Imagine a giant mirror array focusing sunlight to heat a tower; if one mirror is slightly off, you lose energy. This project creates a digital 'brain' that constantly checks every mirror and predicts when parts will break. It's like giving a solar plant a high-tech health monitor and a GPS to ensure every ray of sun is used perfectly.
CSP tower plants suffer from efficiency losses due to poor heliostat calibration and high costs from reactive maintenance. There is a lack of integrated digital tools to optimize energy dispatch and plant operations.
A single integrated platform containing four tools: a heliostat calibration tool, a Digital Twin of the solar field/receiver, an Energy Management System for dispatch, and a predictive O&M tool.
If you are a plant operator dealing with high operational costs and energy loss — this project developed a single platform integrating four digital tools that optimizes decision-making and increases plant efficiency. It is being validated in 2 commercial tower plants to ensure real-world performance.
If you are a software provider dealing with a lack of specialized tools for solar thermal energy — this project developed a Digital Twin and an Energy Management System. This allows you to offer high-value, interoperable digital services to the European CSP sector.
If you are a maintenance company dealing with reactive, costly repairs — this project developed a predictive tool for enhanced Operation and Maintenance (O&M). This shifts your business model from fixing broken parts to preventing failures before they happen.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost figures for the digital tools are not provided.
Yes, the tools are being tested in 2 experimental facilities and 2 commercial tower plants, including the Khi Solar One and Cerro Dominador plants.
Based on available project data, the specific IP and licensing agreements are not detailed in the project objective.
The demonstration period for the tools is extended to 1.5 years to capture data across two distinct seasons.
Yes, the project focuses on maturing four interoperable tools and integrating them into a single platform for collective data processing.
The consortium is highly balanced for commercialization, featuring 9 partners across 4 countries. With a 33% industry ratio (3 industrial partners) and 2 SMEs, the project blends academic research (5 research entities) with the practical needs of major energy players like COX and ACCIONA.
Contact FUNDACION CENER in Spain for technical specifications on the digital platform.
Contact us to connect with the SUN-DT consortium for early adoption of these digital tools.
