Operability, Reliability and Economic Benefits of CSP with Thermal Energy Storage: First Year of Operation of ANDASOL 3

Abstract

This current paper gives a short overview on the results of the study we have conducted to illustrate the operability and reliability properties of CSP plants based on the experience acquired during the first operation year of the CSP generation unit with thermal energy storage (TES) Andasol 3.Andasol 3 was commissioned in autumn 2011 under the leadership of the company “Marquesado Solar S.L.” and is the third of Solar Millennium developed parabolic trough power plants. The plant is located near Guadix in Andalusia, Spain and has an installed capacity of 49.9 MWe and a thermal storage tank with a capacity of 7.5hours at full load. The power station was designed to reach a net annual energy production of 165 GWh at typical meteorological year conditions.Andasol 3 as well as other solar power plants with TES, are not only providers of environmentally friendly solar electricity, but also power sources with operational capabilities that have the potential to support the continued reliability of the electric power system. Furthermore, the flexibility given by TES allows this type of plants to shift electricity generation meeting capacity needs and peak demand resulting in a rise of utility value due to increased revenues.In order to demonstrate the properties mentioned above and to present the experience gained during the first operational year, Andasol 3 conducted a study based on actual economic and technical data collected during the period past. Our first priority was to explore several operating modes aiming to maximize the economic benefits of the plant and to gain an experience-based foundation that contributes to further developments. For this purpose several operational tests were conducted and anomalies owing to external and internal influence conditions were analyzed and evaluated.