Polar solar power plants – Investigating the potential and the design challenges

Frimannslund, Iver; Thiis, Thomas K.; Aalberg, Arne; Thorud, Bjo̸rn

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2021.05.069

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Bifacial PV modules convert sunlight into electricity on both the front-and backside of the module. These modules benefit from high albedo, diffuse light and low temperatures which all are characteristics of high latitude areas [10,34]. The bifacial gain (BG) represents how much yield a bifacial PV module produces relative to a monofacial PV module of the same rating and increases strongly with the albedo of the surrounding ground.…”

Section: Bifacial Pvmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With a global weighted average decrease in price for utility scale solar power of 85% between 2010-2020 it is steadily being implemented further and further north [10,11]. Although installed solar power is still very limited at high latitudes, this is likely to change as the average LCOE is predicted to drop by 58% between 2019-2030 in the G20 countries [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is against this background of rapidly changing PV and electricity market conditions that we ask what the future role of utility scale PV in the Arctic may be. While previous research on PV above the Arctic circle is on community-scale off-grid systems we assess the viability of utility scale grid connected systems (e.g., [10,14,15]). By the Arctic we mean north of the polar circle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspective on industrial electrification and utility scale PV in the Arctic region

Asplund,

Nilsson

2024

IJSEPM

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Two concurrent trends may fundamentally change how we understand the role of solar PV at high latitudes. Until now, relatively low annual insolation in combination with low electricity demand during the summer months has not favoured PV in the Arctic. However, continued decreases in costs for PVs in combination with increasing electricity demand from industrial electrification is quickly changing the situation. Net-zero climate targets necessitates industrial decarbonisation and low-cost electricity from solar and wind facilitates emission reductions through electrification and hydrogen. While research on PV in the Arctic so far has focused on off-grid and community scale systems, in this perspective article we explore the prospects for utility scale PV in Northern Scandinavia. Research usually identifies regions endowed with rich sun and wind resources at lower latitudes as promising locations for electricity intensive industries. We calculate the levelized-cost-of-electricity for utility scale PV to be 51 EUR/MWh based on recent data and this cost is likely to be below 35 EUR/MWh before 2030 considering the projected continued reduction of the levelized cost of electricity for PV. This makes utility scale PV a highly viable future option to complement wind and hydro in meeting the very large forecasted future electricity demands from the steel industry, data centres, and power-to-X production above the Arctic circle from 2030 and onwards.

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Section: Bifacial Pvmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspective on industrial electrification and utility scale PV in the Arctic region

Asplund,

Nilsson

2024

IJSEPM

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“…Low temperatures can increase the efficiency of PV cells [4,29,30]. The power output increases by 0.35-0.5% per Kelvin, compared to the standard testing temperature [31]. Moreover, snow reflects solar radiation, which increases the yield of electricity generation [1].…”

Section: Solar Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Renewable Energy among Antarctic Research Stations

de Witt,

Chung,

Lee

2024

Sustainability

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This paper presents an overview of current electricity generation and consumption patterns in the Antarctic. Based on both previously published and newly collected data, the paper describes the current status of renewable-energy use at research stations in the Antarctic. A more detailed view of electricity systems is also presented, demonstrating how different types of resources may be used and combined. The paper will serve as a guide to various renewable-energy generation technologies, highlighting well-established praxis, lessons learned, and potential ideas for improvement. Several renewable electricity generation technologies that have proven effective for use in the Antarctic environment are described. as well as those that are currently in use. Finally, the paper summarizes the major lessons learned to support future projects and close the knowledge gap. The use of renewable-energy sources has the potential to reduce research stations’ greenhouse gas emissions, making research in Antarctica more sustainable. The availability of high-quality energy is crucial for survival and to allow scientists to conduct meaningful research at research stations under harsh Antarctic conditions.

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“…Also, the study of solar power plants is being extended to places where the climate effects existing in the zone make it hard to study, such as the potential of power production in Adventdalen, Svalbard, this study shows that snow drifts pose a significant challenge for solar power plants, due to the fact that they can grow to cover the plant, resulting in reducing the power produced and the imposed of a mechanical load to the array. The results of solar power production indicate that the module yield is enhanced by the low ambient temperatures and the Polar climate enhance the module performance [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Feasibility Analysis of a Solar Power Plant with Direct Steam Generation System in Sonora, Mexico

Contreras¹,

Saldaña²,

Alejo³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Power generation using renewable technologies has become a primordial option to satisfy the energy demand all over the world, being solar concentrating technologies widely applied for this purpose. A combination of Parabolic Trough Collector with Direct Steam Generation has been considered an excellent option for power generation, due to the economic cost and complexity in the plant are reduced. The thermal evaluation of the solar power plant as well as the PTC in the DSG process is very important in viability and economic analysis. In this sense, as the main objective of this work, a numerical tool for evaluating DSG with PTC technology has been developed. The software SOLEEC is a versatile, reliable, accurate and friendly to the user for thermally evaluating a DSG with PTC technology. The user has the possibility to compare the thermal behavior of different geometrical dimensions for a PTC; and even consider different materials; in order to satisfy the demand of superheated steam by a DSG process. The software has an error less than 5% when compared with literature results and in this paper is used to evaluate a power plant in Mexico obtaining that the change to DSG proposing different PTC could reduce the solar field about 35%.

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Polar solar power plants – Investigating the potential and the design challenges

Cited by 9 publications

References 18 publications

Perspective on industrial electrification and utility scale PV in the Arctic region

Perspective on industrial electrification and utility scale PV in the Arctic region

Mapping Renewable Energy among Antarctic Research Stations

A Feasibility Analysis of a Solar Power Plant with Direct Steam Generation System in Sonora, Mexico

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