On the use of integrated solar-combined cycle with desalting units in Qatar

摘要

Qatar declared that by 2020, at least 2% of its electrical power generation should be by solar energy. This means that solar power plants (SPPs) of at least 640MW capacity should be added, and be operational by 2020. Among the SPP alternatives to be built are: stand-alone solar Rankine cycle operated by parabolic trough collectors, photovoltaic power stations, and integrated solar combined cycle (CC). In this paper, the main characteristics and equipment of CC operating in Qatar and other Gulf area are illustrated. Then, the integration of the CC with solar field to become ISCC is introduced, and its merits are given. Then the ISCC is integrated with multi-stage flash desalting units to produce both electric power and desalted seawater. The addition of solar increases the solar steam, and thus, the capacity of both the steam turbine and desalination units. The additional cost of adding 55MW capacity to the CC by solar energy is less than the 60% of stand-alone SPP with Rankine cycle having the same capacity.