Comparison of Solar-Thermal and Fossil Total-Energy Systems for Selected Industrial Applications

摘要

Economic analyses of a conventional system (grid-electric-package-boiler) and total-energy systems based on phosphoric acid fuel cells, diesel-piston engines, and central-receiver-solar-thermal systems were performed for each of four industrial applications: a concrete block plant in Arizona, a fluid milk processing plant in California, a sugar beet processing plant in Colorado, and a meat-packing plant in Texas. The industrial application data were based on existing facilities, and reference case analyses were for a single plant size for each industry. However, scaled loads were used to explore the effects of system size on the relative economics of the four systems. All total-energy systems were assumed to be isolated from the electrical grid, but fossil-fueled boilers were assumed to provide thermal backup for solar collectors during prolonged periods of low insolation. Insolation data and fuel price projections appropriate to the plant locations were used to develop system cost and performance information. All systems were assumed to operate between 1985 and 2015. A series of sensitivity analyses was performed to show the effects of variations in fuel price, system size, cost of capital, and system initial cost. Solar total-energy systems (STES) are more capital intensive than the other systems, and significant economies of scale are associated with the STES. If DOE solar system cost goals are met, STES can compete with the other systems for facilities with electrical demands greater than two or three megawatts, but STES are not competitive for smaller facilities. Significant energy resource savings, especially of oil and gas, resulted from STES implementation in the four industries. (ERA citation 05:027140)