IEC/TC 117 - Solar thermal electric plants

IEC 62862-3-2:2018 specifies the requirements and the test methods for the characterization of a large-size parabolic-trough collector. This document covers the determination of optical and thermal performance of parabolic-trough collectors, and the tracking accuracy of the collector one-axis tracking system. This test method is for outdoor testing only. This document applies to parabolic-trough collectors equipped with the manufacturer-supplied sun tracking mechanism.

IEC 62862-1-5:2024 provide procedures and guidelines to carry out acceptance tests for solar thermal power plants, of any concentration technology, with the uncertainty level given in ISO/IEC Guide 98-3. This document establishes the measurements, instrumentation and techniques required for determining the following performance parameters for a given period: - available solar radiation energy, - plant electricity consumptions, - net electricity generation, - non-solar energy, - net plant efficiency. This document specifies the characteristics of a calculation tool that serves as a reference for expected electricity production during the test period and under real-time solar irradiance and other meteorological data. This document is applicable to solar thermal power plants of any size using any concentration technology, where the sun is the main source of energy, and all elements and systems are operative. Such power plants can optionally have non-solar energy sources, such as natural gas or other renewable energies, and a thermal storage system. This document is applicable to acceptance testing in such power plants, as well as in any other scenario in which their performance must be known.