The Archimedes Project

The Archimedes Project - developed by Enel from technology originated from discussions of the Nobel Prize in Physics won by Carlo Rubbia, and developed by ENEA, the Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment - is in line with the cost reduction and integration of stored energy in the solar thermodynamic installation.
 
Parabolic mirrors concentrate the sun's rays to heat up a fluid until it reaches the temperature required to convert water into superheated steam. The steam produced is used as a traditional steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. This technology can also be integrated with conventional thermal power plants powered by fossil fuels. The steam produced by the solar installation adds to the steam produced by the thermal power station which increases the total electrical power without increasing emissions of CO₂.
 
The Enel Archimedes Project is a strategic project in the development of CSP technology (Concentrated Solar Power) based on different aspects that are particularly innovative. The use of molten salts as a heat transfer fluid (for the capture and delivery of heat from the mirror array to the station) makes it possible to reach temperatures much higher than the temperatures achieved with traditional technologies (which use heat transfer oil). This is a process that ensures greater conversion performance for the plant. The molten salts are also used for the accumulation of heat absorbed during the day, it can indeed be used to continue generating electricity even without sunlight, that is to say, even at night.