Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analysis of Energy Generation Using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Technology in Sokoto State. Nigeria

Abstract

: In this work a predictive performance simulation of Solar Tower, Linear Fresnel and Parabolic Trough Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants was undertaken for Sokoto State in Northwestern Nigeria. The State was selected based on its high Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) values and long hours of sunshine per day relative to other places in Nigeria. The simulation was done using System Advisor Model (SAM) Software. In the study, 50 MW, 75 MW and 100 MW for each of the three CSP technologies were considered and their Techno-economic and Life Cycle analyses were carried out. The results showed that Solar Tower plant is more favored to be adopted for use in the studied site because it has the highest annual electrical energy generation, higher capacity factor and lowest Levelised cost of Electricity. The Net Present Values of the CSP plants at the site are (with the exception of the 50 MW Linear Fresnel CSP using hybrid cooling) positive implying that the project is economically viable. The study also showed that at solar multiple of 2, the Levelised costs of Electricity for both Solar Towers and Parabolic Troughs were the lowest, irrespective of the cooling system (wet or dry cooling). Solar multiple has no effect on the water usage irrespective of the CSP plant. Dry cooling system reduces the water usage by 86% and 95% for Solar Tower and Parabolic Trough plants, respectively. Dry cooling system reduces the annual electrical energy generation in the range of 7.3 to 7.5 percent for Solar Tower plant and 8 to 9 percent for Parabolic Trough plant. The largest environmental impact was human toxicity at 25,400 g 1,4-DB eq. and the least is marine ecotoxicity at 1.33 × 10-4 g 1,4-DB eq.Keywords: Annual Generation; Debt Fraction; Human toxicity; Freshwater Eutrophication