Energy saving in industrial buildings using advanced concentrated solar thermal systems

Saving energy in industrial buildings is one of the ten pillars of the European Green Deal. The application of renewable energy technologies in industrial processes and their buildings is an appropriate way to support the European energy goals. The paper presents an innovative solar heating method for industrial buildings that focuses on overcoming the current limitations of these systems. The method is based on the modular and flexible integration of two innovative technologies for the solar collector (SunDial technology – parabolic collectors) and thermal energy storage (based on phase change materials, PCM) which, through a control system, allow flexible operation to maintain continuous use against the unpredictable nature of the solar source and partly even during the night. The method can cover a significant percentage of the heat demand in industrial processes that use temperatures above 150°C. At the same time, there is the possibility of meeting cooling needs using an absorption chiller.

The work describes the technologies of centralized solar collectors and the connection, operation, control and monitoring systems as well as the possibilities of covering thermal and cooling loads in an industrial building. This technology can be applied to both commercial and residential buildings. The purpose of this application is to contribute to the reduction of the requirements for heating and cooling in industrial buildings of the European Union which is estimated at approximately 72TWh per year.