Performance assessment of concentrated solar power plants based on carbon and hydrogen fuel cells

In spite of the recent success on the implementation of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), still this technology needs a substantial enhancement to achieve competitiveness. This paper provides thorough insight after previous analyses on an alternative concept for higher efficiency CSP systems based on the replacement of the power block by an electrochemical conversion system. Concentrating solar energy is herewith used to decompose methane into hydrogen and carbon, which are used in hydrogen and carbon fuel cells for electricity generation. This approach envisages modular, efficient and flexible generation plants. Dispatchability can be achieved by storing the solid carbon. Solar-to-electricity efficiency was calculated assuming thermodynamic equilibrium composition and experimental data available from literature, and compared with those of conventional power generation systems and commercial CSP plants. It is concluded that this new-generation CSP concept is potentially able to produce power more efficiently than the current state-of-the art solar thermal power plants.