Richard Thonig
@thonig.bsky.social
CSP.guru | Climate and Energy @Deloitte France
Formerly academic @RIFS_Potsdam and University of Potsdam
Interested in the #EU's #sustainable-#energy-#transition and the role of #CSP. MSTDN: @thonigr@social.tchncs.de
Formerly academic @RIFS_Potsdam and University of Potsdam
Interested in the #EU's #sustainable-#energy-#transition and the role of #CSP. MSTDN: @thonigr@social.tchncs.de
Pinned
Richard Thonig
@thonig.bsky.social
· Oct 7
For those interested in current developments in CSP I had the privilege of writing some 2 pages that ended up on a nice slide format.
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
- we need to have a rough long-term plan out to 2040-50 because industrial plant, ships and planes have lifetimes of 30-40 years; solutions need to slot into those reinvestment cycles
October 31, 2025 at 6:39 PM
- we need to have a rough long-term plan out to 2040-50 because industrial plant, ships and planes have lifetimes of 30-40 years; solutions need to slot into those reinvestment cycles
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025.
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
Solar Power Finance Without the Jargon
www.worldscientific.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025.
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
For those interested in current developments in CSP I had the privilege of writing some 2 pages that ended up on a nice slide format.
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
October 7, 2025 at 12:19 PM
For those interested in current developments in CSP I had the privilege of writing some 2 pages that ended up on a nice slide format.
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
Check out:
@ren21community.bsky.social
fact sheet on CONCENTRATED SOLAR THERMAL POWER (CSP)
www.ren21.net/gsr-2025/dow...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
if concentrated solar power is so bad then why does it look so fucking cool? checkmate liberals
September 12, 2025 at 5:59 AM
if concentrated solar power is so bad then why does it look so fucking cool? checkmate liberals
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Excited to announce we've joined BlueSky just in time for #IST25! Follow @transitionsnetwork.bsky.social for conference updates and highlights from Lisbon throughout this exciting week!
👉 Want your conference highlights shared on our official channels? Tag our account and use #IST25
👉 Want your conference highlights shared on our official channels? Tag our account and use #IST25
June 23, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Excited to announce we've joined BlueSky just in time for #IST25! Follow @transitionsnetwork.bsky.social for conference updates and highlights from Lisbon throughout this exciting week!
👉 Want your conference highlights shared on our official channels? Tag our account and use #IST25
👉 Want your conference highlights shared on our official channels? Tag our account and use #IST25
"This Gobi, once a land of hardship and bitter cold, has become a plain of hope,"
By the end of 2024, the first batch of 50 new energy base projects ... had been basically completed and put into operation, with a total installed capacity exceeding 90 GW.
www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/...
By the end of 2024, the first batch of 50 new energy base projects ... had been basically completed and put into operation, with a total installed capacity exceeding 90 GW.
www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/...
June 2, 2025 at 9:36 AM
"This Gobi, once a land of hardship and bitter cold, has become a plain of hope,"
By the end of 2024, the first batch of 50 new energy base projects ... had been basically completed and put into operation, with a total installed capacity exceeding 90 GW.
www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/...
By the end of 2024, the first batch of 50 new energy base projects ... had been basically completed and put into operation, with a total installed capacity exceeding 90 GW.
www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
How did China develop the world's most impressive supply chain? In no small part due to focusing public support on incentivising scale-ups. Contrast with US + EU where public funding tends to focus on R&D. Y axis is % of GDP
April 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM
How did China develop the world's most impressive supply chain? In no small part due to focusing public support on incentivising scale-ups. Contrast with US + EU where public funding tends to focus on R&D. Y axis is % of GDP
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Seems like the Gobi desert is an exciting place for energy research these days. While Ivanpah is now closing in the US, the Chinese just opened this peak shaving CSP plant:
110MW CSP with 8 h of storage + 640 MW PV for on average $1000/kW.
www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/18/s...
110MW CSP with 8 h of storage + 640 MW PV for on average $1000/kW.
www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/18/s...
April 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Seems like the Gobi desert is an exciting place for energy research these days. While Ivanpah is now closing in the US, the Chinese just opened this peak shaving CSP plant:
110MW CSP with 8 h of storage + 640 MW PV for on average $1000/kW.
www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/18/s...
110MW CSP with 8 h of storage + 640 MW PV for on average $1000/kW.
www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/18/s...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Die Stromerzeugung aus Wind und Solar war im ersten Halbjahr 2024 um 90 Prozent höher als im ersten Halbjahr 2015.
Die Stromerzeugung aus Braun- und Steinkohle ging im gleichen Zeitraum um 62 Prozent zurück.
energy-charts.info/downloads/St...
Die Stromerzeugung aus Braun- und Steinkohle ging im gleichen Zeitraum um 62 Prozent zurück.
energy-charts.info/downloads/St...
July 1, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Die Stromerzeugung aus Wind und Solar war im ersten Halbjahr 2024 um 90 Prozent höher als im ersten Halbjahr 2015.
Die Stromerzeugung aus Braun- und Steinkohle ging im gleichen Zeitraum um 62 Prozent zurück.
energy-charts.info/downloads/St...
Die Stromerzeugung aus Braun- und Steinkohle ging im gleichen Zeitraum um 62 Prozent zurück.
energy-charts.info/downloads/St...
In 2023 the global concentrating solar power market showed signs of a beginning revival. I'm happy to have contributed a couple of pages to REN21's #GSR2024 See text at: ren21.net/wp-content/u...
June 19, 2024 at 1:06 PM
In 2023 the global concentrating solar power market showed signs of a beginning revival. I'm happy to have contributed a couple of pages to REN21's #GSR2024 See text at: ren21.net/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Ohne den Mut und den heldenhaften Einsatz der amerikanischen Soldat*innen am Morgen des 6. Juni 1944 in der Normandie wäre ich heute wohl gar nicht da. Er leitete die Befreiung des Landes meiner Großmutter von den Deutschen ein. Ich bin ihnen dafür sehr dankbar. #dday #frankreich
June 6, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Ohne den Mut und den heldenhaften Einsatz der amerikanischen Soldat*innen am Morgen des 6. Juni 1944 in der Normandie wäre ich heute wohl gar nicht da. Er leitete die Befreiung des Landes meiner Großmutter von den Deutschen ein. Ich bin ihnen dafür sehr dankbar. #dday #frankreich
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Wenn das BMF Stockfotos junger Menschen kauft, um einer Generation eine Meinung zuzuschreiben, kann man das so nicht stehen lassen. Erst recht nicht, wenn Inhalte der komplexen Sache nicht gerecht werden.
Wir @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social nehmen Komplexität ernst. Mehr: schuldenbremse.info
Wir @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social nehmen Komplexität ernst. Mehr: schuldenbremse.info
June 5, 2024 at 9:55 AM
Wenn das BMF Stockfotos junger Menschen kauft, um einer Generation eine Meinung zuzuschreiben, kann man das so nicht stehen lassen. Erst recht nicht, wenn Inhalte der komplexen Sache nicht gerecht werden.
Wir @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social nehmen Komplexität ernst. Mehr: schuldenbremse.info
Wir @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social nehmen Komplexität ernst. Mehr: schuldenbremse.info
Reposted by Richard Thonig
From our Ember European Electricity Review 2024 earlier this year:
EU fossil generation saw record falls in 2023.
→ Emissions down 19%!
It's unlikely 2024 can replicate this, but the trajectory is clear. Not just coal is losing out to renewables. All fossil fuels are.
EU fossil generation saw record falls in 2023.
→ Emissions down 19%!
It's unlikely 2024 can replicate this, but the trajectory is clear. Not just coal is losing out to renewables. All fossil fuels are.
March 14, 2024 at 10:38 AM
From our Ember European Electricity Review 2024 earlier this year:
EU fossil generation saw record falls in 2023.
→ Emissions down 19%!
It's unlikely 2024 can replicate this, but the trajectory is clear. Not just coal is losing out to renewables. All fossil fuels are.
EU fossil generation saw record falls in 2023.
→ Emissions down 19%!
It's unlikely 2024 can replicate this, but the trajectory is clear. Not just coal is losing out to renewables. All fossil fuels are.
My short Buzzfeed like pitch for
@SECI_Ltd
on why now is a great time to build more CSP in India.
@RIFS_Potsdam
youtube.com/watch?v=ohWH...
@SECI_Ltd
on why now is a great time to build more CSP in India.
@RIFS_Potsdam
youtube.com/watch?v=ohWH...
March 8, 2024 at 10:11 AM
My short Buzzfeed like pitch for
@SECI_Ltd
on why now is a great time to build more CSP in India.
@RIFS_Potsdam
youtube.com/watch?v=ohWH...
@SECI_Ltd
on why now is a great time to build more CSP in India.
@RIFS_Potsdam
youtube.com/watch?v=ohWH...
So apparently, the mediocre performance of Noor III has tarnished the reputation of CSP in Morocco to the point, where the grid operator refuses to sign the already awarded CSP PPA for NOOR Midelt or any other project using molten-salt.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
February 29, 2024 at 5:03 PM
So apparently, the mediocre performance of Noor III has tarnished the reputation of CSP in Morocco to the point, where the grid operator refuses to sign the already awarded CSP PPA for NOOR Midelt or any other project using molten-salt.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Bundesregierung einigt sich über Kraftwerksstrategie. Kernpunkte:
- Kurzfristige Ausschreibung von 4 x 2,5 GW H2-ready Gaskraftwerke.
- Vollständige Umstellung dieser Kraftwerke auf Wasserstoff zwischen 2035 und 2040.
- Finanzierung über KTF.
- Abbau von Hemmnissen für Elektrolyseure.
- Kurzfristige Ausschreibung von 4 x 2,5 GW H2-ready Gaskraftwerke.
- Vollständige Umstellung dieser Kraftwerke auf Wasserstoff zwischen 2035 und 2040.
- Finanzierung über KTF.
- Abbau von Hemmnissen für Elektrolyseure.
February 5, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Bundesregierung einigt sich über Kraftwerksstrategie. Kernpunkte:
- Kurzfristige Ausschreibung von 4 x 2,5 GW H2-ready Gaskraftwerke.
- Vollständige Umstellung dieser Kraftwerke auf Wasserstoff zwischen 2035 und 2040.
- Finanzierung über KTF.
- Abbau von Hemmnissen für Elektrolyseure.
- Kurzfristige Ausschreibung von 4 x 2,5 GW H2-ready Gaskraftwerke.
- Vollständige Umstellung dieser Kraftwerke auf Wasserstoff zwischen 2035 und 2040.
- Finanzierung über KTF.
- Abbau von Hemmnissen für Elektrolyseure.
Reposted by Richard Thonig
🚨 new web app 🚨
future renewable power system running on today's market data 🌬️🌞, scaled up
model.energy/future/
- updated each day ⏰
- wind, solar, hydro, batteries, hydrogen storage 🔋
- Germany as an island 🏝️
- coming soon: interconnectors, new electric demands 🚗
future renewable power system running on today's market data 🌬️🌞, scaled up
model.energy/future/
- updated each day ⏰
- wind, solar, hydro, batteries, hydrogen storage 🔋
- Germany as an island 🏝️
- coming soon: interconnectors, new electric demands 🚗
January 23, 2024 at 5:06 PM
🚨 new web app 🚨
future renewable power system running on today's market data 🌬️🌞, scaled up
model.energy/future/
- updated each day ⏰
- wind, solar, hydro, batteries, hydrogen storage 🔋
- Germany as an island 🏝️
- coming soon: interconnectors, new electric demands 🚗
future renewable power system running on today's market data 🌬️🌞, scaled up
model.energy/future/
- updated each day ⏰
- wind, solar, hydro, batteries, hydrogen storage 🔋
- Germany as an island 🏝️
- coming soon: interconnectors, new electric demands 🚗
Cheap solar >> My own national solar
Plummeting Prices Across the Solar Supply Chain Will Frustrate Onshoring Ambitions in Europe, India and the US
🔆🇪🇺🇺🇸🇮🇳
🔆🇪🇺🇺🇸🇮🇳
January 18, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Cheap solar >> My own national solar
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Wo kommt nach dem #Kohleausstieg der Strom her, welche Vorschriften fallen weg, um den Ausbau der #Erneuerbaren zu beschleunigen? Diese und weitere Fragen bei #3FragenZu Erneuerbaren Energien.
December 20, 2023 at 3:20 PM
Wo kommt nach dem #Kohleausstieg der Strom her, welche Vorschriften fallen weg, um den Ausbau der #Erneuerbaren zu beschleunigen? Diese und weitere Fragen bei #3FragenZu Erneuerbaren Energien.
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Pretty cool chart from my team at BloombergNEF. In 2012, the standard solar module was multicrystalline silicon, 15.4% efficient and costing $1.09/W in 2023 $. In 2023, standard is mono PERC, efficiency 21.3%, price $0.13/W.
December 21, 2023 at 7:26 AM
Pretty cool chart from my team at BloombergNEF. In 2012, the standard solar module was multicrystalline silicon, 15.4% efficient and costing $1.09/W in 2023 $. In 2023, standard is mono PERC, efficiency 21.3%, price $0.13/W.
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Future electricity systems in the EU rely mainly on wind and solar. Many of you ask: what happens when there is no wind or sun?
Electricity storage and interconnection to the rescue! But how do these two interact?
🧵 Get ready for some energy modelling content!
1/
Electricity storage and interconnection to the rescue! But how do these two interact?
🧵 Get ready for some energy modelling content!
1/
October 30, 2023 at 4:57 PM
Future electricity systems in the EU rely mainly on wind and solar. Many of you ask: what happens when there is no wind or sun?
Electricity storage and interconnection to the rescue! But how do these two interact?
🧵 Get ready for some energy modelling content!
1/
Electricity storage and interconnection to the rescue! But how do these two interact?
🧵 Get ready for some energy modelling content!
1/
Reposted by Richard Thonig
45. Solar thermal tower and heliostat designs, especially with molten salt storage, are still not working very well. We might even end up using molten salt for multi-day and seasonal storage... but heat it with PV.
October 28, 2023 at 3:52 PM
45. Solar thermal tower and heliostat designs, especially with molten salt storage, are still not working very well. We might even end up using molten salt for multi-day and seasonal storage... but heat it with PV.
Reposted by Richard Thonig
Time to make 2023 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread.
If you like these, the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon, comes out very soon (just sent final proofs to publisher!)
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Power-...
If you like these, the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon, comes out very soon (just sent final proofs to publisher!)
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Power-...
www.worldscientific.com
October 28, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Time to make 2023 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread.
If you like these, the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon, comes out very soon (just sent final proofs to publisher!)
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Power-...
If you like these, the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon, comes out very soon (just sent final proofs to publisher!)
www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...
www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Power-...