Sulfur Based Thermochemical Heat Storage for Based Load Concentrated Solar Power GenerationCX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6Date: 08/24/2010Location(s): CaliforniaOffice(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 24, 2010
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Sulfur Based Thermochemical Heat Storage for Based Load Concentrated Solar Power Generation
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Date: 08/24/2010
Location(s): California
Office(s): Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden Field Office
Project funding will be used to research and validate the use of sulfur based thermochemical cycles to store heat from concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. The proposed process had three chemical reaction steps. First, sulfur dioxide undergoes a disproportionation reaction in water to form sulfur and sulfuric acid. The sulfur is stored and then combusted in air to provide high temperature heat for electricity generation. The sulfuric acid is decomposed using high temperature solar heat back into sulfur dioxide, water and oxygen. This closed loop process produces no effluents and emits no greenhouse gases.