The Dow Chemical Company has announced its partnership with Norwegian firm NEST (New Energy Storage Technology) AS on a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) pilot project
Based at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology?s 100kW ?Beam Down? facility in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, the project aims to study the benefits and practicality of NEST?s new TES system for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
Dow will provide technical support for the research, along with around 2.6 mt of its trademarked heat transfer fluid, Dowtherm A, which is currently used in 40 CSP plants around the world.
NEST?s market & strategic analysis manager, Jon E. Bergan, said, ?Backed by Dow?s world-class technology and vast industry knowledge, we are confident that our efforts will lead to significant strides in advancing thermal energy storage research.?
CSP technology uses parabolic mirrors to reflect the sun?s rays onto heat transfer fluid in a closed circulating loop, which transports the heat energy collected to power stations, where it is used to create steam, driving turbines to create electricity.
CSP differs from photovoltaic solar power in that it can operate in conjunction with cost-effective thermal storage technology to deliver energy on-demand.
