Scaling Cost Model for the Economics of Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Authors

  • A. J. Kolios Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK
  • S. Paganini Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK
  • S. Proia Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK
  • J. Cossard Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK
  • M. Fahran Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK
  • M. Alsuwahri Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering Department, Cranfield University, UK

Keywords:

Solar Thermal Power, Concentrated Solar Power plants, Cost Model, Scaling Model

Abstract

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy technology that can provide clean and reliable energy to regions with adequate environmental resources. Especially for the regions around the Mediterranean Sea, where solar radiation is significant, this technology seems to have great potential to meet the medium and long-term targets for emission-free energy production, once cost-related issues have been resolved. Factors such as the capacity of the plant, the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle and individual components as well as the environmental conditions of the deployment area, all have a significant effect on the cost of energy production. This paper will discuss those issues and develop a cost scaling model that will provide the cost of unit energy production for different output capacities of a potential plant.

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Published

2024-02-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1-3 (2012)

Section

RESEARCH ARTICLES