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A Feasibility Study on Power Generation from Solar Thermal Wind Tower: Inclusive Impact Assessment Concerning Environmental and Economic Costs

Author

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  • Islam Elsayed

    (Department of Systems Design for Ocean-Space, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan)

  • Yoshiki Nishi

    (Department of Systems Design for Ocean-Space, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa 240-8501, Japan)

Abstract

A solar thermal wind tower (STWT) is a low-temperature power generation plant that mimics the wind cycle in nature, comprising a flat plate solar air collector and central updraft tower to produce thermal wind that drives turbines to generate electricity. The development of power generation systems toward a sustainable future needs to be made taking into account the balance between environmental impact and economic feasibility. We examine the sustainability of STWT power generation technology using the inclusive impact index light (Triple I-light), which estimates whether it is good to do the project, including both the negative environmental impact and the economic aspect. Environmental disadvantages are discussed by performing a CO 2 inventory analysis for the life-cycle of the STWT power plant. Evaluation of the economic feasibility is done by calculating the levelized electricity cost (LEC), which is the cost per unit of electricity generated. From the calculations, it is found that overall system efficiency is increased by enlarging the capacity, the negative environmental impact by the STWT plant comes mainly from manufacturing stage (more than 60%), and the levelized electricity cost is dramatically decreased by enlarging the capacity of the system (about 50% reduction). A negative value of Triple I (meaning it is sustainable) can be achieved for high power generation capacity (above 100 MW). Moreover, this paper discusses the implementation and the potential of constructing offshore STWTs.

Suggested Citation

  • Islam Elsayed & Yoshiki Nishi, 2018. "A Feasibility Study on Power Generation from Solar Thermal Wind Tower: Inclusive Impact Assessment Concerning Environmental and Economic Costs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:11:p:3181-:d:183316
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Takahashi, Tomoki & Sato, Toru, 2015. "Inclusive environmental impact assessment indices with consideration of public acceptance: Application to power generation technologies in Japan," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 64-72.
    2. Al-Kayiem, Hussain H. & Aja, Ogboo Chikere, 2016. "Historic and recent progress in solar chimney power plant enhancing technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1269-1292.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Arijit A. Ganguli & Sagar S. Deshpande & Aniruddha B. Pandit, 2021. "CFD Simulations for Performance Enhancement of a Solar Chimney Power Plant (SCPP) and Techno-Economic Feasibility for a 5 MW SCPP in an Indian Context," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-28, June.
    2. Islam Elsayed & Yoshiki Nishi, 2020. "Emergy and Sustainability Ternary Diagrams of Energy Systems: Application to Solar Updraft Tower," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Rafaella de Souza Henriques & Rodney Rezende Saldanha & Lineker Max Goulart Coelho, 2019. "An Air Pollutant Emission Analysis of Brazilian Electricity Production Projections and Other Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Emad Abdelsalam & Feras Kafiah & Malek Alkasrawi & Ismael Al-Hinti & Ahmad Azzam, 2020. "Economic Study of Solar Chimney Power-Water Distillation Plant (SCPWDP)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, June.

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