Archimede is the first plant in the world to use molten salts not just to store heat but also to collect it from the sun in the first place.
This is a competitive advantage, for a variety of reasons. Molten salts can operate at higher temperatures than oils (up to 550°C instead of 390°C), therefore increasing efficiency and power output of a plant. With the higher-temperature heat storage allowed by the direct use of salts, the plant can also extend its operating hours well further than an oil-operated CSP plant with molten salt storage, thus working 24 hours a day for several days in the absence of sun or during rainy days
The plant opened this month in Italy.
I wonder where they get the salts from? Are they special kinds of salts or could they use the stuff in seawater if filtered out?
Just did a quick Google, and it appears that it’s plain old regular salt. Anyone know for sure?