MinWaterCSP · Project

Cut Water Use in Solar Thermal Power Plants by Up to 95%

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Concentrated solar power plants use mirrors to focus sunlight and generate steam for electricity — but they guzzle enormous amounts of water for cooling and mirror cleaning, which is a huge problem in the sunny, dry places where these plants work best. MinWaterCSP developed smarter cooling systems that use air instead of water (or a clever mix of both), plus a cleaning robot and better monitoring so mirrors don't need washing as often. Think of it like replacing a garden hose with a pressure washer and a smart sprinkler schedule — you get the same result with a fraction of the water. The team built and tested full-scale equipment at real power stations in South Africa and Morocco to prove it works outside the lab.

By the numbers

75–95%

Reduction in water evaporation losses vs. wet cooling

Increase in net efficiency of steam Rankine cycle

25%

Reduction in capital cost of dry-cooling system

25%

Reduction in mirror cleaning water consumption

Consortium partners across 6 countries

SMEs in the consortium

30 ft

Reference fan manufactured and installed at Matimba power station

The business problem

What needed solving

Concentrated solar power plants need large volumes of water for cooling and mirror cleaning — but they perform best in hot, arid regions where water is scarce and expensive. This creates a painful trade-off: either waste water you can't afford, or accept lower efficiency and higher costs with dry cooling. CSP plant operators and developers need technology that drastically cuts water use without killing plant performance or blowing up capital costs.

The solution

What was built

The team built and tested full-scale hardware: a 30ft reference fan installed at Matimba power station in South Africa, a full-scale CSP cooling fan with measurement equipment, a complete hybrid cooling unit, and a deluge test bundle at an industrial site in Morocco. They also developed a cleaning robot for linear Fresnel mirrors, improved cleaning processes for parabolic trough collectors, enhanced mirror reflectance monitoring, and comprehensive water management simulation tools.

Audience

Who needs this

CSP plant operators in water-scarce regions (MENA, Southern Africa, Southern Europe)Industrial cooling system manufacturers looking to enter or expand in the renewable energy marketSolar mirror cleaning and O&M service providersCSP project developers and EPC contractors bidding on new plant constructionUtility companies evaluating renewable energy investments in arid climates

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Concentrated Solar Power

enterprise

Target: CSP plant operators and developers

If you are a CSP plant operator dealing with high water costs and limited water availability in arid regions — this project developed hybrid dry/wet cooling systems that reduce water evaporation losses by 75 to 95% compared to conventional wet cooling. The full-scale cooling fan and hybrid unit were built and tested at real power stations. This means you can site plants in water-scarce locations without sacrificing electricity output.

Industrial Cooling Equipment

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of cooling systems and heat exchangers

If you are a cooling equipment manufacturer looking for next-generation products for the renewable energy market — this project demonstrated wire structure heat transfer surfaces and advanced axial flow fans that can reduce the capital cost of dry-cooling systems by 25% while maintaining cycle efficiency. A full-scale CSP cooling fan and a 30ft reference fan were manufactured and tested. These designs are ready to be integrated into your product lines.

Solar Mirror Maintenance

SME

Target: O&M service providers for solar thermal plants

If you are a maintenance service provider spending too much on mirror cleaning labor and water — this project developed a cleaning robot for linear Fresnel collectors and an improved cleaning process for parabolic trough collectors that cuts mirror cleaning water consumption by 25%. Enhanced reflectance monitoring reduces the number of cleaning cycles needed. This directly lowers your operational costs per plant.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much would it cost to retrofit an existing CSP plant with this technology?

The project does not publish specific retrofit pricing. However, the objective states these technologies can reduce the capital cost of a dry-cooling system by 25% compared to current solutions, which suggests significant savings on new installations. Contact the consortium for site-specific cost estimates.

Has this been tested at industrial scale?

Yes. The project manufactured and installed a full-scale CSP cooling fan, a 30ft reference fan at Matimba power station in South Africa, a full-scale hybrid cooling unit, and a deluge test bundle at an industrial site in Morocco. All were equipped with professional measurement and data logging systems.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

The project was coordinated by Kelvion Holding GmbH, a German SME specializing in heat exchangers. IP from an EU-funded RIA project is typically owned by the partners who generated it. Licensing discussions should be directed to Kelvion and relevant consortium partners.

Does this work in all climates or only specific regions?

The project developed comprehensive water management plans for CSP plants in various locations and combined them with plant performance simulations. Testing was conducted in South Africa and Morocco, representing hot arid conditions where CSP is most viable. The hybrid dry/wet approach allows adaptation to different climate conditions.

What is the actual efficiency impact on electricity generation?

The project aimed to increase the net efficiency of the steam Rankine cycle by 2%, or alternatively reduce the capital cost of dry-cooling by 25% while maintaining cycle efficiency. Water evaporation losses are reduced by 75 to 95% compared to wet cooling systems.

Is there a wastewater or discharge issue to worry about?

The project specifically addressed this by considering zero liquid discharge options and the possibility of using solar energy or low-grade waste heat for water treatment. This means the technology is designed to avoid creating new wastewater problems.

When could this be deployed commercially?

The project ran from 2016 to 2018 and reached full-scale testing at operational power stations. Based on available project data, the core cooling technologies are at a demonstration stage and would need engineering integration for commercial deployment. The coordinator Kelvion is already an established industrial supplier.

Consortium

Who built it

The MinWaterCSP consortium brings together 14 partners from 6 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Morocco, and South Africa), with a strong presence in regions where CSP is commercially relevant. The coordinator, Kelvion Holding GmbH from Germany, is an established heat exchanger manufacturer classified as an SME. The consortium includes 5 SMEs total and has a 14% direct industry ratio, complemented by 2 universities and 3 research organizations. The inclusion of partners in Morocco and South Africa — both prime CSP markets with water scarcity challenges — means the technology was developed and tested where the actual demand exists, not just in European labs. For a business buyer, this consortium structure signals that the technology was shaped by real market needs and tested under real operating conditions.

INSTITUT DE RECHERCHES EN ENERGIE SOLAIRE ET ENERGIES NOUVELLESparticipant · MA
STEINBEIS INNOVATION GGMBHparticipant · DE
STEINBEIS 2I GMBHparticipant · DE
SOLTIGUA SRLparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZAparticipant · IT
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITYparticipant · ZA

How to reach the team

Kelvion Holding GmbH (Germany) — an established industrial heat exchanger manufacturer and project coordinator. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how MinWaterCSP's water-saving cooling technology could benefit your CSP operations? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the project team and provide a detailed technology brief tailored to your needs.

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