, conducted in order to understand how the Universe behaves,¹⁾ it is easy to understand why physics is present all around in our lives. It covers a wide range of subjects: electricity, heat transfer, thermodynamic, optics, and so on, which are essential in our daily activities. Energy is another crucial domain where physics technology can provide new solutions, in particular in the field of solar energy. Solar energy as such has appealing qualities: it is environmentally friendly; it is virtually infinite; and the energy source (solar irradiation) is free of charge.

For many years, the former CERN Director General and Nobel Prize Carlo Rubbia²⁾ advocated the need for developing new knowledge to improve the concentration solar technologies by means of several scientific projects. He has been advisor to CIEMAT,³⁾ the Spanish Centre for Research in Energy, Environment and Technology, that runs PSA,⁴⁾ the Almeria Solar Platform since 1980.

Amongst many other scientists and technology developers, Professor Rubbia stressed the need for basic science to attempt various alternative solutions in order to propose new forms of efficient and sustainable energy and to collaborate with the industry to provide cheap and abundant clean energy when the utilization of fossil fuels will end.

6.1 The Four STE Technologies

Solar Thermal Electricity (STE) plants have many links ...