Parametric determination of heliostat minimum cost per unit area

A parametric analysis illustrates how heliostat costs per unit area can be minimized by distributing the costs into categories having different cost dependence on area. Heliostat costs are distributed among three basic categories: Category 1, costs that on a per unit area basis are constant, such as mirrors. Category 2, costs that are dependent on the imposed loads, and thus area, such as the structure, pedestal, and drive units. Category 3, fixed costs per heliostat, irrespective of heliostat area, such as controllers, and position sensors. Using the 150 m(2) United States Department of Energy (DOE) baseline heliostat design and its cost of approximately $200/m(2), cost reductions of the order of 50% are determined for a range of much smaller areas, primarily as a function of decreased Category 3 costs. For achievable Category 3 costs, the minimum cost per unit area is projected to meet the DOE 2020 goal of $75/m(2). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.