Optimisation of Storage for Concentrated Solar Power Plants

Abstract

The proliferation of non-scheduled generation from renewable electrical energy sources such concentrated solar power (CSP) presents a need for enabling scheduled generation by incorporating energy storage; either via directly coupled Thermal Energy Storage (TES) or Electrical Storage Systems (ESS) distributed within the electrical network or grid. The challenges for 100% renewable energy generation are: to minimise capitalisation cost and to maximise energy dispatch capacity. The aims of this review article are twofold: to review storage technologies and to survey the most appropriate optimisation techniques to determine optimal operation and size of storage of a system to operate in the Australian National Energy Market (NEM). Storage technologies are reviewed to establish indicative characterisations of energy density, conversion efficiency, charge/discharge rates and costings. A partitioning of optimisation techniques based on methods most appropriate for various time scales is performed: from "whole of year", seasonal, monthly, weekly and daily averaging to those best suited matching the NEM bid timing of five minute dispatch bidding, averaged on the half hour as the trading settlement spot price. Finally, a selection of the most promising research directions and methods to determine the optimal operation and sizing of storage for renewables in the grid is presented.

Model-predictive control for dispatch planning of concentrating solar power plants under real-time spot electricity prices

“…The cycling cost is from [55], see Table 2. In general, TES offers CST the opportunity to participate in different electricity marketsi.e., day-ahead [56], wholesale spot market [57], and ancillary services market [58]. However, dispatching in these markets is associated with a high risk of missing revenue.…”

Time-Constrained Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithms for an Efficient Energy Management System in Smart Homes and Buildings

“…For the system's stability, further reduction of electricity consumption and maximum user comfort, RES and BSUs were also integrated. Additionally, for photovoltaic cells' electricity generation, temperature, solar irradiance, battery charging/discharging rates and its storage system, different assumptions were considered from [40].…”