Performance and Techno-Economic Comparison Between Solid-Particle and Molten Salt Concentrated Solar Power Systems

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v2i.787

Keywords:

Concentrated Solar Power Systems, Solar Energy, Second-Generation, Third-Generation, Solid-Particles, Molten Salt

Abstract

This work presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of second-generation (Gen2) and third-generation (Gen3) concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. The study focuses on their techno-economic performance across three diverse geographical locations: Carrera Pinto, Patache, and Santiago, in Chile. The assessment involves detailed modelling of key subsystems, including the central receiver and power block, considering daily variations and the effects of weather conditions. The results reveal that Gen2 CSP technology can achieve competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) values when incorporating projected cost reductions. Notably, Gen3 CSP, using solid particles as the heat transfer medium, exhibits substantial advantages due to its operation at higher temperatures (~800°C). The study also underscores the influence of local climatic conditions on CSP performance. The findings suggest that improved cost projections can render previously less attractive sites, such as Patache and Santiago, viable options for CSP deployment, underscoring the evolving landscape of renewable energy technologies.

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Published

2025-05-12

How to Cite

Arias Olivares, I. J., Battisti, F. G., José Cardemil, Castillejo-Cuberos, A., & Escobar, R. (2025). Performance and Techno-Economic Comparison Between Solid-Particle and Molten Salt Concentrated Solar Power Systems. SolarPACES Conference Proceedings, 2. https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v2i.787

Conference Proceedings Volume

Vol. 2 (2023): SolarPACES 2023, 29th International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power, Thermal, and Chemical Energy Systems

Section

Analysis and Simulation of CSP and Hybridized Systems

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Ignacio Javier Arias Olivares, Felipe G. Battisti, José Cardemil, Armando Castillejo-Cuberos, Rodrigo Escobar

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Received 2023-10-10
Accepted 2024-09-11
Published 2025-05-12

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