Prospects and challenges of concentrated solar photovoltaics and enhanced geothermal energy technologies

Tabbi Wilberforce; A Baroutaji; Zaki El Hassan; J Thompson; Bassel Soudan; A G Olabi

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.257

Prospects and challenges of concentrated solar photovoltaics and enhanced geothermal energy technologies

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Apr 1:659:851-861. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.257. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Authors

Tabbi Wilberforce¹, A Baroutaji², Zaki El Hassan³, J Thompson³, Bassel Soudan⁴, A G Olabi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Engineering and Energy Technologies, University of the West of Scotland, UK. Electronic address: Tabbiwilberforce.awotwe@uws.ac.uk.
² School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, UK.
³ Institute of Engineering and Energy Technologies, University of the West of Scotland, UK.
⁴ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
⁵ Dept. of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Mechanical Engineering and Design, Aston University, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.

PMID: 31096415
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.257

Abstract

Reducing the total emissions of energy generation systems is a pragmatic approach for limiting the environmental pollution and associated climate change problems. Socio economic activities in the 21st century is highly determined by the energy generation mediums, particularly the renewable resources, across the world. Therefore, a thorough investigation into the technologies used in harnessing these energy generation mediums should contribute to their further advancement. Concentrated Solar Photovoltaics (CSP) and Enhanced Geothermal Energy (EGE) are considered as emerging renewable energy technologies with high potential to be used as suitable replacements for fossil products (petroleum, coal, natural gas etc.). Despite the accelerated developments in these technologies, they are still facing many challenges in terms of cost. This review paper presents a detailed background about these renewable energy technologies and their main types such as solar tower, parabolic trough, and so on. Also, the principle challenges impeding the advancement of these energy technologies into commercialisation are discussed. Possible solutions for the main challenges are presented and the future prospects for such energy generation mediums are reported.

Keywords: Concentrated solar photovoltaics; Enhanced geothermal energy; Fossil fuel; Renewable energy; Technologies.