The Perspective of Thermochemical Cycles for Concentrated Solar Energy

The work summarizes the progress of thermochemical cycles to be coupled with a concentrated-solar-power (CSP) technology solar tower with molten salt thermal energy storage. The best perspectives are offered by the sulfur-iodine cycle and the hybrid-sulfur cycle, developed to work at a top temperature of 1000 °C, as permitted in next-generation CSP. The hybrid copper chloride cycle and magnesium chloride cycle are better suited to the current generation of CSP, capped at a top temperature of ∼565 °C. These latter cycles are also suitable for nuclear thermal energy. The research and development needed in all cases is substantial to compensate for the lack of work in recent years.