Solar power: Fresnel technology

Like parabolic trough power plants, Fresnel power plants also produce electricity using a steam turbine and an attached generator. But there are also some decisive differences that result in greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The collectors work with low-cost flat mirrors that are available worldwide. Instead of thermo oil, water flows through the absorber pipe. It is heated to 450° Celsius and generates the power in the steam turbine without any delays. The energy- and cost-intensive heat exchange is not required.  Fresnel plants are also extremely wind-resistant and easy to maintain. They offer very little resistance to the wind and therefore do not require complex foundations.

Not least of all, a Fresnel power plant only needs around half the land area of that required by an equally powerful parabolic trough plant. In commercial use we expect lower investment costs, which means that solar power can be generated significantly more cheaply despite the lower efficiency. This also permits quicker amortization.