Abstract

Solar thermal power generation uses concentrating solar thermal collectors to concentrate beam radiation onto a receiver to heat working fluid at a temperature suitable to convert thermal energy effectively to electricity. Solar thermal power plants, when operated in combination with fossil fuel-based power units or with adequate storage, can provide firm and dispatchable power. Though the principle of producing high temperature by concentrating solar radiation has been known for centuries, this technology has been used for commercial power generation only for the last half century. This technology has true potential to replace fossil fuels for power generation and mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but various issues, mainly the cost economics, have constrained its growth over the last ten years. Governments have taken initiatives to increase renewable energy proportion in the energy mix. On 11 January 2010, the government of India had launched National Solar Mission (NSM), setting a target of 20 GW solar power generation by the year 2022. In 2015, the target for solar power was increased to 100 GW. As per Annual Report 2018–2019 of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, solar power projects under NSM phase I were allotted in two batches. In August 2010 under NSM Batch I, 150 MW solar photovoltaic and 470 MW solar thermal projects were allotted, and under NSM Batch II 350 MW solar photovoltaic projects were allotted through a reverse-bidding process. Under the bundling scheme in phase I of NSM, 533 MW solar PV and 200 MW solar thermal projects have been commissioned. This shows that of all the solar power projects installed in India, only 27% are ST projects. This shows that solar thermal power projects could not attract solar developers as compared to solar PV projects.