Concentrated solar power: technology, economy analysis, and policy implications in China

Abstract

Renewable energy plays a significant role in achieving energy savings and emission reduction. As a sustainable and environmental friendly renewable energy power technology, concentrated solar power (CSP) integrates power generation and energy storage to ensure the smooth operation of the power system. However, the cost of CSP is an obstacle hampering the commercialization of this emerging industry, so the paper studies the technical characteristics, economic analysis, and policy implications of CSP. This paper sorts out the relevant policies of CSP and uses the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) model by considering financial parameters, investment parameters, operation and maintenance parameters, tax parameters, capacity parameters, etc., to analyze the economics of CSP. The model parameters are set by the actual situation of CSP projects. The economic evaluation of different technology types of parabolic trough (PT), solar tower (ST), secondary reflection ST, and linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) is carried out. The LCOE of PT project is 1.11 RMB/kWh (0.17 US$/kWh), the ST project is 0.93 RMB/kWh (0.14 US$/kWh), the secondary reflection ST project is 0.97 RMB/kWh (0.15 US$/kWh), and the LFR project is 0.92 RMB/kWh (0.14 US $/kWh). The results show that the grid parity era of CSP in China is within reach, and ST is the most potential technology type. Based on the results of economic analysis and the problems faced by CSP in China, this paper puts forward policy implications by preferential loans, tax incentives, and R&D fund support to promote the development of CSP.

Status of Concentrated Solar Power Plants Installed Worldwide: Past and Present Data

“…To support the CSP industry, a development roadmap has to be set with coherent funding policies. These aspects were addressed recently by the European Union [35] and China [36]. The present work clearly shows the discontinuous deployment of the CSP technology, especially for Spain and the USA, which are the countries with the highest capacities but without any new projects.…”

Techno-Economic Assessment of Molten Salt-Based Concentrated Solar Power: Case Study of Linear Fresnel Reflector with a Fossil Fuel Backup under Saudi Arabia’s Climate Conditions

“…Furthermore, most of them lack TES or have very limited storage (1-3 h). Currently, only two power plants in the world employ molten salt as a thermal storage medium, with a storage capacity of more than 12 h, and both are in China [38]. The power plant under consideration and validation in this study is the Dacheng Dunhuang power plant, with a capacity of 50 MW.…”

“…Saudi Arabia utilizes more than 3 million barrels per day (mbbl/d) of its daily oil production, that is around 12 mbbl/d, for only domestic power generation [38,39]. Recently, the government of Saudi Arabia launched an ambitious goal, "Vision 2030", which targets a total instalment of 54 GW of renewables by 2030 [40,41].…”

Hybrid solar-driven hydrogen generation by sorption enhanced–chemical looping and hydrocarbon reforming coupled with carbon capture and Rankine cycle

“…Furthermore, a reduction of 𝐻 2 selling price of the integrated system is possible because of the rate at which CSP installation cost is declining and more CSP installation in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) regions. For example, electricity from a CSP plant located in Dubai cost $0.07/kWh [33] in contrast to $0.14/kWh in China [34]. Further reduction of 𝐻 2 selling price may be expected during raining season as Singh, et al [35] maintained that low ambient and module temperature increases CSP absorption efficiency.…”