Integrating geothermal energy and a solar chimney to maximize renewable energy production: An analytical investigation of a novel hybrid system

Abstract

Hybrid renewable energy systems, which utilize multiple renewable sources, are becoming increasingly popular due to the need for sustainable energy. In this study, a new hybrid power plant that combines a solar chimney power plant with geothermal energy is investigated. The new system that can be activated when solar radiation is inadequate is called “geothermal pipe” and can produce up to 71 kW of electricity using a 1000-m-deep well. A geothermal pipe power plant was designed to be integrated with a system similar to the Manzanares solar chimney with a well depth of 200 m, generating an average of 15 kW of power. By increasing the distance between wells to 1.5 km, the output power can reach 20 kW. The study analyzed the impact of different parameters, such as well array, size, and temperature, on the output power. The results indicate that a new type of geothermal pipe with six inlets has the potential to increase the performance of the conventional geothermal pipe (with one well) by 26 %. This hybrid renewable energy system benefits from the combination of more than one renewable source, allowing for year-round energy production despite weather conditions.