NexTower

Advanced materiales solutions for next generation high efficiency concentrated solar power (CSP) towers systems

NEXTOWER aims at demonstrating high-performance durable materials for the next generation of concentrated solar power (CSP) air-based tower systems, making them commercially competitive in the energy market beyond 2020. NEXTOWER takes a comprehensive conceptual and manufacturing approach that starts by optimizing for durability the ceramic materials to achieve 20-25 years of maintenance-free service receiver components, while increasing their operating temperature for thermodynamic efficiency. The actual exploitation of the hotter air (up to 800°C) is then crucially tied to the development of a high-temperature thermal storage, here inspired by nuclear fission GEN-IV technology and based on liquid lead by means of new corrosion resistant steels. This project has received funding from EU H2020 programme under GA nº 721045

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