Low Cost Dispatchable Heat for Small Scale Solar Thermal Desalination Systems
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss the design & development of a low cost vacuum solar thermal collector with thermal storage for small scale desalination systems. The design consists of a novel low cost non-tracking solar thermal collector, called the Integrated Compound Parabolic Concentrator (ICPC), with 64% solar-to-thermal efficiency at 150°C, which is paired with a low-cost phase-change thermal energy storage system. Together, they will significantly reduce the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) to below $0.015 per kWhth over 20 years, while also incorporating features of dispatchability and portability.