Solar polygeneration in Northern Chile

Abstract

Nowadays greatest energy concern is to meet a constantly increasing energy demand while preserving environment by avoiding CO2 emissions and their negative effect caused by the use of fossil fuels. Studies have projected that 80% of the CO2 emissions will come from current industry-based economy by 2035 due to the important energy consumption for this sector, and the prevalence of fossil fuel-based systems to fulfill this demand [35]. This demand is mainly composed of power and process heat, and when considering arid and hot location, the need for cold and freshwater has also to be considered. Solutions to supply clean energy to the industry sector will thus greatly respond to the energy concern stated before. One of the solutions is solar thermal energy. The increase in interest, studies and projects being installed and operated that has been noticed in the past years testifies the great potential of it. Indeed, solar thermal energy is freely and infinitely available at a human time scale. Furthermore, it can directly be used as a heat source without having to go through polluting processes such as burning fossil fuels.