CENER Leads the First General Assembly of ASTERIx-CAESar in CIEMAT premises in Madrid

On November 13-14, 2024, the National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) hosted the inaugural General Assembly of the European R&D project ASTERIx-CAESar at CIEMAT’s facilities in Madrid. This meeting marked a pivotal step for the consortium, which aims to revolutionize renewable energy systems by integrating Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) with Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES).

Objectives and Strategic Vision of ASTERIx-CAESar

ASTERIx-CAESar is dedicated to creating a hybrid renewable energy plant that delivers electrical and thermal energy with enhanced efficiency. The integration of CSP and CAES offers significant advancements in solar-to-electric conversion rates, targeting a groundbreaking efficiency of over 40%, double the current standard. The project also includes innovative features such as adaptive energy management systems, advanced solar receivers, and integration with desalination technologies.

The project’s mission aligns with the European Union’s goals of advancing renewable energy technologies, improving grid stability, and reducing the carbon footprint of energy systems. By providing scalable solutions (1–150 MW), ASTERIx-CAESar envisions versatile applications for its concept, ranging from industrial power supply to clean water production through desalination.

CENER: Driving Innovation and Coordination

CENER, the originator of the ASTERIx-CAESar concept, leads the consortium’s efforts to bridge cutting-edge research with practical applications. Its expertise ensures that the project not only meets technical goals but also creates actionable business models for renewable energy deployment. As coordinator, CENER plays a critical role in aligning contributions from partners across the CSP value chain, leveraging insights from prior initiatives such as the H2020 CAPTure project to accelerate development.

Consortium Contributions and Future Directions

The General Assembly facilitated collaborative discussions among consortium members, highlighting milestones such as:

• Development of a high-efficiency solar receiver prototype.
• Enhanced control systems using AI for solar flux management.
• Optimized designs for CAES components, including heat exchangers and expanders.
• Preliminary results from the adaptation of the CAPTure prototype at CIEMAT’s facilities, which serves as the testing ground for ASTERIx-CAESar technologies.

The meeting also provided a platform to outline the next phases, including extended testing of the CSP-CAES prototype under real-world conditions and refining strategies for market integration.

Relevance of the Project to Europe’s Energy Transition

ASTERIx-CAESar stands out for its potential to compete with traditional storage solutions like pumped hydro or battery systems. With a projected round-trip efficiency above 60% and cost metrics below 15 cents per kWh, the project addresses critical challenges in renewable energy adoption. Its emphasis on sustainability, efficiency, and scalability positions it as a key enabler for decarbonized energy systems in Europe and beyond.

This General Assembly underscored Europe’s pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable energy. For more details about ASTERIx-CAESar and its groundbreaking research, visit ASTERIx-CAESar’s official website.

The consortium partners include: Fundación CENER, CIEMAT, Universidad de Sevilla, Doosan Skoda Power SRO, Universita Degli Studi Roma Tre, Fraunhofer, Clancy Haussler Rita, Aalborg CSP AS, European Turbine Network, Fundación IMDEA Energía, Innovation Therm technologies SL, Pritzkow Walter Erich Christian, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator SA (HEDNO), Engionic Femto Gratings GMBH, APRIA Systems SL, Softinway Switzerland LLC, and Bluebox Energy LTD.

This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101122231. UK participant in Horizon Europe Project ASTERIX-CAESAR is supported by UKRI grant number 10097908 (Bluebox Energy). This work has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).