Chapter 10 - Economic assessment of solar thermal energy technologies

Abstract

Economic analysis is one of the important factors that must be done to be considered for the project under consideration. To do the analysis, an in-depth knowledge on the tools and techniques to be used to assess the suitability of the project in terms of profitability and sustainability is required. Profitability to ensure a secured investment in the project to have an ensured surplus to be shared by the stake holders. And sustainability is to ensure long-term existence in the business with a positive trend of gaining market share day by day. So, this chapter presents a set menu to do the assessment of solar thermal energy projects, which many of the countries are trying to put forward to ensure renewable energy in the future timeline. The methods are presented in a very simplified way to have the fruits to all expertise levels starting from the elementary undergrad students to the advance level readers who needs their depth knowledge in the topics. Cost planning, controlling, and managing them economically and effectively is the target in the subsequent subsections with suitable examples to have a visualization of the subject matter.