SCARABEUS: innovation in concentrated solar power reduces electricity costs

An innovative power cycle improving the conversion efficiency of heat into electricity, significantly reducing costs.

This is the outcome of the Horizon 2020 SCARABEUS project, coordinated by Politecnico di Milano and launched in April 2019, which has successfully achieved its objectives and is officially concluded.

The key innovation of the project is the development of an innovative working fluid based on carbon dioxide mixed with specific additives, which (i) improves the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle and (ii) allows condensation at high temperatures up to 60°C, making the cycle suitable for CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) applications.

“SCARABEUS has enabled the reduction of electricity costs from concentrated solar power plants below €90/MWh, compared to the current technologies' €120/MWh” states Giampaolo Manzolini, project coordinator and professor at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano. “We achieved these results improving the power cycles' efficiency by 10% and developing innovative components at reduced costs”.

The new fluid was tested in a 200 kW test rig at the Vienna Technische Universität. Experiments confirmed its performance potential and demonstrated the superior performance of the heat exchangers developed within the project, paving the way for a more competitive future for thermodynamic solar power.

The project, in addition to the Politecnico di Milano, involved the Universidad de Sevilla, City - University of London, the Vienna Technische Universität, and the Università di Brescia, as well as companies Baker Hughes, Coxabengoa, Kelvion, and Quantis.