Modelling Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage for Integration Studies: Preprint
Concentrating solar power with thermal energy storage (CSP-TES) can provide multiple benefits to the grid, including low marginal cost energy and the ability to levelize load, provide operating reserves, and provide firm capacity. It is challenging to properly value the integration of CSP because of the complicated nature of this technology. Unlike completely dispatchable fossil sources, CSP is a limited energy resource, depending on the hourly and daily supply of solar energy. To optimize the use of this limited energy, CSP-TES must be implemented in a production cost model with multiple decision variables for the operation of the CSP-TES plant. We develop and implement a CSP-TES plant in a production cost model that accurately characterizes the three main components of the plant: solar field, storage tank, and power block. We show the effect of various modelling simplifications on the value of CSP, including: scheduled versus optimized dispatch from the storage tank and energy-only operation versus co-optimization with ancillary services.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1107460
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-6A20-60365
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: To be presented at the 3rd International Workshop on Integration of Solar Power in Power Systems, 21-22 October 2013, London, England
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Changes in the Economic Value of Variable Generation at High Penetration Levels: A Pilot Case Study of California
Boosting CSP Production with Thermal Energy Storage