Mapping suitability areas for concentrated solar power plants using remote sensing data

Iran's electricity generation relies heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in frequent power shortages and widespread blackouts in major cities. Given the high levels of solar irradiance across the country, photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies could provide a sustainable alternative. Existing studies focus on specific technologies or individual regions. Currently, there is no consistent, comprehensive mapping of the scope for political decision-making in Iran. This study aims to address this issue by providing the first nationwide assessment of solar energy potential in Iran, evaluating both PV and CSP. This GIS-based assessment uses an expanded set of environmental and technical criteria and performs sensitivity analyses to ensure robust results and identify the most effective and sustainable locations for PV and CSP plants. The model incorporates specific constraints, such as protected natural areas, to exclude unsuitable sites, and assesses suitability based on criteria such as solar irradiation levels and proximity to grid infrastructure. These factors are categorised into four suitability classes, ranging from 'high' to 'very low' for both PV and CSP installations. By synthesising the constraint and suitability maps, the model identifies feasible sites and assesses their relative desirability. A sensitivity analysis, focusing on the weighting of the suitability criteria, confirms the robustness of the results. The results highlight Iran's considerable capacity for solar power generation and suggest that the country could exceed its current electricity production by a multiple through the development of solar power plants. The model applies 14 exclusion criteria, revealing that 70% of Iran’s land is unsuitable for PV and 83% for CSP. The results show that 14.5% of Iran’s land is suitable for PV and 7.5% for CSP (medium and high suitable), with central and eastern regions offering the highest potential. Additionally, the study highlights the promising prospects of GIS modeling in renewable energy siting, emphasizing improved data integration, global scalability, environmental impact assessment, and policy harmonization. • For the first time, a nationwide GIS model identifies suitable PV and CSP sites in Iran. • Suitability results remain robust across sensitivity scenarios. • Iran's solar potential could exceed its current electricity generation by a multiple.

Preliminary thermoeconomic analysis of combined parabolic trough solar power and desalination plant in port Safaga (Egypt)

Data acquired from site surveys provide an essential resource to various exploration and production activities, such as field development planning, well positioning, and subsea equipment positioning. For many years, site survey data has been delivered as a Computer-aided Design (CAD) product. As operators move into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment, shortfalls from CAD-based workflows have become obvious. This paper presents a method of managing site survey data based on geo-information management principles and practices. The methodology presented in this paper defines a GIS data model for seabed survey data interpretation that satisfies GIS query, presentation, and data exchange purposes. This paper also defines a standard for GIS seabed survey data deliverables from contractors to operators, including methods and processes to move the model to/from CAD-based applications. The implementation of the data model has proven to be a relative success and allows for a better integration of subsurface applications internally. The results have helped define an efficient contractor-operator data exchange process by eliminating data ambiguity and enabling seamless GIS data transfer. Results have also produced a more intelligent seabed survey GIS dataset with rules and behaviors capability offered by an ArcGIS Geodatabase embedded into the data model. Use of a standard GIS data model and a standard list of GIS data deliverables required from contractors to operators will allow project teams to fully embrace the power of GIS data integration and allow nearly seamless and lossless movement of CAD/GIS representations of the model. Introduction In order to reach maximum potential benefit of data provided from seabed site surveys throughout the E & P lifecylcle (Figure 1), there is a need to ensure that data delivered from survey contractors to operators is done so in a structured, efficient, and consistent manner.

This paper deals with the problem of determining the optimal capacity of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, especially in the context of hybrid solar power plants. This work presents an innovative analytical approach to optimizing the capacity of concentrated solar plants. The proposed method is based on the use of additional non-dimensional parameters, in particular, the design factor and the solar multiple factor. This paper presents a mathematical optimization model that focuses on the capacity of concentrated solar power plants where thermal storage plays a key role in the energy source. The analytical approach provides a more complete understanding of the design process for hybrid power plants. In addition, the use of additional factors and the combination of the proposed method with existing numerical methods allows for more refined optimization, which allows for the more accurate selection of the capacity for specific geographical conditions. Importantly, the proposed method significantly increases the speed of computation compared to that of traditional numerical methods. Finally, the authors present the results of the analysis of the proposed system of equations for calculating the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for hybrid solar power plants. The nonlinearity of the LCOE on the main calculation parameters is shown.

With the view to minimize the energy crisis due to the ever depleting non-renewable energy resources, this research aimed to apply nanotechnology to enhance the efficacy of solar energy power plant – a renewable energy resource. According to literature Concentrated Solar Power Plant system requires heat transfer fluid (HTF) for proficient working. This research reports the synthesis of novel, efficient heat transfer fluid doped with nano sized particle including carbon nanotubes and metal oxide i-e copper oxide. This nano heat transfer fluid (NHTF) has very low melting point in comparison to conventionally prepared molten salt mixture for heat transfer purpose which typically have high melting point characteristically 140°C or higher. Most prominently this NHTF has enhanced thermo-physical properties including high thermal stability and high specific heat capacity. These properties ensures effective increase in thermal energy storage (TES) which is a key factor in solar thermal power plant and make it broad range operating heat transfer fluid.

Optimal operation strategy of peak regulation combined thermal power units and concentrating solar power plant with energy conversion and spinning reserve

The steam generation systems (SGS) of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants employ multiple heat exchangers arranged in series to convert thermal energy collected from the sun via a heat transfer fluid (HTF) to produce superheated steam in the Rankine cycle. Common CSP plant designs are based either on parabolic trough or central tower technology. The major Rankine cycle components consist of preheaters, evaporators, steam drums, superheaters, steam turbines, and water/air-cooled condensers, all connected through steel piping. For CSP plants capable of reheating the steam for improved efficiency, reheaters are also included in the Rankine cycle. In central tower design with directly heated water as the HTF, the receiver can also be considered part of the Rankine cycle. Operating experiences of CSP plants indicate that plant reliability is significantly impacted by failures in various components of the Rankine cycle. Many damage mechanisms have been identified, which include corrosion, thermal fatigue, creep, and stress corrosion cracking, among others. Much of the damage can be attributed to poor water/steam chemistry and inadequate temperature control. While damage in the Rankine cycle components is common, there is generally lack of comprehensive guidelines created specifically for the operation of these CSP components. Therefore, to improve CSP plant reliability and profitability, it is necessary to better understand the various damage mechanisms experienced by linking them to specific operating conditions, followed by developing a “theory and practice” guideline document for the CSP operators, so that failures in the Rankine cycle components can be minimized. In a major research project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), effort is being undertaken by EPRI to develop such a guideline document exclusively for the CSP industry. This paper provides an overview of the ongoing DOE project along with a few examples of component failures experienced in the Rankine cycle.

Due to the growing world population and its increasing energy demand, the construction of new power plants is inevitable. At the same time, it is necessary to keep the rise of the global average temperature well below 2 °C compared to pre-industrial level in order to significantly reduce the impacts and risks of climate change. Therefore, an environmental friendly energy infrastructure is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar thermal power plants are a promising technology, as they provide the possibility to buffer solar energy in a thermal storage. Thus, it can produce electricity according to the demand and is independent of meteorological fluctuations. A life cycle assessment is necessary to assess the environmental impact of a solar thermal power plant and its individual components. This work analyses the extent of the environmental effects of solar thermal tower power plants in the following selected impact categories according to the CML-method: Global Warming Potential (GWP 100 years), Abiotic Depletion potential (ADP elements), Eutrophication potential (EP) and Acidification Potential (AP). The most ecologically relevant components are identified and modelled with different specifications in order to compare the influence of different building types. Furthermore, the life cycle assessment model is applied to different geographical locations in order to enable site-specific considerations. The selected locations are Upington in South Africa, Evora in Portugal and Calama in Chile. The life cycle inventory is generated based on an extensive literature research and forms the foundation for the modelling of solar thermal tower power plants in the LCA software GaBi ts. As a result, the most ecologically relevant components are determined. A comparison of the different locations allows statements on the ecological potential of solar thermal tower power plants at a specific site. The heliostats and the molten salt (MS) as heat transfer fluid and storage medium dominate the impact on the GWP 100 years. The heliostats consist mainly of steel and glass and are needed in large numbers. The molten salt is used in a high amount and consists of a mixture from sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate which both have a high impact on GWP. Moreover, the transport and the construction on site have relevant contributions to GWP. The impact of the transport results from the large mass of all shipped components. The impact of the construction on site has copper cables as the main contributor. The end-of-life scenarios have a significant effect on the total impact. Depending on the recovery of the metals and especially the further use of the molten salt, the environmental impact is decisively influenced.

The performance of parabolic trough (PT) receiver tubes (RT) has a direct impact on concentrated solar power (CSP) plant production. As a result, one major need of operation and maintenance (O&M) in operating plants is to monitor the state of the receiver tube as a key element in the solar field. In order to fulfill this necessity, Abengoa Solar has developed the first existing portable device for measuring transmittance and reflectance of parabolic trough receiver tubes directly in the field. This paper offers a description of the technical features of the instrument and reviews the issues related to its usability as a workable portable device in operating solar fields. To evaluate its performance, laboratory studies have been carried out using two patterns to determine the accuracy and standard deviation of the measurements, obtaining excellent results. This information is complemented with data collected by O&M using this instrument in solar power plants. Studies have been carried out to determine the effect of both rainfall and artificial cleaning on the increase of transmittance. These values are then compared to those obtained from hand-cleaning and show important differences. The results are discussed in this paper.

Brazil has a predominantly renewable energy matrix, with large participation of water resource in domestic supply of energy. Data from 2019 National Energy Balance show that renewable sources (water, biomass, wind and solar photovoltaic) together represented 83% of domestic electric supply in 2018, where the remaining percentage (16.7%) represented non-renewable sources. The generation of electricity through thermal solar technology was not representative. However, it is known that Brazil presents high potential for the installation of solar thermal plants, especially in the Northeastern Region, where direct normal solar irradiation values are high. It is observed that the (high) costs of the projects associated to the absence of a specific incentive program make Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants installation more and more time consuming. As a way to contribute to the insertion of solar thermal energy in Brazil, this article presents a methodology for the location of parabolic trough solar thermal plants of 80 MW for the State of Bahia, located in the Northeastern Region of Brazil. Such methodology was based on the application the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and the Geoprocessing Technologies to define potentially available sites for the implementation of the projects. For the analysis, parameters related to energy production in the solar power plant, electric, roadways and water infrastructure of the plant were taken into account, as well as the occupation, slopes and land use. Considering the analyses performed, it was confirmed that Bahia disposes of many sites with great generation potential, especially in the western region of the State (at Barreiras), where favorable conditions were found for the development of the technology. Localities situated in other region of the State were also confirmed as suitable, however with less site availability for the insertion of plants. Methodology validations were also carried out and indicated that the model reached the proposed objective, faithfully representing the real-world simplifications that were made.

Shell-and-tube or packed bed thermal energy storage systems integrated with a concentrated solar power: A techno-economic comparison of sensible and latent heat systems

Climate change necessitates the relevance of renewable energy utilization worldwide. The Green Deal defines the energy development policy in Europe until 2030. This challenge holds particular significance for Ukraine in the context of post-war energy infrastructure recovery. Therefore, an important issue is the analysis of the suitability of Ukrainian territories for the installation of large-scale solar power plants (solar farms) and the optimization of their placement. This research aims to determine the suitability of Ukrainian territories for solar power plant placement using satellite data on climate and terrain characteristics. Among the factors determining the suitability of the territory for solar farms, the greatest impact lies in climatic indicators, including data on the total global horizontal solar irradiation (GHI), accumulated temperature above 25 °C at a height of 2 meters, average annual wind speed, and map of accumulated annual precipitation from the ERA5-Land dataset. In this study, terrain maps containing information on elevations, slopes, and terrain shading from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) project were also used to determine the suitability of the territories. The suitability of the territories is determined through geospatial analysis using weighted sums. Based on the research results, a suitability map was constructed, depicting the distribution of zones with different suitability coefficients (ranging from 0 to 1). It was found that a significant portion of Ukraine’s territory is favorable for the placement of solar power plants. Over 48 % of the country has moderate suitability values (0.3…0.4). The obtained suitability map was used to analyze the optimal placement of already constructed major solar power plants in Ukraine. Data from Wikimapia was utilized to determine the locations of these energy facilities. Overall, all the analyzed large-scale solar power plants in Ukraine were situated in optimal territories. The research also revealed that certain regions, such as Odesa, Poltava, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Donetsk, and Luhansk, have good suitability values (0.3…0.4) but are not fully utilized. These areas have significant potential for the future construction of powerful and productive solar power plants

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy harnessed from the sun. Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants harness this energy by focusing sunlight on a limited area to heat a working fluid, which is used to generate steam and power a thermodynamic cycle that produces electricity. There are currently no CSP plants in the Philippines, and this study aimed to locate the most suitable sites for this type of power plant. The first step was to mask out areas totally unsuitable as plant sites; we identified five exclusion factors for this: protected areas, slope, direct normal irradiance (DNI), water bodies, and land cover type. A scoring gradient was then applied to the remaining suitable areas according to seven ranking factors: DNI, slope, typhoon frequency, capacity of the nearest grid line, distance to the nearest grid line, distance to the nearest road, and distance to the nearest water body. Next, to reflect the actual degrees of influence of the factors to site suitability, we determined their relative numeric weights using analytic hierarchy process, with the weights derived from inputs from interviews with academic and industry experts. Finally, using ArcGIS Pro, we used a weighted sum of the ranking scores to produce a suitability map covering the entire Philippines. Suitable sites in the following provinces were found: Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Mindoro, Masbate, and Maguindanao. These areas have a total area of 27.9 km2 and a projected total power output of 733 MW.

To address Nigeria's electricity shortages and overreliance on traditional methods, solar power plants are being considered. However, selecting suitable sites for this purpose is critical and often poses a serious challenge considering a range of conflicting factors. In this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were combined to determine suitable sites for a solar electric power plant in Ewekoro Local Government Area (LGA). The approach considered road networks, transmission lines, slope, and land use as the key criteria as well as nineteen subcriteria for the site suitability analysis. The criteria and sub-criteria importance were weighted using AHP and the weights were inputted into the weighted overlay tool in the ArcGIS 10.4 for analysis. The resulting sub-criteria weights of land use are 3.5%, 6.8%, 10.6%, 16%, and 63.1% for built-up areas, waterbody, wetlands, rocky areas, and vegetation respectively. Based on the analysis, a suitability map was generated that categorized the study area as best suitable, suitable, and not suitable. On the map, 15% of the area was best suitable, 17% was suitable, and 68% was not suitable for solar power plants. In conclusion, the site suitability analysis of Ewekoro LGA for solar power plants has been evaluated and this approach can be extended to other areas in Nigeria where solar energy integration is of high priority.

In the present paper, the finite element method is used to perform an exhaustive analysis of the thermal behavior of encapsulated phase change materials (EPCMs), which includes an assessment of several materials in order to identify the best combination of PCM and shell material in terms of thermal energy storage, heat transfer rate, cost of materials, limit of pressure that they can support and other criteria. It is possible to enhance the heat transfer rate without a considerable decrease of the thermal energy storage density, by increasing the thickness of the shell. In the first examination of thermomechanical coupling effects, the technical feasibility can be determined if the EPCM dimensions are designed considering the thermal expansion and the tensile strength limit of the materials. Moreover, when a proper EPCM shell material and PCM composition is used, and compared with the current storage methods of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, the use of EPCM allows one to enhance significantly the thermal storage, reaching more than 1.25 GJ/m3 of energy density.