Evaluating the value of concentrated solar power in electricity systems with fluctuating energy sources

Abstract

In traditional electricity systems the supply of energy follows the fluctuating demand. Power systems with high shares of fluctuating energy sources like wind and solar power face new challenges: in addition to fluctuating loads, fluctuating generation has to be balanced [1]. This is achieved by the use of flexible generation, storage and power-to-X-technologies. The developed tool uses a simplified method is able to identify the cost-optimal mix of technologies which are able to supply this flexibility to the electricity system. IConcentrated solar power (CSP) is a valuable source of flexibility as it can be easily combined with thermal storage and a co-firing unit guaranteeing electricity production independent of solar irradiation [2]. With the developed method a first estimate on the we are able to identify the value of CSP electricity generation in a system context in comparison to alternative technologies can be given..