Optimization of parabolic trough based concentrated solar power plant for energy export from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In this work optimization of the parabolic trough (PT) based concentrated solar power (CSP) system is analyzed for solar energy export from Saudi Arabia to European and Asian countries based on their peak load hours. Initially, Al-Ahsa, in east, and Tabuk, in the west, are compared for a PT based CSP plant for electrical energy generation as these locations are used to export solar energy from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, India, and China in east and Greece, Germany and UK in the west. The analysis is performed to sell electrical energy generated by the CSP plant to the customers in their peak load hours to reduce their load factor and keep the capital cost minimum. A high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system is employed for this study as an undersea cable for Asian or European countries. The feasibility of 2 GW solar energy export by PT based CSP system transmitted by 2 GW bipolar 660 kV HVDC transmission line is based on the net present value of the project (NPV), real levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and the payback period of the project where Karachi, Pakistan has the highest NPV of 1866 MUSD with LCOE of 10.76 cents/kWh and a payback period of 12.7 years.