Half of the energy needs in Europe are destined to heat and cold needs, both residential and industrial.
More than 65% of these industrial needs in Spain are covered by fossil fuels. Concentrated solar energy saves costs and reduces emissions.
The Concentra Solar Technology Platform, financed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and coordinated by Protermosolar, has recently published a study whose objective is to geolocate areas, sufficiently specific within Spain, where there are industries with a high potential to install systems of solar concentration for process heat and whose return periods to investment are the shortest possible.
Concentrating solar energy could efficiently contribute to decarbonising the Spanish industry, whose energy needs are covered in more than 65% through fossil fuels, according to various sources in the sector. Practically the rest of the industrial energy consumption in our country is electric, so its ‘green’ content depends on the generation mix.
More than half of the energy needs in Europe are destined to heat and cold needs, both residential and industrial, this energy comes in the vast majority of fossil fuels with a very low contribution of renewables. Although, throughout the Old Continent the policies of support for renewables have focused on the generation of electricity, this only accounts for 25% of the total final energy needs.
For Protermosolar, solar energy concentration in industrial processes is a clear alternative to the needs of industrial heat, as it could supply the industry in a clean and emission-free manner, and its deployment could be imminent, with the consequent impact on savings both cost and emission reduction.
This technology is ideal to supply the heat needs in industrial processes at temperatures between 100ºC and 400ºC (usually the temperature of the steam / heat transfer fluid is close to 200ºC), adapts to the demand profile, mitigates the uncertainty of costs before the price volatility of fossil fuels, reduces the energy dependence of our country and reduces emissions to the atmosphere, thanks to the excellent solar radiation that we have throughout the country.
The Solar Concentra study, in addition to the corresponding technical analysis, has identified sectors and industries that could use solar energy to concentrate their processes in a competitive way today.
To consult the study: http: //www.solarconcentra.org/estudio-geolocalizado-del-potencial-de-aplicaciones-de-calor-solar-de-proceso-en-media-temperatura/
Protermosolar is the association that represents the Spanish sector of the concentrated solar power industry and is made up of 50 members. The solar thermal technology, in which Spain is an international leader, has recently entered the world of renewable energies with strength and currently has great growth potential due to its manageability and storage capacity, due to its high employment creation local and for its potential to reduce costs. The installed capacity in Spain is 2,300 MW and the contribution of Spanish companies in international markets is around 75%.
