Enhancing the Economic Competitiveness of Concentrating Solar Power Plants Through an Innovative Integrated Solar Combined Cycle With Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract

The present work deals with the thermoeconomic analysis of an innovative combined power cycle consisting of a moltensalt solar tower power plant with storage supported by additional heat provided from the exhaust of a topping gasturbine unit. A detailed dynamic model has been elaborated using an in house simulation tool that simultaneously encompasses meteorological, demand and price data. A wide range of possible designs are evaluated in order to show the tradeoffs between the objectives of achieving sustainable and economically competitive designs. Results show that optimal designs of the novel concept are a promising costeffective hybrid option that can successfully fulfill both the roles of a gas peaker plant and a baseload solar power plant in a more effective manner. Moreover, designs are also compared against conventional combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants and it is shown that, under specific peaking operating strategies (POSs), the innovative concept cannot only perform better from an environmental standpoint but also economically.