District heating using concentrating solar thermal technology

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Key Facts
Högslätten, Sweden
Market Segment Solar District Heating Solar Collectors Area 3,000 m² Solar Thermal Capacity 1.5 MWth Output temperature 73 – 120 °C Storage capacity 6,000m³ Land Area 1 hectare Commissioned 2023 Type of collector/supplier Concentrated Solar Collector Absolicon T160 Project Developer Absolicon Annual Energy Delivery 1,000 MWh

Brief

In 2020, Absolicon initiated the construction of the pilot project, Högslätten 2023 Solar Thermal Park, representing Sweden’s largest solar field integrated with district heating using concentrating solar collectors. The park’s construction was executed in two phases, with the initial phase completed in the summer of 2021 and the final phase concluded by the end of 2023.

Technology

The concentrated solar collector by Absolicon is a small parabolic trough which uses mirrors to reflect the irradiation coming from the sun onto a receiver converting solar irradiation to heat. Thanks to this technology, the solar thermal field of Högslätten, situated close to Absolicon’s headquarters in Härnösand, Sweden, delivers heat with a working temperature ranging from 73°C to 120°C, directly feeding into the city district heating network.

 

Financial Structure

The solar heat generated in the park is marketed through a heat purchase agreement (HPA) with the local district heating supplier. Independent validation of the plant’s performance and system benefits is conducted by third-party entities, including the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE) and Umeå University.

In collaboration with the local energy company HEMAB, Absolicon has implemented two installations in the company’s energy park, one linked to the return line and another featuring a steam generating system connected to the supply pipe.

Acknowledging the significance of the project, the Swedish Energy Agency granted €800,000 in May 2020, co-financing the large-scale solar heating plant by Absolicon.

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