Economic assessment of advanced central-receiver solar-thermal power systems. Report of PG and E assessment

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6601581· OSTI ID:6601581

This study was performed to estimate the value and potential impact of two advanced central-receiver solar-thermal plant concepts, in the role of electric generating stations, on the Pacific Gas and Electric system. The plants evaluated included solar/fossil hybrid concepts and solar stand-alone plants with thermal storage. Liquid metal/molten salt and combined Brayton/Rankine cycle concepts were investigated. The analysis was based on the operation of the Pacific Gas and Electric system with these plants modeled in detail on the system. Sensitivities to insolation site, collector area and thermal storage were investigated. The study indicates that if the DOE cost goals can be obtained along with the solar plant performance projected, the advanced central-receiver solar-thermal plants investigated can be economically justified on the Pacific Gas and Electric system. Solar/fossil hybrid plants showed no distinct economic advantage over solar stand-alone plants. The solar-thermal plants should be considered for location outside of the Pacific Gas and Electric service area where insolation quality is higher.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., East Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Advanced Systems Technology Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-79SF10601
• OSTI ID: 6601581
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/10601-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140300 -- Solar Energy-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
140702* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems-- Central Receiver
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
BRAYTON CYCLE
CALIFORNIA
COMBINED-CYCLE POWER PLANTS
COST
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
HYBRID SYSTEMS
LIQUID METALS
LIQUIDS
METALS
MOLTEN SALTS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
POWER SYSTEMS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RANKINE CYCLE
RELIABILITY
SALTS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SIZE
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
SOLAR-ASSISTED POWER SYSTEMS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
TOWER FOCUS POWER PLANTS
USA
WESTERN REGION