Title: Real-time dispatch optimization for concentrating solar power with thermal energy storage

Abstract

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants present a promising path towards utility-scale renewable energy. The power tower, or central receiver, configuration can achieve higher operating temperatures than other forms of CSP, and, like all forms of CSP, naturally pairs with comparatively inexpensive thermal energy storage, which allows CSP plants to dispatch electricity according to market price incentives and outside the hours of solar resource availability. Currently, CSP plants commonly include a steam Rankine power cycle and several heat exchange components to generate high-pressure steam using stored thermal energy. The efficiency of the steam Rankine cycle depends on the temperature of the plant's operating fluid, and so is a main concern of plant operators. However, the variable nature of the solar resource and the conservatism with which the receiver is operated prevent perfect control over the receiver outlet temperature. Therefore, during periods of solar variability, collection occurs at lower-than-design temperature. To support operator decisions in a real-time setting, we develop a revenue-maximizing non-convex mixed-integer, quadradically-constrained program which determines a dispatch schedule with sub-hourly time fidelity and considers temperature-dependent power cycle efficiency. The exact nonlinear formulation proves intractable for real-time decision support. Here we present exact and inexact techniques to improve problem tractabilitymore » that include a hybrid nonlinear and linear formulation. Our approach admits solutions within approximately 3% of optimality, on average, within a five-minute time limit, demonstrating its usability for decision support in a real-time setting.« less

Authors:

Cox, John L. ^[1]; Hamilton, William T.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Hamilton, William T."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4465-4239"

Newman, Alexandra M. ^[1]; Wagner, Michael J. ^[3]; Zolan, Alexander J.  ^[2]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Zolan, Alexander J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2601-7604"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Publication Date:

Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2022

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:

1874941

Report Number(s):

NREL/JA-5700-79757
Journal ID: ISSN 1389-4420; MainId:36977;UUID:bca56500-3efc-4065-9c3c-d20c6b766976;MainAdminID:64768

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308; 34245

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Optimization and Engineering

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1389-4420

Publisher:

Springer

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

14 SOLAR ENERGY; 25 ENERGY STORAGE; concentrating solar power; dispatch optimization; mixed-integer programming applications; nonlinear programming; real-time dispatch; renewable energy