Effects of regional insolation differences upon advanced solar thermal electric power plant performance and energy costs
This study determines the performance and cost of four 10 MWe advanced solar thermal electric power plants sited in various regions of the continental United States. Each region has different insolation characteristics which result in varying collector field areas, plant performance, capital costs and energy costs. In the context of advanced technology, the solar plants are conceptualized to begin commercial operation in the year 2000. The paraboloidal dish, central receiver, cylindrical parabolic trough, and compound parabolic concentrators comprise the advanced collector concepts studied. All concepts exhibit their best performance when sited in regional areas such as the sunbelt where the annual insolation is high. The regional variation in solar plant performance has been assessed in relation to the expected rise in the future cost of residential and commercial electricity supplied by conventional utility power systems in the same regions. A discussion of the regional insolation data base, a description of the solar systems' performance and costs, and a presentation of a range for the forecast cost of conventional electricity by region and nationally over the next several decades are given.
- Research Organization:
- Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6084212
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/JPL-1060-17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Effects of regional insolation differences upon advanced solar thermal electric power plant performance and energy costs
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Related Subjects
140700* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPOUND PARABOLIC CONCENTRATORS
CONCENTRATING COLLECTORS
COST
DATA
DISTRIBUTED COLLECTOR POWER PLANTS
ELECTRIC POWER
FORECASTING
INFORMATION
INSOLATION
MAPS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NORTH AMERICA
PARABOLIC COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC DISH COLLECTORS
PARABOLIC TROUGH COLLECTORS
PERFORMANCE
POWER
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 1-10 MW
PRICES
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS
USA