Thermo Economic Evaluation of Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Hybridization Options for Combined Cycle Power Plants

Abstract

The hybridization of combinedcycle power plants with solar energy is an attractive means of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from gasbased power generation. However, the construction of the first generation of commercial hybrid power plants will present the designer with a large number of choices. To assist decision making, a thermoeconomic study has been performed for three different hybrid power plant configurations, including both solar thermal and photovoltaic hybridization options. Solar photovoltaic combinedcycle (SPVCC) power plants were shown to be able to integrate up to 63% solar energy on an annual basis, whereas hybrid gas turbine combinedcycle (HGTCC) systems provide the lowest cost of solar electricity, with costs only 2.1% higher than a reference, unmodified combinedcycle power plant. The integrated solar combinedcycle (ISCC) configuration has been shown to be economically unattractive.