The ASTERIx-CAESar Demonstration Prototype: Specifications and Design of a Small-scale Hybrid CAES-CSP-Desalination Plant

Fritz Zaversky; Xabier Rández; Javier Baigorri; Antonio Avila-Marin; Raúl Enrique; Patricia Palenzuela; Jonathon McGuire; Flavien Berard; Álvaro Soriano; Javier Pinedo

doi:10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2905

The ASTERIx-CAESar Demonstration Prototype

Specifications and Design of a Small-scale Hybrid CAES-CSP-Desalination Plant

Authors

Fritz Zaversky National Renewable Energy Centre https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6905-3811
Xabier Rández National Renewable Energy Centre https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7720-1474
Javier Baigorri National Renewable Energy Centre
Antonio Avila-Marin Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9523-9705
Raúl Enrique Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0960-6362
Patricia Palenzuela Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas
Jonathon McGuire Bluebox Energy
Flavien Berard Bluebox Energy
Álvaro Soriano Apria Systems https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6689-8595
Javier Pinedo Apria Systems https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2036-9246

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2905

Keywords:

CSP, CAES, Volumetric Solar Receiver, Desalination

Abstract

The ASTERIx-CAESar project investigates a novel hybrid CSP-CAES concept and implements a small-scale prototype at CIEMAT-PSA in the south of Spain. This document gives a complete overview of the prototype and its components, including the volumetric solar receiver, the compressed air storage system, the hot air turbine, as well as the connected Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination unit. The prototype is currently under construction and is planned to be operational at the end of 2026.

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References

[1] F. Zaversky et al., "Experimental Testing of a 300 kWth Open Volumetric Air Receiver (OVAR) Coupled with a Small-Scale Brayton Cycle. Operating Experience and Lessons Learnt," 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0148723).

[2] J. Baigorri et al., "Modeling of an innovative integration of compressed air energy storage (CAES) with high-temperature concentrated solar power (CSP): A comprehensive use-case study," Journal of Energy Storage, vol. 132, p. 117678, 2025/10/01/ 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.117678).

[3] ASME, "ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code - An International Code - Section II - Materials, Part D, Properties (Metric)," ed. Two Park Avenue, New York, USA: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019.

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Published

2026-07-07

How to Cite

Zaversky, F., Rández, X., Baigorri, J., Avila-Marin, A., Enrique, R., Palenzuela, P., … Pinedo, J. (2026). The ASTERIx-CAESar Demonstration Prototype: Specifications and Design of a Small-scale Hybrid CAES-CSP-Desalination Plant. SolarPACES Conference Proceedings, 4. https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.2905

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Conference Proceedings Volume

Vol. 4 (2025): SolarPACES 2025, 31st International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power, Thermal, and Chemical Energy Systems

Section

Emerging and Disruptive Concepts

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Received 2025-09-02
Accepted 2026-04-29
Published 2026-07-07

Funding data

European Commission
Grant numbers 101122231