Systems approach to concentrated solar power (CSP) technology adoption in South Africa

Craig, Toyosi; Brent, Alan C.; Duvenhage, D. Frank; Dinter, Frank

doi:10.1063/1.5067166

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…To guide energy policy makers, this work shows that the use of dry cooled plants can allow for greater exploitation of the greater economic benefits associated with CSP above other renewable technologies [50]. Since CSP is comprised of many subsystems of technologies for which there are mature technical capabilities and skills in South Africa, the use of dry cooled CSP plants will allow for more hydrologically sustainable CSP, and therefore contribute more to the stimulation of these associated industries.…”

Section: Discussion and Conclusion-policy Guidelines For Sustainablementioning

confidence: 99%

Water and CSP—Linking CSP Water Demand Models and National Hydrology Data to Sustainably Manage CSP Development and Water Resources in Arid Regions

et al. 2020

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A systematic approach to evaluate Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant fleet deployment and sustainable water resource use in arid regions is presented. An overview is given of previous work carried out. Once CSP development scenarios, suitable areas for development, and the water demand from CSP operations were evaluated, appropriate spatiotemporal CSP performance models were developed. The resulting consumptive patterns and the impact of variable resource availability on CSP plant operation are analysed. This evaluation considered the whole of South Africa, with focus on the areas identified as suitable for CSP, in order to study the impact on local water resources. It was found that the hydrological limitations imposed by variable water resources on CSP development are severe. The national annual theoretical net generation potential of wet-cooled Parabolic Trough decreased from 11,277 to 120 TWh, and that of wet-cooled Central Receiver decreased from 12,003 to 170 TWh. Dry cooled versions also experience severe limitations, but to a lesser extent—the national annual theoretical net generation potential of Parabolic Trough decreased from 11,038 to 512 TWh, and that of Central Receiver decreased from 11,824 to 566 TWh. Accordingly, policy guidelines are suggested for sustainable CSP development and water resource management within the context of current South African water use regulation.

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Section: Discussion and Conclusion-policy Guidelines For Sustainablementioning

confidence: 99%

Water and CSP—Linking CSP Water Demand Models and National Hydrology Data to Sustainably Manage CSP Development and Water Resources in Arid Regions

et al. 2020

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“…In comparison, a reinforcing loop seeks to amplify and reinforce changes in the system, which can often lead to exponential growth, which can also leave a negative impact on the whole system [21][22][23]. The next step is to apply mathematical equations, and computer modelling approaches to describe these feedback loops to be better able to capture and analyse the dynamic elements of this complex system [24][25][26].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Step Towards a System Dynamic Sustainability Assessment Model for Urban Energy Transition

Guðlaugsson

Dawood

Pillai

et al. 2021

Springer Proceedings in Energy

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This paper presents a conceptual model that describes the correlation between an urban energy system and sustainability. The model captures the complexity of the urban energy transition, and the task of achieving sustainable development needs to embrace all aspects of sustainability. This paper portrays the aspects of sustainability as four-dimensional—Environment, Economic, Society, and Technology. The relationship between these four dimensions and the urban energy system is presented in a simplified and aggregated-qualitative based causal-loop diagram. The causal-loop diagram illustrates the causal and interconnective relationships between the four dimensions and their different variables. The causal-loop diagram describes the complex dynamic relationships within a simple urban energy system. The paper also provides a brief description of balancing and reinforcing loops, with the causal-loop diagram present. The conceptual model along with the causal-loop diagrams visually illustrate the dynamic relationship between the four dimensions as well as highlights the complexity and challenging problems that decision-makers are facing today when it comes energy planning and energy system development.

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“…South Africa is considered to be one of the countries where CSP development is well-exploited. Craig et al [31] used a system dynamics methodology to examine the unique, critical, and complex factors affecting CSP implementation in South Africa and observed that better research support is needed to open up new approaches and avenues to implement CSP technologies in South Africa. As part of a project consortium, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Energy Center, the Brew-Hammond Energy Center (TBHEC), designed and built a cost-effective, compact, and dry CRS plant for an off-grid community in northern Ghana under CSP4Africa.…”

Section: State Of the Art Of Csp Research And Development In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…South Africa is considered to be one of the countries where CSP development is well-exploited. Craig et al [31] used a system dynamics methodology to examine the…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot Low-Cost Concentrating Solar Power Systems Deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study of Implementation Challenges

et al. 2020

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Electricity is one of the most crucial resources that drives any given nation’s growth and development. The latest Sustainable Development Goals report indicates Africa still has a high deficit in electricity generation. Concentrating solar power seems to be a potential option to fill the deficit. That is because most of the components of concentrating solar power plants are readily available on the African market at affordable prices, and there are qualified local persons to build the plants. Pilot micro-concentrating solar power plants have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa and have shown promising results that could be expanded and leveraged for large-scale electricity generation. An assessment of a pilot concentrating solar power plant in the sub-region noticed one noteworthy obstacle that is the failure of the tracking system to reduce the operating energy cost of running the tracking control system and improve the multifaceted heliostat focusing behavior. This paper highlights the energy situation and the current development in concentrating solar power technology research in Africa. The paper also presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art solar tracking systems for central receiver systems to illustrate the current direction of research regarding the design of low-cost tracking systems in terms of computational complexity, energy consumption, and heliostat alignment accuracy.

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Systems approach to concentrated solar power (CSP) technology adoption in South Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Water and CSP—Linking CSP Water Demand Models and National Hydrology Data to Sustainably Manage CSP Development and Water Resources in Arid Regions

Water and CSP—Linking CSP Water Demand Models and National Hydrology Data to Sustainably Manage CSP Development and Water Resources in Arid Regions

First Step Towards a System Dynamic Sustainability Assessment Model for Urban Energy Transition

Pilot Low-Cost Concentrating Solar Power Systems Deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study of Implementation Challenges

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