Utility-scale Solar Power Plants Research Articles

Techno-Economic Model and Feasibility Assessment of Utility Scale Solar Power Plant in Nepal

Techno-Economic Model and Feasibility Assessment of Utility Scale Solar Power Plant in Nepal

Site suitability assessment for solar power plants in Bangladesh: A GIS-based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach

Solar power plants are important alternatives to fossil fuel-based power plants because they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The potential of harnessing solar energy is highly dependent on selecting the optimal locations for plant installation. This study primarily aims to select optimal sites for solar energy plant installation using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. In the underlying processing phase, the AHP method was used to calculate the relative weights of the study area's physiographic, utility, and climate data. These weights were then used in the MCDA to identify the optimal locations for solar plants. The results of the MCDA were presented in the form of a solar plant suitability map, which showed that 44.59 % (66506.49 km2) of the study area in the south and southwest of Bangladesh is highly suitable for the development of utility-scale solar power plants. In contrast, there are substantial areas of about 31.18 % (46507.37 km2) of the country where the installation of any type of power plant is completely prohibited. This research can help authorities and stakeholders decide where to invest in solar energy.

Key Determinants of Solar Share in Solar- and Wind-Driven Grids

Solar PV is already the cheapest option to produce electricity in many world regions. Moreover, the price of utility-scale solar power plants in 2050, while highly uncertain, will decrease further with present-day learning rates and projected solar capacities. In this article, we analyze how possible future costs of solar and other characteristics affect the optimal share of electricity demand supplied by solar in different energy systems. We first use a simplified, open, hourly resolved, copper-plate model for four isolated regions, with only wind and solar generation and storage allowed, to identify the core dynamics while sweeping the cost of solar. Using this model, we show that future cost assumptions of utility solar affect energy systems in regions with comparable solar and wind potential compared to regions with much stronger solar or much stronger wind potential. Then, we use a multicountry, networked, sector-coupled model of the European energy system (PyPSA-Eur-Sec) to analyze not only the effect of solar characteristics in a comprehensive energy system, but also how our model assumptions themselves affect the optimal share of solar. We find that assumptions of system properties, such as transmission or sector-coupling can greatly affect the optimal solar penetration at the country level.

Parametric analysis on optimized design of hybrid solar power plants

There is increasing interest in utility-scale solar power plants with storage which can flexibly dispatch renewable energy to the grid. However, plant design possesses many degrees of freedom and non-obvious trade-offs in performance. Software tools can estimate or optimize the performance of a specific plant configuration under market and weather conditions of interest; the associated cost parameters and operating assumptions strongly influence estimates of plant performance and decisions regarding optimal sizing. We employ the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Hybrid Optimization and Performance Platform, which incorporates optimal dispatch when evaluating plant performance, and investigate the sensitivity to weather and market conditions, operating limitations, and the presence of a capacity-based incentive. We demonstrate changes in plant performance and optimal sizing with respect to these inputs and discuss implications. Results show that PV-with-battery designs are more profitable under our assumptions, but that designs including a concentrated solar power (CSP) system produce significantly greater annual energy; and that CSP-with-thermal energy storage designs maximizing the benefit-to-cost ratio have an input-dependent linear relationship between the CSP field solar multiple and the hours of storage as the project budget varies.

Deferring real options with solar renewable energy certificates

This study evaluates investment in a utility-scale solar power plant using a real-options approach (ROA). Although ROAs have been widely applied in the literature, the deferring option for a utility-scale power plant has not been fully examined, especially within the context of the unique subsidy program of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) in the USA. Using data from one of the most developed solar electricity markets in New Jersey, we incorporate the time-varying volatility of electricity prices and bounded SREC prices in real-options valuation. Our results show that deferring real options generates significant value for the project that the traditional discount cash flow approach ignores. It is thus optimal to postpone the investment in more than 70% of cases. In addition, we demonstrate that debt financing is crucial for renewable energy investments.

Localizing the Water-Energy Nexus: The Relationship between Solar Thermal Power Plants and Future Developments in Local Water Demand

Water availability plays an important role in the expansion planning of utility-scale solar power plants, especially in the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa. Although these power plants usually account for only a small fraction of local water demand, competition for water resources between communities, farmers, companies, and power suppliers is already emerging and is likely to intensify in future. Despite this, to date there has been a lack of comprehensive studies analyzing interdependencies and potential conflicts between energy and water at local level. This study addresses this research gap and examines the linkages between water resources and energy technologies at local level based on a case study conducted in Ouarzazate, Morocco, where one of the largest solar power complexes in the world was recently completed. To better understand the challenges faced by the region in light of increased water demand and diminishing water supply, a mixed-method research design was applied to integrate the knowledge of local stakeholders through a series of workshops. In a first step, regional socio-economic water demand scenarios were developed and, in a second step, water saving measures to avoid critical development pathways were systematically evaluated using a participatory multi-criteria evaluation approach. The results are a set of water demand scenarios for the region and a preferential ranking of water saving measures that could be drawn upon to support decision-making relating to energy and water development in the region.

Technical and Economic Feasibility of Utility-Scale Solar Energy Conversion Systems in Saudi Arabia

A move toward renewable energy sources has become a global trend due to the economic and the environmental inconveniences of fossil fuels. Solar energy receives a great share of research focus owing to its availability and eco-friendly characteristics. Different approaches are advised and implemented for converting solar energy into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems are the most promising technologies in this field. PV is simply direct conversion of solar energy into electricity. It gains the advantages of size/power versatility. Meanwhile, CSP converts solar energy to electricity indirectly via thermal energy. This article introduces a comprehensive comparison between PV and CSP types regarding technical and economic feasibility of utility-scale solar power plants. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taken as a case study. The different types of either CSP or PV have been tested under hourly climatic data of 10 locations throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by using system advisor model software from National Renewable Energy Laboratory in order to identify the appropriate type of these systems to Saudi Arabia. The article produces fairly accurate forecasting for utility-scale solar energy market in Saudi Arabia. Several significant conclusions are presented that could act as reference for solar energy projects. For example, solar PV and parabolic trough are preferred candidates in Saudi energy market due to the lowest levelized cost of electricity. The minimum cost of electricity was found to be 0.06$US/kWh that was generated by solar trough technology in the Solar Village site.

Optimal orientation angles for maximizing energy yield for solar PV in Saudi Arabia

Abstract This paper uses research-quality, ground measurements of irradiance and temperature that are accurate to ±2% to estimate the electric energy yield of fixed solar modules for utility-scale solar power plants at 18 sites in Saudi Arabia. The calculation is performed for a range of tilt and azimuth angles and the orientation that gives the optimum annual energy yield is determined. A detailed analysis is presented for Riyadh including the impact of non-optimal tilt and azimuth angles on annual energy yield. It is also found that energy yield in March and October are higher than in April and September, due to milder operating temperatures of the modules. A similar optimization of tilt and azimuth is performed each month separately. Adjusting the orientation each month increases energy yield by 4.01% compared to the annual optimum, but requires considerable labour cost. Further analysis shows that an increase in energy yield of 3.63% can be obtained by adjusting the orientation at five selected times during the year, thus significantly reducing the labour requirement. The optimal orientation and corresponding energy yield for all 18 sites is combined with a site suitability analysis taking into account climate, topography and proximity to roads, transmission lines and protected areas. Six sites are selected as having high suitability and high energy yield: Albaha, Arar, Hail, Riyadh, Tabuk and Taif. For these cities the optimal tilt is only slightly higher than the latitude, however the optimum azimuth is from 20° to 53° west of south due to an asymmetrical daily irradiance profile.

Multi-criteria GIS-based modelling technique for identifying potential solar farm sites: A case study in Mauritius

Abstract Determining economically viable and highly efficient strategic locations for utility-scale solar power plants is a costly procedure that depends on several factors. This paper investigates the spatial suitability for installations of ground-mounted solar farms based on legal, social, technical, economic, environmental and cultural perspectives through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis combined with Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique. A set of six exclusion criteria are identified and removed from the map layer considered exploitable for construction. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is then used to determine the weights of nine selected evaluation criteria found to influence the placements of the farms. Proximity raster layers were derived from features including road network and high transmission lines, overlain with a 10 m × 10 m raster terrain layers which includes elevation, slope and aspect and finally combined with interpolated raster dataset of climatological parameters comprising of global solar radiation, sunshine duration, air temperature and relative humidity. This combinatorial process through the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) technique generated a high resolution solar resource potential atlas classifying regions on the island from high to low potential for solar farm placement. Further analysis of highly suitable sites with aerial images of the localities of interest resulted in the identification of 3 best sites all situated in the northern plains of the island. The approach demonstrated is expected to help reduce time, money and resources presently allocated towards identifying and assessing hot spots for the construction of solar power plants in Mauritius.

Investor focused placement and sizing of photovoltaic grid-connected systems in Pakistan

Abstract The world is moving toward renewable rich electricity generation systems. Pakistan being the sixth most populous country in the world and having median age of 21 years requires extensive resources for the next couple of decades to fulfill its energy requirements. Punjab is the largest province of Pakistan with 60% of total population and consumes about 80% of the electricity. The province does not have a lot of hydro and wind potential, but it has tremendous opportunity to utilize solar energy to fulfill its energy needs. In this paper, we explore the solar energy production possibilities in the province. Our objective in this paper is to find the best locations to install utility-scale solar power plants to fulfill 30% of energy needs by 2030. In addition to the technical feasibility of solar PV power plants, we also look at the economic aspects of such plants. To this end, we look at the complete life cycle of a solar PV power plant. Using data from an existing solar PV power plant we derive Profitability Index (PI) of various possible locations. According to our results, the transmission line losses range between 0.7% and 12.2% depending on the load and length of the transmission lines. Using data from transmission line losses the PI of potential utility-scale solar PV sites ranges between −9.11% and 69.65% based on various economic factors. These results provides detailed information on the best places to establish utility-scale power plants from technical as well as economic perspective.

Demonstration project of a cooling system for existing PV power plants in Portugal

Water cooling continues to be an attractive solution for mitigating thermal effects in photovoltaic (PV) panels. However, a technically viable and economically effective design of a cooling system for utility-scale solar power plants already operating is still in its early developments. In this context, this work not only presents the design and characterization of a water cooling kit system specifically conducted for already existing and operating PV plants, but also takes into account various aspects of its potential as a commercial-scale product. One considers not only water and energy losses in the cooling system, optimizing it for a real industrial application, but also economic aspects as the investment cost, durability and maintenance have been taken into account. In this specific context, the cooling kit was designed to minimize its cost and also the amount of water used. An analytical model is also presented and validated to predict the PV temperature of a cooled and non-cooled panel, all based on meteorological data at the desired installation place. Prototyping and testing were done on a 20 kW PV plant functioning in a roof of an industrial building in Lisbon (Portugal). Experiments showed how cooling/heating thermal time constants of the PV panels and water ON/OFF time cycles affect PVs’ efficiency. A large amount of test data was produced and analyzed, showing how the cooling kit can increase annual energy production up to +12%.

Evaluation of Energy Production and Energy Yield Assessment Based on Feasibility, Design, and Execution of 3 × 50 MW Grid-Connected Solar PV Pilot Project in Nooriabad

The installation of 3 × 50 MW (150 MW DC) large utility scale solar power plant is ground based using ventilated polycrystalline module technology with fixed tilt angle of 28° in a 750-acre land, and the site is located about 115 km northeast of Karachi, Pakistan, near the town of ThanoBula Khan, Nooriabad, Sindh. This plant will be connected to the utility distribution system through a national grid of 220 kV outgoing double-loop transmission line. The 3 × 50 MW solar PV will be one of the largest tied grid-connected power projects as the site is receiving a rich average solar radiation of 158.7 kW/h/m2/month and an annual average temperature of about of 27°C. The analysis highlights the preliminary design of the case project such as feasibility study and PV solar design aspects and is based on a simulation study of energy yield assessment which has all been illustrated. The annual energy production and energy yield assessment values of the plant are computed using the PVSYST software. The assumptions and results of energy losses, annual performance ratio (PR) 74.73%, annual capacity factor 17.7%, and annual energy production of the plant at 232,518 MWh/year are recorded accordingly. Bear in mind that reference recorded data indicates a good agreement over the performance of the proposed PV power plant.

A review of Renewable Energy and Solar Industry Growth in the GCC Region

Historically reliant on fossil fuels for their economy, the Middle Eastern countries are now determined to foster an increased share of renewable energy (RE) in their total energy production. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, have each set different strategic goals of producing certain share of their total energy from renewable sources within the next two decades. This paper reviews the recent progress in RE expansion, in general, and solar energy programs, in particular, within the GCC region. Among all forms of alternate energy, solar power is a preferred choice for its relatively advanced technology and seemingly limitless potential in the region, daily average solar radiation typically exceeding 6kWh/m2 with 80-90% clear skies throughout the year. The Arabian Peninsula is witnessing a steady growth in the following key sectors: utility-scale solar power plants, solar desalination industry, and solar photovoltaic manufacturing facilities. Assessment of how locally established research-driven technology clusters and key market players play a role in rapid deployment of RE technology are also identified. Status of planned RE projects is reviewed, challenges facing the industry are investigated and country-wise reflected share is presented.

Solar Demand Roars Back

Last month, Kyocera officials unveiled a new utility-scale solar power plant in Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan. At 70 MW, the photovoltaic installation is the largest ever constructed in the island nation. The new solar power plant is a conspicuous sign that generous Japanese incentives for solar power, instituted in the aftermath of the March 2011 tsunami and subsequent disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant, are working. Japan is now the second-­largest market for solar power after China. But Japan isn’t the only country seeing an upswing. Government incentives and low prices for photovoltaics are accelerating demand for solar in China and the U.S., too. Even Europe is now contributing to the growth outlook for solar, experts say. Europe had been heading in the other direction during the past two years, with governments in Spain and Germany rolling back support for solar. Such cuts, plus industry overcapacity, caused prices for ...

Moving Bed Heat Exchangers for Use With Heat Storage in Concentrating Solar Plants: A Multiphase Model

Heat storage based on particulate materials is a promising option to provide a demand-oriented electricity production with utility-scale solar power plants. For energy storage discharge, a moving bed heat exchanger is considered and its design is investigated. As a basis for a flexible design tool, a multiphase model based on the Eulerian continuum approach was set up to describe the bulk flow and the thermal performance. The model was applied to an example heat exchanger layout, and the simulation results were compared with an empirical model, confirming the validity of the approach. Initial parameter variations identify the key parameters and their effect on the thermal performance.

Mirage in the Making

The Mojave Desert in California is undergoing a boom in renewable energy, mostly in the form of utility-scale solar power plants. These projects have met with resistance from diverse groups concerned about impacts on desert landscapes, ecosystems, water resources, archaeological sites, military training exercises, and other natural and cultural resources and land uses. This paper explores the current debate over renewable energy in the Mojave in the context of the region’s broader environmental history. What do Californians want from the Mojave Desert? We conclude that residents of the state want many things from the Mojave, but it remains unclear whether a desert under increasing pressure will be able to supply all of those competing demands.

Numerical study of conduction and convection heat losses from a half-insulated air-filled annulus of the receiver of a parabolic trough collector

Abstract Grid-quality parabolic trough collectors utilize expensive receivers that maintain vacuum in their annuli to reduce convection losses. On the other hand, receivers with air-filled annuli, currently used mainly for process heat applications, are significantly less expensive, but their thermal performance is inferior to evacuated receivers. A promising technique that can bridge the cost and performance gap between the two types of receivers is introduced in this work. A heat-resistant thermal insulation material is fitted into the portion of the receiver annulus that does not receive concentrated sunlight. The presence of this insulation material is expected to reduce not only convection heat losses, but also radiation losses. This study focuses on the calculation of conduction and convection heat losses from the proposed receiver using numerical modeling. The performance of the proposed concept is compared to that of a conventional receiver with an air-filled annulus. The results have shown that the combined conduction and convection heat loss from the proposed receiver can be smaller than that from a receiver with an air-filled annulus by as much as 25% when fiberglass insulation is used. However, the fact that the thermal conductivity of the insulating material increases with temperature reduces the benefit of the proposed concept at high temperatures. As a result, the proposed receiver is expected to be suitable as a replacement for receivers with air-filled annuli or as an economical alternative to evacuated receivers that are used at the lower temperature end of utility-scale solar power plants.