Solar Highbeams Target Design compared with Crescent Dunes

The Solar Highbeams Target Design compared with the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. Underlying image quoted from Google Maps.

Table comparing the Solar Highbeams Target Design with the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project.

The ratings assume that the annual average power per mirror area of Crescent Dunes (51 W/m2) can also be achieved in the target design. Maximum boiler temperature at Crescent Dunes is 565 °C (1050 °F).

Advanced steam turbine technology: plant efficiency vs. steam temperature. Image quoted from EPRI, "Materials Technology to Enable High-Efficiency Advanced Ultrasupercritical (A-USC) Steam Power Plants"

The plot of plant efficiency vs. steam temperature above suggests that increasing steam temperature from Crescent Dunes' 565 °C (1050 °F) to an A-USC (advanced ultra supercritical) turbine's 760 °C (1400 °F), would increase plant output by about a factor of 46.5/42.3 = 1.10. That gives some leeway in rating the Solar Highbeams Target Design at 1 GW though its atmospheric turbidity losses will be greater than Crescent Dunes', and possibly its rather different shading and blocking losses will be greater as well. Eventually, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion may offer even higher efficiencies.