Value of Concentrating Solar Power and Thermal Energy Storage

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/973964· OSTI ID:973964

Sioshansi, R; Denholm, P

This paper examines the value of concentrating solar power (CSP) and thermal energy storage (TES) in four regions in the southwestern United States. Our analysis shows that TES can increase the value of CSP by allowing more thermal energy from a CSP plant?s solar field to be used, by allowing a CSP plant to accommodate a larger solar field, and by allowing CSP generation to be shifted to hours with higher energy prices. We analyze the sensitivity of CSP value to a number of factors, including the optimization period, price and solar forecasting, ancillary service sales, capacity value and dry cooling of the CSP plant. We also discuss the value of CSP plants and TES net of capital costs.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 973964
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-6A2-45833; TRN: US201007%%305
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
25 ENERGY STORAGE
CAPACITY
CAPITALIZED COST
ENERGY STORAGE
FORECASTING
OPTIMIZATION
PRICES
SALES
SENSITIVITY
CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER
CSP
CSP PLANT
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
TES
ECONOMIC VALUE
SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
NEW MEXICO
TEXAS
SOLAR FIELD
ENERGY PRICES
OPTIMIZATION PERIOD
SOLAR FORECASTING
ANCILLARY SERVICE SALES
DRY COOLING
Energy Analysis