The Role of Innovation in Industry Product Deployment: Developing Thermal Energy Storage for Concentrated Solar Power

ene gies A icle The Role o Inno a ion in Indus y P oduc Deploymen : De eloping The mal Ene gy S o age o Concen a ed Sola Powe C is ina P ie o 1,2,* , Sonia Fe e es 1and Luisa F. Cabeza 3,* 1Abengoa, c/Ene gía Sola 1, 41012 Se illa, Spain; sonia. e [email p o ec ed] 2Depa men o Ene gy Enginee ing, Uni e si y o Se ille, Camino de Los Descub imien os s/n, 41092 Se ille, Spain 3GREiA Resea ch G oup, Uni e si a de Lleida, Pe e de Cab e a s/n, 25001 Lleida, Spain *Co espondence: [email p o ec ed] (C.P.); [email p o ec ed] (L.F.C.) Recei ed: 2 May 2020; Accep ed: 3 June 2020; Published: 8 June 2020   Abs ac : Indus ies wi h as -de eloping echnologies and knowledge-in ensi e business se ices ely on he de elopmen o scien i ic knowledge o hei g ow h. This is also ue in he enewable ene gy indus y such as in concen a ing sola powe (CSP) plan s, which ha e unde gone in ense de elopmen and expansion in he las wo decades. Ye knowledge gene a ion is no su icien ; i s dissemina ion and in e naliza ion by he indus y is indispensable o new p oduc de elopmen . This pape con ibu es o p o iding empi ical e idence on he known link be ween knowledge de elopmen and i m g ow h. In 10 yea s he cos o elec ici y p oduced h ough CSP has dec eased i e- old. This dec ease has only been possible due o inno a ion p ojec s de eloped h ough a complex ne wo k o esea ch and de elopmen (R&D) collabo a ions and in ense in es men , bo h public and ( o a g ea e ex en ) p i a e. The de elopmen and cons uc ion o pilo plan s and demons a ion acili ies a e shown o be key in ma u ing inno a ions o comme cializa ion. This is an example o how he p i a e sec o is con ibu ing o he deca bonisa ion o ou ene gy sys em, con ibu ing o he objec i es o clima e change mi iga ion. Keywo ds: inno a ion; concen a ed sola powe ; p oduc deploymen ; pilo plan 1. In oduc ion The impo ance o basic and applied esea ch o economic g ow h is clea a na ional le el and a i m-le el [ 1 ]. This link o scien i ic knowledge is especially impo an o i ms wo king wi h as -de eloping echnologies such as bio echnology, in o ma ion and communica ions echnology (ICT), and o he high- ech sec o s [ 2 , 3 ] and knowledge-in ensi e business se ices i ms [ 4 ]. I is a undamen al ins umen o inc easing he pene a ion o enewable ene gy in a highly compe i i e echnological ma ke , as shown by some go e nmen ini ia i es such as Sunsho 2020 which ha e d i en as -paced inno a ions h ough esea ch unding. This ac has been s udied in dep h in some enewable ene gy case s udies such as he pho o ol aic inno a ion sys em in China. Shubbak 2019 [ 5 ] highligh s ha esea ch and de elopmen (R&D) ac i i ies we e one o he main ac o s in shaping hese inno a ion sys em dynamics. Ano he example in he clean- ech sec o is he Danish company Ves as, which has elied on hea ily in es ing on bo h in e nal and ex e nal R&D o become a wind u bine ma ke leade , cu en ly holding 27% o he wo ldwide o sho e wind a m ins alla ions [ 6 ], iling o e 780 pa en s—including he pa en o he h ee-blade u bine design domina ing he ma ke —and exceeding he o al wind powe ins alled by Gene al Elec ic o Siemens Wind Powe . Ene gies 2020,13, 2943; doi:10.3390/en13112943 www.mdpi.com/jou nal/ene gies Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 2 o 19 The impo ance o co po a e inno a ion is also highligh ed in he li e a u e [ 7 ] as a ool o imp o e p oduc i i y and o achie e highe po en ial ou pu wi h lowe manu ac u ing cos s in a mo e e icien and en i onmen ally iendly way [ 8 ] and as a ool o long- e m business su i al [ 9 ]. Bu co po a e inno a ion is e y cos ly, equi ing massi e ixed in es men s a he ea ly s age o he p oduc /p ocess de elopmen o o e come he “ alley o dea h”. Li e a u e highligh s he ac ha companies do no always ha e he needed skills inside/in-house in o de o de elop new inno a i e p oduc s/p ocesses, and he e o e collabo a ion wi h uni e si ies and esea ch cen e s appea s as an a ac i e ool [ 10 , 11 ]. F amewo ks such as ‘open inno a ion’ ha e appea ed o le e age an o ganiza ion in e nal R&D by b inging ex e nal knowledge since an app oach whe e companies “do i all hemsel es” o inno a e is no possible o all o e en di icul o sus ain [ 12 ]. Bu pa ne ship oppo uni ies also include cus ome s, supplie s, compe i o s and o he s akeholde s [13]. In addi ion o exploi ing a ailable knowledge, acqui ing new knowledge, abso bing i , and inally in e nalizing i , is essen ial o ad ancing and de eloping new business oppo uni ies as well as a oiding lock-in [ 14 ]. This knowledge ad ancemen needs o iden i y knowledge gaps, ha ing he capabili y and lexibili y o in eg a e new wi h exis ing knowledge. Ad ancing knowledge is conside ed c i ically impo an o su i al in an e a o sho p oduc li e cycles, ad anced echnological de elopmen s and conside able economic unce ain y [ 15 ]. Mo eo e , echnological de elopmen s a e conside ed c ucial o inc ease he pene a ion o enewables in spi e o e a ic go e nmen policies and cons an compe i ion o educe cos s o subs i u e ossil uels. Howe e , his o ically much mo e emphasis (and unding) is pu on knowledge gene a ion o alue c ea ion as he main d i e o inno a ion, while he dissemina ion and abso p ion o his knowledge ( alue cap u ing) h ough ac ual indus ial de elopmen s is p esumed o ollow e o lessly o equi ed o be pe o med wi h p i a e in es men . Fo example, al hough US Fede al spending on R&D has s ayed mo e o less cons an (wi h he esea ch pa sligh ly inc easing abo e 0.4% o he US GDP (g oss domes ic p oduc ) since he 1970s), he e has also been a s eady decline in de elopmen (D) in es men s om almos 1% o he US GDP be ween he 1970–1990s o a cu en alue below 0.3% o 2018 [ 12 ]. Al hough p i a e in es men complemen s hese igu es, he eali y is ha co po a e R&D spending is gene ally meag e and elian on public money. I seems widely accep ed now ha mo e a en ion should be gi en o how o ake hese new ideas, in e nalizing and u ilizing hem o de elop new p oduc s and se ices. Despi e he ac ha he link be ween knowledge and i m g ow h has been deeply s udied in he li e a u e, he e is a clea lack o empi ical e idence [ 16 ]. This pape con ibu es in illing his gap by p esen ing a case s udy which shows ha inno a ion in a company wo king a apidly g owing ma ke was he key poin o achie e success ul comme cializa ion o new echnologies. 2. Inno a ion in Concen a ing Sola Powe (CSP) Concen a ing sola powe (CSP) o sola he mal ene gy (STE) uses e lec i e su aces o concen a e he inciden sola adia ion o hea a hea ans e luid (HTF). This he mal ene gy can be s o ed and deli e ed o a hea engine o gene a e elec ici y whene e i is needed o in eg a ed in o o he applica ions, such as supplying indus ial p ocess hea . Since inexpensi e and la ge-scale he mal ene gy s o age (TES) can be easily in eg a ed, i allows o indus ial-scale dispa chable sola ene gy p oduc ion well beyond dayligh hou s. I is a ma u ing echnology wi h widesp ead deploymen depending on he echnological solu ion. Abengoa has a leading ole in his ma ke , wi h 34% o he he mosola powe ins alled capaci y wo ldwide (Figu e 1). Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 3 o 19 Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 o 19 ene gy s o age, p o iding ope a ional lexibili y in high enewable pene a ed sys ems. Howe e , he 93 ole ha CSP will play in he ene gy mix is unclea o his da e [18]. 94 95 Figu e 1. Concen a ing sola powe (CSP) ins alled capaci y in 2018. 96 97 Figu e 2. Global le elised cos o elec ici y and auc ion p ice ends o sola pho o ol aic (PV), CSP, 98 onsho e and o sho e wind om p ojec and auc ion da a, 2010–2022 [17]. 99 The CSP business is a global one compe ing wi h global ma ke s. Bu wha i is di e en in his 100 business compa ed o o he s is he incessan and an ic echnological ad ance di e en in he las 101 decades. Companies and s a mus main ain cons an echnological igilance, keeping up wi h up o 102 da e echnology and o be able o be on i . In his ma ke , echnological p og ess can e ode he 103 ma gins o a p oduc and elimina e a ma ke p oduc , bu i can also open up new ma ke s. The 104 cu en a e o echnological eplacemen in CSP is unp eceden ed in his o y. 105 To compe e in such ma ke , s a egic planning o echnological inno a ion is needed, in ol ing 106 esou ces, ime, ma ke , business model, compe encies, an inno a ion ne wo k, pa ne s, inno a ion 107 clus e s, and knowledge. This success ul indus ial case o inno a ion was based on six ac o s: 108 1. A case based on he acquisi ion o new compe ences in he ield o sola ene gy bu 109 ha in eg a ed and enhanced he exis ing compe ences in con en ional powe plan 110 enginee ing. 111 Figu e 1. Concen a ing sola powe (CSP) ins alled capaci y in 2018. In he pas 15 yea s, CSP has e ol ed om small scale R&D p ojec s and demons a o s o a ma u e indus y p oducing elec ici y a he u ili y-scale wi h o e 5 GW ins alled capaci y wo ldwide. The cos o elec ici y gene a ion wi h CSP has e ol ed om 0.35 USD/kWh in 2010 o 0.07 USD/kWh in 2020 [ 17 ], see Figu e 2. This has only been possible h ough nume ous echnological de elopmen s. Al hough many echnological a ge s ha e been me , his cos educ ion has been necessa y bu insu icien o compe e wi h con en ional powe gene a ion and he e e -dec easing cos o pho o ol aics. CSP has comme cially demons a ed he easibili y o la ge-scale he mal ene gy s o age, p o iding ope a ional lexibili y in high enewable pene a ed sys ems. Howe e , he ole ha CSP will play in he ene gy mix is unclea o his da e [18]. Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 o 19 ene gy s o age, p o iding ope a ional lexibili y in high enewable pene a ed sys ems. Howe e , he 93 ole ha CSP will play in he ene gy mix is unclea o his da e [18]. 94 95 Figu e 1. Concen a ing sola powe (CSP) ins alled capaci y in 2018. 96 97 Figu e 2. Global le elised cos o elec ici y and auc ion p ice ends o sola pho o ol aic (PV), CSP, 98 onsho e and o sho e wind om p ojec and auc ion da a, 2010–2022 [17]. 99 The CSP business is a global one compe ing wi h global ma ke s. Bu wha i is di e en in his 100 business compa ed o o he s is he incessan and an ic echnological ad ance di e en in he las 101 decades. Companies and s a mus main ain cons an echnological igilance, keeping up wi h up o 102 da e echnology and o be able o be on i . In his ma ke , echnological p og ess can e ode he 103 ma gins o a p oduc and elimina e a ma ke p oduc , bu i can also open up new ma ke s. The 104 cu en a e o echnological eplacemen in CSP is unp eceden ed in his o y. 105 To compe e in such ma ke , s a egic planning o echnological inno a ion is needed, in ol ing 106 esou ces, ime, ma ke , business model, compe encies, an inno a ion ne wo k, pa ne s, inno a ion 107 clus e s, and knowledge. This success ul indus ial case o inno a ion was based on six ac o s: 108 1. A case based on he acquisi ion o new compe ences in he ield o sola ene gy bu 109 ha in eg a ed and enhanced he exis ing compe ences in con en ional powe plan 110 enginee ing. 111 Figu e 2. Global le elised cos o elec ici y and auc ion p ice ends o sola pho o ol aic (PV), CSP, onsho e and o sho e wind om p ojec and auc ion da a, 2010–2022 [17]. The CSP business is a global one compe ing wi h global ma ke s. Bu wha i is di e en in his business compa ed o o he s is he incessan and an ic echnological ad ance di e en in he las decades. Companies and s a mus main ain cons an echnological igilance, keeping up wi h up o da e echnology and o be able o be on i . In his ma ke , echnological p og ess can e ode he ma gins Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 4 o 19 o a p oduc and elimina e a ma ke p oduc , bu i can also open up new ma ke s. The cu en a e o echnological eplacemen in CSP is unp eceden ed in his o y. To compe e in such ma ke , s a egic planning o echnological inno a ion is needed, in ol ing esou ces, ime, ma ke , business model, compe encies, an inno a ion ne wo k, pa ne s, inno a ion clus e s, and knowledge. This success ul indus ial case o inno a ion was based on six ac o s: 1. A case based on he acquisi ion o new compe ences in he ield o sola ene gy bu ha in eg a ed and enhanced he exis ing compe ences in con en ional powe plan enginee ing. 2. A p oduc inno a ion o o e enewable sola plan s wi h ene gy dispa chabili y. A p ocess inno a ion o excellence in manu ac u ing and ope a ion p ocesses. 3. A sys em inno a ion (sola plan pa abolic h ough collec o and owe plan s) bu also a componen inno a ion. In a sola plan he e a e many c i ical componen s designed, “ad-hoc” ha cons i u e in hemsel es new p oduc s/equipmen o he alue chain. Sola ecei e s, he mal ene gy s o age sys ems, sola acke s, speci ic measu emen equipmen , e c. 4. A dis up i e inno a ion (PS-10 he i s comme cial sola he mal plan in he wo ld) bu also an inc emen al inno a ion o cos educ ion and e iciency imp o emen : pa abolic ough sola he mal plan s wi h la ge opening mani olds, owe plan s wi h supe hea ed s eam and mol en sal s. 5. Technological isks: ma e ials in ex eme condi ions o empe a u e and p essu e, co osion associa ed wi h hea ans e luids, dese en i onmen s and subjec o wind loads, physical limi s on op ical p ope ies, he modynamic limi s. 6. Non- echnological componen : geog aphies and i s o ma ke . The s a egic planning o inno a ion in CSP is p esen ed in Table 1. Bu o achie e success, inno a ion p ocesses need o be in eg a ed in he company managemen when d i ing new p oduc s in o he ma ke . The s age-ga e p ocess enabled Abengoa o de e mine he momen in which new echnologies would become ully p o i able by hemsel es. S age-ga e is a obus s anda dized and sequen ial p ocedu e o de e mine he deg ee o de elopmen o a gi en p ojec and he amoun o in es men equi ed o ake i o he nex s ep [ 19 , 20 ]. Each p ocess/s age has a co esponding se o equi emen s and objec i es o be accomplished in de e mining p ojec success o ansi ion o he nex s age. The s age-ga e p ocedu e is applicable o e e y p oduc o p ocess de elopmen , and i s s eps a e p esen ed in Figu e 3. Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 o 19 2. A p oduc inno a ion o o e enewable sola plan s wi h ene gy dispa chabili y. A 112 p ocess inno a ion o excellence in manu ac u ing and ope a ion p ocesses. 113 3. A sys em inno a ion (sola plan pa abolic h ough collec o and owe plan s) bu 114 also a componen inno a ion. In a sola plan he e a e many c i ical componen s 115 designed, “ad-hoc” ha cons i u e in hemsel es new p oduc s/equipmen o he 116 alue chain. Sola ecei e s, he mal ene gy s o age sys ems, sola acke s, speci ic 117 measu emen equipmen , e c. 118 4. A dis up i e inno a ion (PS-10 he i s comme cial sola he mal plan in he wo ld) 119 bu also an inc emen al inno a ion o cos educ ion and e iciency imp o emen : 120 pa abolic ough sola he mal plan s wi h la ge opening mani olds, owe plan s 121 wi h supe hea ed s eam and mol en sal s. 122 5. Technological isks: ma e ials in ex eme condi ions o empe a u e and p essu e, 123 co osion associa ed wi h hea ans e luids, dese en i onmen s and subjec o 124 wind loads, physical limi s on op ical p ope ies, he modynamic limi s. 125 6. Non- echnological componen : geog aphies and i s o ma ke . 126 The s a egic planning o inno a ion in CSP is p esen ed in Table 1. Bu o achie e success, 127 inno a ion p ocesses need o be in eg a ed in he company managemen when d i ing new p oduc s 128 in o he ma ke . The s age-ga e p ocess enabled Abengoa o de e mine he momen in which new 129 echnologies would become ully p o i able by hemsel es. S age-ga e is a obus s anda dized and 130 sequen ial p ocedu e o de e mine he deg ee o de elopmen o a gi en p ojec and he amoun o 131 in es men equi ed o ake i o he nex s ep [19,20]. Each p ocess/s age has a co esponding se o 132 equi emen s and objec i es o be accomplished in de e mining p ojec success o ansi ion o he 133 nex s age. The s age-ga e p ocedu e is applicable o e e y p oduc o p ocess de elopmen , and i s 134 s eps a e p esen ed in Figu e 3. 135 The inno a ion in Abengoa would no ha e been possible wi hou he alida ion o he new 136 echnologies a demons a ion-scale. The de elopmen o new echnologies ha can be applied o 137 sola powe plan s be hey p op ie a y o sold o hi d pa ies, is one o he compe i i e ad an ages 138 on which Abengoa is basing g ow h and iabili y o he business in he u u e. Technological 139 de elopmen s in sola ene gy a e occu ing e y quickly and, o his e y eason, he need o iable 140 and e icien al e na i es o cope wi h new p ojec s and ma ke needs. 141 142 Figu e 3. The s age-ga e inno a ion p ocedu e de ailed s eps. 143 Figu e 3. The s age-ga e inno a ion p ocedu e de ailed s eps. Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 5 o 19 Table 1. S a egic planning o inno a ion in CSP a Abengoa. S a egy Ho izon 1 (2007) Ho izon 2 (2012) Ho izon 3 (2020) Business and p oduc s Sa u a ed and supe hea ed owe s: PS10, PS20, and PS50 - Pa abolic ough collec o - Mol en sal owe and supe hea e owe Dispa chabili y: e ec i e esponse o he “elec ici y peak demand” Objec i es: mas e echnologies - Pa abolic ough echnology - Supe hea ed s eam owe s - Sa u a ed s eam owe s - Helios a s - Mol en sal s he mal ene gy s o age - Sola ield calcula ion codes - Mol en sal owe - Ad anced cycles - Helios a o he u u e - Collec o o he u u e - Design ecei e s a highe empe a u e - Seek b eak h ough inno a ions - Hyb id solu ions Main ac ions - Suppo PS10 and PS20 - New unding o esea ch and de elopmen (R&D) acili ies - Manage IP po olio - Manage cos s and g an s ollow up - Ope a ion o mol en sal pilo plan - Enginee ing o a comme cial mol en sal owe plan - Ope a ion o ai ecei e sola plan Solugas - Po en maps and IP gap iden i ica ion - Assess easibili y o new concep s (high empe a u e, ligh managemen ) - New luids and ma e ials - Technical su eillance - File pa en s in key echnologies The inno a ion in Abengoa would no ha e been possible wi hou he alida ion o he new echnologies a demons a ion-scale. The de elopmen o new echnologies ha can be applied o sola powe plan s be hey p op ie a y o sold o hi d pa ies, is one o he compe i i e ad an ages on which Abengoa is basing g ow h and iabili y o he business in he u u e. Technological de elopmen s in sola ene gy a e occu ing e y quickly and, o his e y eason, he need o iable and e icien al e na i es o cope wi h new p ojec s and ma ke needs. The Soluca Pla o m (Figu e 4), loca ed in Sanluca la Mayo , Se ille, is a unique acili y whe e sola he mal and pho o ol aic echnology powe plan s a e ope a ing comme cially and which also ea u es pilo plan s whe e echnologies can be es ed be o e being b ough in o comme cial use. This pla o m has become he la ges R&D&I cen e in he wo ld o sola ene gy echnologies, and Abengoa is he only company ha possesses a cen e o i s kind. Se e al acili ies we e designed, buil , and alida ed and a e summa ized in Table 2. Fo he ough echnology, he i s one was Repow, a 2.1 MW ough echnology plan (Figu e 4). I was used o alida e he pa abolic ough collec o s (PTC) componen s used in he 50 MW comme cial plan Solno a 1, loca ed in Spain. The alida ion included key componen s, high op ical and acking accu acy, educed hea losses, manu ac u ing simplici y, educed weigh and cos , inc eased o sional and bending s i ness unde wind loads, educed numbe o pa s and assembly op imiza ion, and co osion esis ance. The second one is he 9 MWh mol en sal s dual ank he mal ene gy s o age plan (Figu e 4) [ 21 ]. The alida ion included he s o age medium (composi ion, impu i ies, speci ica ions, e c.) [ 22 ], he anks’ design (i.e., hea losses and co osion) [ 23 , 24 ], he hea exchange , he mol en sal s pumps, he eeze p o ec ion sys ems [ 25 ], ins umen a ion and con ol (I&C), and ope a ion and main enance (O&M). The p ojec was co- inanced by he Cen e o he De elopmen o Indus ial Technology (CDTI). Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 6 o 19 Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 o 19 163 Figu e 4. Abengoa Soluca R&D complex wi h he acili ies o echnologies alida ed. 164 Figu e 4. Abengoa Soluca R&D complex wi h he acili ies o echnologies alida ed. Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 7 o 19 Table 2. De ails o he demo acili ies used in he oadmap o comme cializa ion. Type o CSP Name Powe Sola Collec o s Hea T ans e Fluid Maximum Wo king Tempe a u e Ope a ion Hou s o Ope a ion Used in Comme cial Plan Re e ence T ough echnology Repow 2.1 MW 1 loop o 600 m (4 collec o ) Oil 400 ◦C 2007–2012 30,000 h in 2014 PTC componen s used in Solno a 1 (Spain) Xina Sola One [26] 2 la ge ape u e collec o s o 300 m Oil 400 ◦C 2014–2016 500 h DEWA Hyb id sola -gas plan WAS (Waad Al-Shamal) [27] [28] Indi ec mol en sal s o age Mol en sal s dual ank TES 9 MWh — Oil/MS 400 ◦C 2009–2012 >32,000 Solana Powe Plan [21–24] Supe hea e s eam ecei e Eu eka 5 MW 60 helios a s o 120 m2Sola sal 550 ◦C 2009–2011 >2000 Khi Sola One [29] Di ec s eam gene a ion Eu eka-DSG 8 MW 3 loops sa u a ed; 2 loops supe hea ed Wa e 550 ◦C 2009–2011 2000 P ocess hea [30] Mol en sal ecei e CRS Sales 5 MW 85 helios a s o 120 m2Sola sal 565 ◦C 2012–2015 3600 Ce o Dominado [31] New HTF A anza2 — — Te na y ca bona e 700 ◦C 2014–2015 1000 — [32] Gas ecei e ( ubula ecei e and olume ic p essu ized ai ecei e ) Solugas 3 MW 69 helios a s o 120 m2Ai 800 2012–2014 1200 — [33] Ce sol 105 kWh 1000 2014 100 — — Sol ec 3 MW 1000 2015 200 — [34] Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 8 o 19 Also, wo mo e loops we e buil , a 3 MW HTF-loop and an 8 MW di ec s eam gene a ion (DSG) loop, co- inanced by CDTI, (ITC20111061) (Figu e 4) [ 30 ]. Abengoa has designed a new la ge ape u e collec o and has implemen ed au omo i e-s yle high- a e ab ica ion and au oma ed assembly echniques o achie e a subs an ial educ ion in he deploymen cos . The second demo acili y is he 5 MW h CRS mol en sal s ecei e [ 31 ] (Figu e 4). The p ojec was co- inanced by CDTI (IDI-20090393). Be ween 2012 and 2015 i alida ed he ecei e , he s eam gene a ion, and o he main componen s o he Ce o Dominado comme cial plan , loca ed in Chile. This plan AVANZA2 was e u bished in 2015 o es a mol en sal loop using di e en composi ion sal s (a ca bona e mix u e) wo king a empe a u es abo e 700 ◦ C o design key componen s o highe empe a u e mol en sal powe plan s [ 32 ]. The p ojec was co- inanced by he CDTI (EXP 00064290 / ITC-20131017). Ano he acili y is he 3 MW h Solugas si e. The Solugas p ojec comp ises a pilo owe plan a he Soluca Pla o m in Se ille, Spain, o demons a e he po en ial o hyb id sola -gas echnology, wi h di ec sola hea ing o he p essu ized ai om a gas u bine [ 33 ]. The p ojec has been inanced by he Eu opean Union (EU) 7 h F amewo k P og amme. New ecei e echnologies aimed a inc easing he wo king empe a u e and allowing new geome ies o he mochemical eac ions ha e also been es ed a he Solugas si e (Figu e 4). Ce sol is a 105 kW h ce amic ubula ecei e wo king wi h ai a 20 ba and 400–1000 ◦ C. Sol ec is a 1.5 MW h olume ic p essu ized ai ecei e wo king a 1000 ◦C [34]. The alida ion o he op ical quali y and acking accu acy o new helios a s is unde aken in Pon ones, an ins alla ion whe e he p ocessing o an image ocused on a a ge is done o measu e he op ical accu acy o he helios a (Figu e 4). The Solno a 1 R&D a ea allows he op ical alida ion o new collec o s (de lec ome y and au oma ic pho og amme ic quali y sys em), wi h an on-si e es me hod o he mal and op ical pe o mances o a new pa abolic- ough s uc u e (Figu e 5). This would no be possible wi hou building an ex ensi e R&D ne wo k. The Abengoa CSP R&D ne wo k includes R&D cen es (such as CSIC, Tecnalia, CENER, CTM, CIEMAT, IMDEA Ene g í a, and AICIA in Spain; Sandia Na ional Labo a o ies and NREL in USA; CNRS in F ance, F aunho e and DLR in Ge many; CSIRO in Aus alia; o he Paul Sche e Ins i u in Swi ze land), uni e si ies (such as Uni e si a Poli è cnica de Ca alunya, Uni e si a de Lleida, Uni e sidad de Za agoza, Uni e sidad de Huel a, and Uni e sidad Rey Juan Ca los in Spain; Uni e si é de Bo deaux in F ance; School o Mines Colo ado in USA; Technische Uni e si ä D esden and Technisch Uni e si ä München in Ge many; and Uni e si y o Ba h in UK), and o he companies (such as AKO, SQM, AalbogCSP, P oma , Fe ibe ia, BASF, Tok, Qne gy, SQM, Sola Tu bines o San -Gobain). The esul s o such in ensi e e o in R&D a e e lec ed in he accumula ed R&D in es men and pa en s g an ed (Figu e 6). Al hough he slope in he g ow h o in es men and g an ed pa en s is no he same, i is clea ha bo h pa ame e s ollow a pa allel g ow h in he p esen ed pe iod o ime. Coad and Rao 2008 [3] al eady s a ed ha R&D and pa en ing is c ucial o as -g owing i ms. Se e al demons a ion acili ies we e also buil o alida e he owe echnology. The i s one is he 3 MW h Eu eka supe hea ed s eam ecei e (Figu e 4). I is a supe hea ed s eam cen al ecei e loca ed a he op o a 49.8 m high owe wo king wi h 35 helios a s o 120 m 2 each. Be ween 2009 and 2011 i eached 1800 hou s o ope a ion and i alida ed he ecei e design o he 50 MW Khi Sola One comme cial plan , loca ed in Sou h A ica [ 29 ]. The con igu a ion and low condi ions a e p esen ed in Table 3. A he ea ly s ages o a echnology i is common o ind di e en designs compe ing wi h each o he , because he ideal/winning solu ion has no ye been iden i ied among he a ailable echnologies. This could explain he in es men inc ease om 2013 o 2014, whe e Abengoa doubled he in es men o con inue o ma u e di e en echnological op ions in pa allel, spanning om pa abolic ough cos educ ions o de elopmen o mol en sal owe s wi h TES, o high p essu e ai ecei e s o he mochemical eac ions o hyb id PV-CSP plan s. In addi ion, Abengoa c ea ed in 2013 a speci ic R&D Lab, Abengoa Resea ch, wi h mo e han 400 high-le el esea che s and he mos ad anced labo a o ies Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 9 o 19 o complemen he knowledge gene a ed a demo scale wi h a mo e undamen al knowledge o basic science (ma e ials s udies, luid dynamic s udies, e c.), which also con ibu ed o he in es men inc ease in hose yea s. Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 o 19 undamen al knowledge o basic science (ma e ials s udies, luid dynamic s udies, e c.), which also 218 con ibu ed o he in es men inc ease in hose yea s. 219 (a) (b) (c) (d) Figu e 5. Solno a 1 R&D a ea o quali y con ol: (a) and (b) geome ic quali y pa ame e s by 220 de lec ome y and (c) and (d) jig calib a ion by pho og amme y. 221 Table 3. Con igu a ion o he 3 MW h Eu eka supe hea ed s eam ecei e echnology o owe powe 222 plan . 223 Recei e Panel Condi ions Flow Condi ions Pa hs 2 HTF Supe hea ed s eam Panels 6 Inle empe a u e 300 °C Passes pe panel 4 Ou le empe a u e 530 °C Tubes pe pass 7 Inle p essu e 85 ba – – Mass low 3.4 kg/s 224 225 Figu e 6. Accumula ed R&D in es men s. g an ed pa en s in he pe iod 2008–2015. 226 Figu e 5. Solno a 1 R&D a ea o quali y con ol: ( a ) and ( b ) geome ic quali y pa ame e s by de lec ome y and (c) and (d) jig calib a ion by pho og amme y. Table 3. Con igu a ion o he 3 MW h Eu eka supe hea ed s eam ecei e echnology o owe powe plan . Recei e Panel Condi ions Flow Condi ions Pa hs 2 HTF Supe hea ed s eam Panels 6 Inle empe a u e 300 ◦C Passes pe panel 4 Ou le empe a u e 530 ◦C Tubes pe pass 7 Inle p essu e 85 ba – – Mass low 3.4 kg/s Ene gies 2020, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 o 19 undamen al knowledge o basic science (ma e ials s udies, luid dynamic s udies, e c.), which also 218 con ibu ed o he in es men inc ease in hose yea s. 219 (a) (b) (c) (d) Figu e 5. Solno a 1 R&D a ea o quali y con ol: (a) and (b) geome ic quali y pa ame e s by 220 de lec ome y and (c) and (d) jig calib a ion by pho og amme y. 221 Table 3. Con igu a ion o he 3 MW h Eu eka supe hea ed s eam ecei e echnology o owe powe 222 plan . 223 Recei e Panel Condi ions Flow Condi ions Pa hs 2 HTF Supe hea ed s eam Panels 6 Inle empe a u e 300 °C Passes pe panel 4 Ou le empe a u e 530 °C Tubes pe pass 7 Inle p essu e 85 ba – – Mass low 3.4 kg/s 224 225 Figu e 6. Accumula ed R&D in es men s. g an ed pa en s in he pe iod 2008–2015. 226 Figu e 6. Accumula ed R&D in es men s. g an ed pa en s in he pe iod 2008–2015. Ene gies 2020,13, 2943 16 o 19 A he same ime, he cos and inancial isk o sus ain a pipeline o inno a ions h ough con inuous R&D a e high. Many o he key companies ha ha e d i en he cu en ma u i y o he CSP echnologies (Abengoa, Sola Rese e, B igh Sou ce Ene gy) ha e been inancially impac ed by bo h he cons an need o inno a e o educe cos s and he la ge scale o he inancial backing o such p ojec s, leading hem o educing o ceasing ope a ions in many cases. A he same ime, small and medium en e p ises (SMEs) and s a -ups do no ha e he muscle (o inancial backing) o unde ake complex in eg a ed p ojec s o such kinds and ha e o ocus on small elemen inno a ions. Consequen ly, indus y con inui y is s ill a majo obs acle o a obus , mains eam and cos -e ec i e deploymen . 5. Conclusions Concen a ed sola powe has e ol ed in he pas 15 yea s om small-scale R&D p ojec s o demons a ion pilo plan s o comme cializa ion. The cos o elec ici y p oduced h ough CSP has dec eased om 0.35 USD/kWh in 2010 o 0.07 USD/kWh in 2020. This has been achie ed by majo playe s in he ma ke , la ge and small, h ough a combina ion o public and (a la ge amoun o ) p i a e unding, emb acing inno a ion om and o he companies h ough a complex ne wo k o R&D collabo a ions. In spi e o all hese achie emen s, only possible by in e nalizing he inno a ion p ocess wi hin he company, CSP is unques ionably s ill oo expensi e o compe e wi h o he enewable ene gies. Howe e , by inco po a ing (and helping de elop) inexpensi e long- e m he mal ene gy s o age, i o e s a pa h o ope a ional lexibili y in highly pene a ed enewable decen alized powe sys ems and op ions o deca bonisa ion o ou socie y. In Abengoa, he ole o s o age is key o gua an ee he compe i i eness o he CSP, hanks o he dispa chabili y i o e s. The mal s o age gi es he necessa y s abili y in he g id wi h high pene abili y o non-dispa chable enewables such as PV o wind. Abengoa made an impo an commi men o de elop his p oduc h ough a esea ch and inno a ion s a egy, wi h a sho - and long- e m s a egy implemen ed du ing he same pe iod o ime. This s a egy was ully suppo ed by public unds, al hough he necessa y de elopmen s would no ha e been possible wi hou a s ong disbu semen om he company. This disbu semen is no always easible o p i a e companies, which limi s he echnological ad ances necessa y o socie y. S ong public inancing policies a e necessa y o gua an ee he de elopmen o new s a egic echnological p oduc s. Au ho Con ibu ions: Concep ualiza ion, C.P. and L.F.C.; me hodology, C.P. and S.F.; in es iga ion, C.P., S.F. and L.F.C.; esou ces, C.P. and L.F.C.; da a cu a ion, C.P.; w i ing—o iginal d a p epa a ion, C.P. and S.F.; w i ing— e iew and edi ing, L.F.C.; isualiza ion, C.P.; unding acquisi ion, C.P. and L.F.C. All au ho s ha e ead and ag eed o he published e sion o he manusc ip . Funding: The wo k was pa ially unded by he by he Minis e io de Ciencia, Inno aci ó n y Uni e sidades de España (RTI2018-093849-B-C31- MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) and by he Minis e io de Ciencia, Inno aci ó n y Uni e sidades - Agencia Es a al de In es igaci ó n (AEI) (RED2018-102431-T). Abengoa hanks he Spanish Minis y o Science and Inno a ion ha has allowed us o inance R&D in CSP: CDTI (IDI-20090402, ITC-20111050, ConSOLida CENIT 2008-1005, CDTI IDI-20090393, ITC-20131017); and Eu opean Commission: H2020 p og amme (H2020-LCE-2015 Sun- o Liquid, H2020-LCE-2015 Solpa ). We hank he pa ne s o he conso ium who ha e allowed hese de elopmen s and hank all membe s o he Abengoa CSP depa men . Acknowledgmen s: Cabeza would like o hank he Ca alan Go e nmen o he quali y acc edi a ion gi en o he esea ch g oup GREiA (2017 SGR 1537). GREiA is ce i ied agen TECNIO in he ca ego y o echnology de elope s om he Go e nmen o Ca alonia. This wo k is pa ially suppo ed by ICREA unde he ICREA Academia p og amme. 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This a icle is an open access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms and condi ions o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion (CC BY) license (h p://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/).