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Cost–Benefit Analysis of Solar Thermal Plants with Storage in a Hydrothermal System

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  • Cibelle Pereira Trama

    (Energy Planning Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Engineering Research, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PPE/COPPE-UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, RJ, Brazil)

  • Amaro Olímpio Pereira Júnior

    (Energy Planning Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Engineering Research, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PPE/COPPE-UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, RJ, Brazil)

  • Ana Paula Cardoso Guimarães

    (Electrical Energy Research Center (CEPEL), Rio de Janeiro 21941-911, RJ, Brazil)

  • André Luiz Diniz

    (Electrical Energy Research Center (CEPEL), Rio de Janeiro 21941-911, RJ, Brazil)

  • Leonardo dos Santos Reis Vieira

    (Electrical Energy Research Center (CEPEL), Rio de Janeiro 21941-911, RJ, Brazil)

Abstract

Economic feasibility studies of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants with thermal energy storage (TES) systems have been mainly based on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), disregarding the economic benefits to the electricity system resulting from the dispatchability of the CSP plants. The analysis of these benefits is essential since the existence of storage can provide greater operating flexibility to the system. Although there are few studies on the benefits of CSP plants in thermoelectric systems, this analysis has not yet been done in a predominantly hydroelectric system. In this paper, CSP plants with TES systems were inserted in a hydrothermal system in order to estimate the economic benefits and the net cost of electricity generated by those plants. The System Advisor Model (SAM) and the hydrothermal scheduling model DESSEM were used in a real case study of inclusion of CSP plants in the Brazilian system. The results indicate that the cost of a CSP plant, previously estimated by the LCOE, can be reduced by at least 37% when considering its benefits to a hydrothermal system, increasing its competitiveness with other technologies. Therefore, we propose the use of the net cost for an appropriate comparison among energy sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Cibelle Pereira Trama & Amaro Olímpio Pereira Júnior & Ana Paula Cardoso Guimarães & André Luiz Diniz & Leonardo dos Santos Reis Vieira, 2021. "Cost–Benefit Analysis of Solar Thermal Plants with Storage in a Hydrothermal System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:18:p:5662-:d:631881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Denise Matos & João Gabriel Lassio & David Castelo Branco & Amaro Olímpio Pereira Júnior, 2022. "Perspectives for Expansion of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Generation Technologies in Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Georgios E. Arnaoutakis & Georgia Kefala & Eirini Dakanali & Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis, 2022. "Combined Operation of Wind-Pumped Hydro Storage Plant with a Concentrating Solar Power Plant for Insular Systems: A Case Study for the Island of Rhodes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.

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