Hybrid Power: The PV Revolution of Solar Thermal Plants

• Explore Hybridkraft: a project funded by the German government to combine solar thermal & photovoltaics. Harness 1 megawatt solar-powered heater to increase efficiency & reduce energy costs for industrial applications.

The Hybridkraft project, funded by the German government and lead by the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is exploring ways to combine solar thermal power plants and photovoltaics to create a hybrid system. This system involves an electrically powered heater of molten salts that would be used to ensure continuous operation in large-scale solar thermal power plants, even at night. The molten salt would act as a heat reservoir to drive the turbine. Solar thermal plants are more expensive than photovoltaic power plants, while molten salt storage is less expensive than battery storage.

The project is developing a 1 megawatt solar-powered heater, which would help to stabilize the temperature of the heat transfer fluid using PV electricity and thus increase the system efficiency. Additionally, the results of the project could be applied to the conversion of electricity into high-temperature heat for industrial applications. Ultimately, this hybrid system could provide a more efficient and cost effective alternative to current solar power plants.

How Can Hybridkraft Improve Solar Thermal Efficiency?

• Hybridkraft can improve solar thermal efficiency by developing a 1 megawatt solar-powered heater that stabilizes the temperature of the heat transfer fluid using PV electricity.
• This hybrid system could provide a more efficient and cost effective alternative to current solar power plants by using molten salt storage as a heat reservoir to drive the turbine.
• Hybridkraft could also be used to convert electricity into high-temperature heat for industrial applications.
• This hybrid system could be used to reduce operational costs by taking advantage of the cost savings associated with molten salt storage as compared to traditional battery storage.
• Hybridkraft could also provide a more reliable source of renewable energy by leveraging its ability to store energy in the form of heat.