Value/Cost Optimization of Solar Central Receiver Electric Power Plants

摘要

This paper describes a value and cost analysis of solar central receiver power plants using molten salt external receiver technology. These plants were assumed to operate within the service area of the Southern California Edison Company. The SOLERGY computer code was used to simulate the performance of the solar plants using 1984 weather data for Barstow, California. It is shown that a value-maximizing dispatch strategy which uses thermal storage to operate the turbine during the utility's peak demand period, in preference to the non-peak demand periods, can greatly increase the value of a solar central receiver power plant with little increase in the levelized energy cost. Results are presented as functions of storage capacity, type of dispatch strategy, size of the field relative to the turbine, and turbine size. (ERA citation 12:013386)