The National Solar mission emphasizes on 20 GW of solar power generation by 2020, with the grid connectivity of solar power remaining a critical issue. To facilitate the development of solar thermal power and achieve the objectives of National Solar mission, the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay has decided to take a lead role in solar thermal power generation program through the medium temperature route.
The main objectives of the present project are
• Establishment of a national research facility on solar thermal power (1MWe gridinteractive)
• Establishment of test facility for component and system characterization
• Development of simulation facility for future scale-up of plant capacity
• Facilitate R&D for cost reduction of concentrated solar power.
This project will help in obtaining experience in solar thermal power generation and will help the country for future expansion in this area. The experience acquired with the plant will be used for future scale up.