Solar tower Juelich

At the solar thermal experimental and demonstration power plant in Jülich 2153 heliostats (moveable mirrors) with a total area of 18.000 sqm focus the sunlight to a receiver at the top of the 60 m high solar tower. The receiver is made of porous ceramic elements through which incoming ambient air flows and is heated up to 680 °C. With this hot air a water-steam cycle is driven and the plant can generate 1.5 megawatts electricity. Furthermore a heat storage is integrated into the tower and can release its energy when e.g. clouds surpass overhead.

At around half height of the tower one storey is used as a research platform with a three-by-seven metre opening to the north where experiments can be placed and heated up by concentrated sunlight. One option for future experiments at the research platform is hydrogen production by thermochemical cycles at high temperatures. (source:DLR)