Chile is a privileged country in solar resources, having one of the best geographical areas for the implementation of solar thermal energy systems, especially in the north of the country, where there are also located important mining and industrial deposits, so as Fraunhofer Chile we have an area dedicated exclusively to research, development, innovation and technology transfer in Solar Thermal Systems.
Solar thermal technologies are used both for electricity generation (CSP) and solar heat for industrial processes (SHIP). These technologies can be more or less complex and are in different degrees of maturity, but can reach a wide range of temperatures.
While in Chile there is a great potential for the development of these technologies - considering the radiation values throughout the country - one of the relevant factors for the adoption of these technologies is thermal storage, which provides an important component of flexibility to the national energy and production matrix.