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The value of this energy storage could be immediate.
Yes, it is little more than lab work at this point but low cycle performance notwithstanding, it could find a place within the power utilities schemes.
The Ivanpah Heliostat Power Station just on the border of California and Nevada is one prime example of a facility that is in dire need of a thermo-chemical storage system. Even though it is a "solar" power plant that leverages the 250-300 days of sun found in the region, it still burns significant amounts of fossil natural gas as a load leveling technique. It is more correct to call the power station a "hybrid" solar/natural gas facility. It's optimistic 400 MW capacity is largely filled by long runs on NG. As I understand it, the 3 large heliostat arrays peak just after noontime but produce far more heat than the boilers can absorb. A percentage of the mirrors are taken off line as turbine capacity peaks. This capacity for solar heat is wasted. A means to capture and store this energy would allow greater "solar powered" run times.
The technology Old Tele Man spoke of - liquid sodium salt, is used in a much smaller heliostat power station in Northern Nevada. At its turbine capacity of 110 MW, the excess solar energy of mid day is stored in melting sodium salts for use after sunset. On a good day, there may be enough heat energy in the salt to run the station for up to five hours after sunset.
Heliostat Power Arrays are not without their problems. Displaced Desert Tortoises and cooked birds come to mind. The blinding mirror arrays could be another. But, at this time, they are a capable and possibly cheaper form of solar power until solar panels can undercut them. Even then, Heliostat arrays can more easily store their energy if molten salts and thermochemical cycles are used. This thermochemical cycle under discussion is simply another piece in the mosaic that is the puzzle for our future energy solutions.
The state of Nevada is banking on solar power in heliostat stations and panel farms to team with the abundant locations for current and future geothermal power plants to displace its coal plants which make up a large portion of its energy portfolio.
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