Recently inaugurated at CEA, the MICROSOL pilot plant demonstrates Exosun and Exoès' ability to offer a 24-hour renewable energy solution.
The MICROSOL project pilot plant was inaugurated yesterday on the premises of the CEA (Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission) in Cadarache, France. MICROSOL is a government-funded project aimed at providing isolated populations with electricity and drinking water in a simple, sustainable way utilizing natural resources.
For this project, Exosun designed and built a solar concentrator and receptor for the plant, while Exoès provided its SHAPE SOLAR engine technology—based on an organic Rankine cycle—to convert the heat to electricity on site. With the addition of Exosun's energy storage solution, the plant can maintain operation around the clock.
"MICROSOL is one of Exosun's major research projects and our collaboration with Exoès on this project has given us an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of the CSP system, which can provide clean electricity and heat 24 hours a day. Amongst our other partners on this project, Schneider Electric, also MICROSOL Program Manager is in charge of the plant's power control," commented Frédéric Conchy, CEO and Founder of Exosun. "With the combined expertise of our teams, we're well suited to help expand the boundaries of renewable energy adoption around the world."
Arnaud Desrentes, President and Founder of Exoès: "Today, there is a need for alternative energy in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels whose high price deprives the poorest populations of regular access to energy. MICROSOL provides these isolated populations with a robust and sustainable energy solution."
Pending the results of this pilot project, additional demonstrations will be installed in two African countries in 2014. Upon validation, the solution will become commercially available for more than one million potential sites worldwide.
Partially financed by the ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) in the framework of their "Investissements d'Avenir" (Investments for the Future), this project is composed of nine partners including the CEA-INES, Exoès, Exosun, LEME-Paris (a French energy laboratory), LEMTA-Nancy (a research unit of the French University of Nancy), Stiral, TMW and Schneider Electric (MICROSOL Program Manager).
MICROSOL project at a glance:
- Simultaneous production of electricity, heat and drinking water.
- Continuous system operation (24h/365 days a year).
- Efficient energy storage with no adverse impact on the enviroment.