Overview of the Enablers and Barriers for a Wider Deployment of CSP Tower Technology in Europe

For years, concentrated solar power (CSP) has been considered an emerging technology that could disrupt the energy production sector . The possibility to store the electricity generated during the sunny operating hours in the form of heat enhances energy dispatchability and gives CSP a unique value proposition that conventional renewable energies cannot provide cost-efficiently since it requires the integration of costly large-scale battery systems. CSP is a cleaner technology compared to photovoltaics, but photovoltaics currently has lower overall capital costs, making it more attractive to investors and stakeholders who want to spend less money upfront, . This is one of the main reasons why CSP has never really led either the electricity market or the heating one, even if its combined generation capability (heat and electricity) is globally recognized as a great advantage for a renewable technology. In this study, we analyze the reasons why CSP is not as widespread as it could be; at the same time, we look at the opportunities and the enablers for a further deployment of this technology, focusing on the European region.

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An exploratory study of the South African concentrated solar power sector using the technological innovation systems framework

Journal of Energy in Southern Africa ◽

10.17159/2413-3051/2020/v31i2a7725 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

S. Potts ◽

D.R. Walwyn

Keyword(s):

Technological Innovation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Solar Power ◽

Innovation Systems ◽

Entrepreneurial Activity ◽

Concentrated Solar Power ◽

Capital Costs ◽

Exploratory Approach ◽

Wide Scale ◽

Systems Framework

Wide-scale deployment of variable renewable energy (wind and solar photovoltaic) is constrained by its associated requirements for energy storage, the technologies for which are currently too expensive to be routinely used. Concentrated solar power (CSP), with its inherent storage capacity, offers semi-dispatchable electricity at large scale. However, its deployment to date has been restricted by high capital costs and the limited geographical locations with optimal solar radiation to attain required efficiencies. South Africa, with its abundant solar resources, has the potential to develop an export-competitive CSP industry by leveraging existing capabilities in innovation, manufacturing and construction, but has yet to attain this goal. This study applied a qualitative, exploratory approach and the framework of technological innovation systems (TIS) to understand the factors that are currently prohibiting the country from being a global leader in CSP. The assessment has revealed the presence of largely immature TIS, characterised by a heavy reliance on imported technology and market support from the state-supported procurement programme. The advancement of CSP remains contingent on further allocation of CSP procurement targets in this programme and sufficient support to develop entrepreneurial activity. An integrated industrial policy strategy, which can ensure technology transfer and address the high cost of CSP, is recommended as a means of addressing the barriers to its development as a competitive industry.

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Influence of Wind Power on Modeling of Bidding Strategy in a Promising Power Market with a Modified Gravitational Search Algorithm

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11104438 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 4438

Author(s):

Satyendra Singh ◽

Manoj Fozdar ◽

Hasmat Malik ◽

Maria del Valle Fernández Moreno ◽

Fausto Pedro García Márquez

Keyword(s):

Wind Power ◽

Electricity Market ◽

Large Scale ◽

Search Algorithm ◽

Gravitational Search Algorithm ◽

Optimization Methods ◽

Bidding Strategy ◽

Wind Speed Profile ◽

Gravitational Search ◽

Modified Gravitational Search Algorithm

It is expected that large-scale producers of wind energy will become dominant players in the future electricity market. However, wind power output is irregular in nature and it is subjected to numerous fluctuations. Due to the effect on the production of wind power, producing a detailed bidding strategy is becoming more complicated in the industry. Therefore, in view of these uncertainties, a competitive bidding approach in a pool-based day-ahead energy marketplace is formulated in this paper for traditional generation with wind power utilities. The profit of the generating utility is optimized by the modified gravitational search algorithm, and the Weibull distribution function is employed to represent the stochastic properties of wind speed profile. The method proposed is being investigated and simplified for the IEEE-30 and IEEE-57 frameworks. The results were compared with the results obtained with other optimization methods to validate the approach.

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Bilateral bidding strategy in joint day-ahead energy and reserve electricity markets considering techno-economic-environmental measures

Energy & Environment ◽

10.1177/0958305x211014875 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0958305X2110148

Author(s):

Mojtaba Shivaie ◽

Mohammad Kiani-Moghaddam ◽

Philip D Weinsier

Keyword(s):

Electricity Market ◽

Large Scale ◽

Search Algorithm ◽

Power Grid ◽

Mathematical Formulation ◽

Test System ◽

Bidding Strategy ◽

Level Problem ◽

Optimal Bidding ◽

Environmental Measures

In this study, a new bilateral equilibrium model was developed for the optimal bidding strategy of both price-taker generation companies (GenCos) and distribution companies (DisCos) that participate in a joint day-ahead energy and reserve electricity market. This model, from a new perspective, simultaneously takes into account such techno-economic-environmental measures as market power, security constraints, and environmental and loss considerations. The mathematical formulation of this new model, therefore, falls into a nonlinear, two-level optimization problem. The upper-level problem maximizes the quadratic profit functions of the GenCos and DisCos under incomplete information and passes the obtained optimal bidding strategies to the lower-level problem that clears a joint day-ahead energy and reserve electricity market. A locational marginal pricing mechanism was also considered for settling the electricity market. To solve this newly developed model, a competent multi-computational-stage, multi-dimensional, multiple-homogeneous enhanced melody search algorithm (MMM-EMSA), referred to as a symphony orchestra search algorithm (SOSA), was employed. Case studies using the IEEE 118-bus test system—a part of the American electrical power grid in the Midwestern U.S.—are provided in this paper in order to illustrate the effectiveness and capability of the model on a large-scale power grid. According to the simulation results, several conclusions can be drawn when comparing the unilateral bidding strategy: the competition among GenCos and DisCos facilitates; the improved performance of the electricity market; mitigation of the polluting atmospheric emission levels; and, the increase in total profits of the GenCos and DisCos.

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Curvature Variability Study for Small- and Large-Scale Linear Fresnel Solar Fields: A Step Toward Optimization

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4037382 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 139 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sara Benyakhlef ◽

Ahmed Al Mers ◽

Ossama Merroun ◽

Abdelfattah Bouatem ◽

Hamid Ajdad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Reduction ◽

Large Scale ◽

Small Scale ◽

Optimization Approach ◽

Market Penetration ◽

Concentrated Solar Power ◽

Sustainable Technologies ◽

Low Efficiency ◽

New Research ◽

Variability Study

Reducing levelized electricity costs of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants can be of great potential in accelerating the market penetration of these sustainable technologies. Linear Fresnel reflectors (LFRs) are one of these CSP technologies that may potentially contribute to such cost reduction. However, due to very little previous research, LFRs are considered as a low efficiency technology. In this type of solar collectors, there is a variety of design approaches when it comes to optimizing such systems. The present paper aims to tackle a new research axis based on variability study of heliostat curvature as an approach for optimizing small and large-scale LFRs. Numerical investigations based on a ray tracing model have demonstrated that LFR constructors should adopt a uniform curvature for small-scale LFRs and a variable curvature per row for large-scale LFRs. Better optical performances were obtained for LFRs regarding these adopted curvature types. An optimization approach based on the use of uniform heliostat curvature for small-scale LFRs has led to a system cost reduction by means of reducing its receiver surface and height.

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Analysis of a Stochastic Programming Model for Optimal Hydropower System Operation under a Deregulated Electricity Market by Considering Forecasting Uncertainty

Water ◽

10.3390/w10070885 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 885 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bin Xu ◽

Ping-An Zhong ◽

Baoyi Du ◽

Juan Chen ◽

Weifeng Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stochastic Programming ◽

Electricity Market ◽

Energy Production ◽

Programming Model ◽

Optimal Operation ◽

Spot Price ◽

Deregulated Electricity Market ◽

Hydropower System ◽

Stochastic Programming Model ◽

Hydropower Operation

In a deregulated electricity market, optimal hydropower operation should be achieved through informed decisions to facilitate the delivery of energy production in forward markets and energy purchase level from other power producers within real-time markets. This study develops a stochastic programming model that considers the influence of uncertain streamflow on hydropower energy production and the effect of variable spot energy prices on the cost of energy purchase (energy shortfall). The proposed model is able to handle uncertainties expressed by both a probability distribution and discretized scenarios. Conflicting decisions are resolved by maximizing the expected value of net revenue, which jointly considers benefit and cost terms under uncertainty. Methodologies are verified using a case study of the Three Gorges cascade hydropower system. The results demonstrate that optimal operation policies are derived based upon systematic evaluations on the benefit and cost terms that are affected by multiple uncertainties. Moreover, near-optimal operation policy under the case of inaccurate spot price forecasts is also analyzed. The results also show that a proper policy for guiding hydropower operation seeks the best compromise between energy production and energy purchase levels, which explores their nonlinear tradeoffs over different time periods.

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Simulation of Flow Field on a Large Scale Wind Turbine

Volume 1: Symposia, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/fedsm2008-55189 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

I. Janajreh ◽

C. Ghenai

Keyword(s):

Flow Field ◽

Wind Energy ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Wind Turbines ◽

Cross Sections ◽

Large Scale ◽

Wind Farms ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Capital Costs

Large scale wind turbines and wind farms continue to evolve mounting 94.1GW of the electrical grid capacity in 2007 and expected to reach 160.0GW in 2010 according to World Wind Energy Association. They commence to play a vital role in the quest for renewable and sustainable energy. They are impressive structures of human responsiveness to, and awareness of, the depleting fossil fuel resources. Early generation wind turbines (windmills) were used as kinetic energy transformers and today generate 1/5 of the Denmark’s electricity and planned to double the current German grid capacity by reaching 12.5% by year 2010. Wind energy is plentiful (72 TW is estimated to be commercially viable) and clean while their intensive capital costs and maintenance fees still bar their widespread deployment in the developing world. Additionally, there are technological challenges in the rotor operating characteristics, fatigue load, and noise in meeting reliability and safety standards. Newer inventions, e.g., downstream wind turbines and flapping rotor blades, are sought to absorb a larger portion of the cost attributable to unrestrained lower cost yaw mechanisms, reduction in the moving parts, and noise reduction thereby reducing maintenance. In this work, numerical analysis of the downstream wind turbine blade is conducted. In particular, the interaction between the tower and the rotor passage is investigated. Circular cross sectional tower and aerofoil shapes are considered in a staggered configuration and under cross-stream motion. The resulting blade static pressure and aerodynamic forces are investigated at different incident wind angles and wind speeds. Comparison of the flow field results against the conventional upstream wind turbine is also conducted. The wind flow is considered to be transient, incompressible, viscous Navier-Stokes and turbulent. The k-ε model is utilized as the turbulence closure. The passage of the rotor blade is governed by ALE and is represented numerically as a sliding mesh against the upstream fixed tower domain. Both the blade and tower cross sections are padded with a boundary layer mesh to accurately capture the viscous forces while several levels of refinement were implemented throughout the domain to assess and avoid the mesh dependence.

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Methanol-Tolerant M–N–C Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reactions in Acidic Media and Their Application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal8120650 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 650 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Carmelo Lo Vecchio ◽

David Sebastián ◽

María Lázaro ◽

Antonino Aricò ◽

Vincenzo Baglio

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Oxygen Reduction ◽

Large Scale ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells ◽

Cell System ◽

Rotating Disk Electrode ◽

Capital Costs ◽

Direct Methanol ◽

Methanol Fuel Cells

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are emerging technologies for the electrochemical conversion of the chemical energy of a fuel (methanol) directly into electrical energy, with a low environmental impact and high efficiency. Yet, before this technology can reach a large-scale diffusion, specific issues must be solved, in particular, the high cost of the cell components. In a direct methanol fuel cell system, high capital costs are mainly derived from the use of noble metal catalysts; therefore, the development of low-cost electro-catalysts, satisfying the target requirements of high performance and durability, represents an important challenge. The research is currently addressed to the development of metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) materials as cheap and sustainable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an acid environment, for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells fueled by hydrogen or alcohol. In particular, this mini-review summarizes the recent advancements achieved in DMFCs using M–N–C catalysts. The presented analysis is restricted to M–N–C catalysts mounted at the cathode of a DMFC or investigated in rotating disk electrode (RDE) configuration for the ORR in the presence of methanol in order to study alcohol tolerance. The main synthetic routes and characteristics of the catalysts are also presented.

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Energy Production Benefits by Wind and Wave Energies for the Autonomous System of Crete

Energies ◽

10.3390/en11102741 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2741 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

George Lavidas ◽

Vengatesan Venugopal

Keyword(s):

Wind Turbine ◽

Wave Energy ◽

Energy Production ◽

Large Scale ◽

Capital Expenditure ◽

Temporal Correlation ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Visual Impacts

At autonomous electricity grids Renewable Energy (RE) contributes significantly to energy production. Offshore resources benefit from higher energy density, smaller visual impacts, and higher availability levels. Offshore locations at the West of Crete obtain wind availability ≈80%, combining this with the installation potential for large scale modern wind turbines (rated power) then expected annual benefits are immense. Temporal variability of production is a limiting factor for wider adaptation of large offshore farms. To this end multi-generation with wave energy can alleviate issues of non-generation for wind. Spatio-temporal correlation of wind and wave energy production exhibit that wind and wave hybrid stations can contribute significant amounts of clean energy, while at the same time reducing spatial constrains and public acceptance issues. Offshore technologies can be combined as co-located or not, altering contribution profiles of wave energy to non-operating wind turbine production. In this study a co-located option contributes up to 626 h per annum, while a non co-located solution is found to complement over 4000 h of a non-operative wind turbine. Findings indicate the opportunities associated not only in terms of capital expenditure reduction, but also in the ever important issue of renewable variability and grid stability.

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Process modelling and techno-economic analysis of natural gas combined cycle integrated with calcium looping

Thermal Science ◽

10.2298/tsci151001209e ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (suppl. 1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

María Erans ◽

Dawid Hanak ◽

Jordi Mir ◽

Edward Anthony ◽

Vasilije Manovic

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Large Scale ◽

Combined Cycle ◽

Process Models ◽

Capital Costs ◽

Calcium Looping ◽

Industrial Sectors ◽

Natural Gas Combined Cycle ◽

Before And After ◽

Economic Analyses

Calcium looping (CaL) is promising for large-scale CO2 capture in the power generation and industrial sectors due to the cheap sorbent used and the relatively low energy penalties achieved with this process. Because of the high operating temperatures the heat utilisation is a major advantage of the process, since a significant amount of power can be generated from it. However, this increases its complexity and capital costs. Therefore, not only the energy efficiency performance is important for these cycles, but also the capital costs must be taken into account, i.e. techno-economic analyses are required in order to determine which parameters and configurations are optimal to enhance technology viability in different integration scenarios. In this study the integration scenarios of CaL cycles and natural gas combined cycles (NGCC) are explored. The process models of the NGCC and CaL capture plant are developed to explore the most promising scenarios for NGCC-CaL integration with regards to efficiency penalties. Two scenarios are analysed in detail, and show that the system with heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) before and after the capture plant exhibited better performance of 49.1% efficiency compared with that of 45.7% when only one HRSG is located after the capture plant. However, the techno-economic analyses showed that the more energy efficient case, with two HRSGs, implies relatively higher cost of electricity (COE), 44.1?/MWh, when compared to that of the reference plant system (33.1?/MWh). The predicted cost of CO2 avoided for the case with two HRSGS is 29.3 ?/ton CO2.

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Impact study of NOOR 1 project on the Moroccan territorial economic development

Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability ◽

10.1051/rees/2021008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Amale Laaroussi ◽

Abdelghrani Bouayad ◽

Zakaria Lissaneddine ◽

Lalla Amina Alaoui

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Large Scale ◽

Solar Power ◽

Local Level ◽

Concentrated Solar Power ◽

Professional Literature ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact

Morocco is one of the countries investing more and more in Renewable Energy (RE) technologies to meet the growing demand for energy and ensure the security of supply in this sector. The number of solar projects planned and implemented, as well as solar thermal projects in the form of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) installations is steadily increasing. Many of these installations are designed as large utility systems. In order to provide strong evidence on local, regional and even national impacts, this article examines the impacts of large-scale renewable energy projects on territorial development, based on a case study of the NOOR 1 (Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)) project in Ouarzazate, Morocco. The data collected during this study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with experts, stakeholders, local community representatives and combined with an analysis of documents provided by the NOOR 1 project managers, investors and consulting firms specialized in the field of Renewable Energy, provide detailed evidence on the type and magnitude of impacts on the economic development of the Moroccan southern region where the NOOR 1 plant is located. The data collected is analyzed using NVIVO software. The study results in a consolidated list of many impacts with varying levels of significance for different stakeholder groups, including farmers, youth, women, community representatives and small and medium firms owners. It should be noted that the importance of analyzing the economic impact of large infrastructure projects is widely recognized, but so far, there is little published in the academic and professional literature on the potential impacts of these projects at the local level. Even less information is available on the local impacts of large-scale project implementation in Morocco. While many macroeconomic studies have fed the recent surge in investment in RE projects with the promise of multiple social, economic, environmental, and even geopolitical benefits at the macro level, public debates and discussions have raised considerable doubts. The question of whether these promises would also leave their marks at the local level has also arisen. Despite these uncertainties, very few academics and practitioners have conducted research to empirically develop a good understanding of the impact of RE projects at the local level. To fill this research gap, the economic impact analysis of NOOR 1 provides a detailed empirical overview, which allows a better understanding of the effects that the infrastructure developments of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants can have on the economic environment in which they are located.

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