FersiSolar is an Engineering and consulting company specializing in concentrated solar thermal installations. Founded in November 2022, the objective of the company is to make over 20 years worldwide of expertise in CSP power plants experience of their team available to Asset Owners, Investment Funds and Financial Institutions.
Today we have the opportunity to interview Toni Fersini, Founder of FersiSolar, to better understand the what is the vision of FersiSolar in concentrated solar technologies market.
Question: Hello Toni! First of all, congratulations on the recent inclusion of FersiSolar in Protermosolar. Your profile is very specific, tell us how you became a reference in CSP technology?
Answer: Hello! Thanks for the welcome. When I was 16 years old, I found a feasibility study of a CSP project on my land in the south of Italy. I was fascinated by technology and decided it was what I wanted to do. Since then, my professional (and personal) life has been the consequence of this day, university at RWTH, the one-way trip to Spain, finding the love of my life, founding FersiSolar and being part of Protermosolar.
Q: Tell us a little about FersiSolar and how it has developed to become a benchmark in the solar thermal energy sector.
A: FersiSolar was born from my accumulated experience in the international field of concentrated solar energy. We focus on four fundamental pillars: advice to O&M companies for CSP plants, engineering and consulting for solar thermal plants, technology provider, and provide steam as a service solution using renewable sources.
Our Vision is to be a benchmark in the energy transition, seeking total independence from the consumption of fossil fuels. Our Mission is to provide renewable solutions to medium to large-scale industrial clients, advising them throughout the entire process, from development to operation and maintenance.
Q: Excellent. Could you go deeper into the services that FersiSolar offers and how they contribute to the energy revolution in the CSP sector?
A: Of course. At FersiSolar, we provide support and advice on the operation and maintenance of CSP plants, optimizing performance and prolonging their useful life. In addition, we offer engineering and technical consulting services for developers, contractors and owners of solar energy generation facilities with CSP and CST.
A crucial part of our approach is providing steam as a service. We work with clients to outsource the production of sustainable thermal energy through HPA (Heat Purchase Agreement) contracts, providing added value to their operations and guaranteeing competitiveness in the energy field.
Q: Speaking of specific technologies, how does FersiSolar see the role of technologies such as parabolic trough and Linear Fresnel in the current landscape of solar concentration?
A: Both technologies play a crucial role. The parabolic trough, being the most common and marketed, uses the parabolic shape to concentrate sunlight on a tubular receiver, heating an HTF fluid, which could be pressurized water. On the other hand, Linear Fresnel uses mirrors to focus sunlight onto a linear receiver. Both technologies are efficient and versatile, and their choice depends on the specific needs of each project. We in FersiSolar provides both of these technologies.
Q: Fascinating. Returning to FersiSolar services, steam supply as a service sounds innovative. How does this benefit customers and what are the main benefits they can expect?
A: Steam supply as a service offers customers the possibility of outsourcing sustainable thermal energy production assets through HPA contracts. This allows them to transfer economic and financial risks, improve energy costs compared to natural gas, and eliminate O&M costs during the agreement. Furthermore, from a technical and operational point of view, we optimize the performance of the equipment and guarantee the availability of the steam supply.
Q: Understood. Focusing on the future, what are the growth prospects for both FersiSolar and the concentrating solar sector?
A: Our goal is to contribute to an energy revolution on an industrial scale. We see enormous growth potential in the concentrated solar sector, especially in the integration of solar energy with industrial process heat applications. We are committed to decarbonization and believe that these technologies can play a crucial role in the transition to a more sustainable future.
Q: Finally, what message would you give to Asset Owners, Investment Funds and Financial Entities that might be considering partnering or working with FersiSolar?
A: I would tell you that at FersiSolar we not only offer 100% renewable solutions, but we are also your energy partners throughout the entire life cycle of your facilities. Our experience, commitment and personalized approach make us a trusted option for those seeking to contribute to the energy transition and achieve sustainable and profitable results.
Q: Thank you, Toni, for sharing this exciting information about FersiSolar and the concentrating solar industry! We wish you much success in your future projects.
A: Thanks to you. We are excited for what is to come and hope to continue being an active part of the transformation of the energy sector towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.
