Techno-Economic Assessment of Retrofitting Concepts for Parabolic Trough Power Plants with Solar Towers

Abstract

This thesis investigates the cost-efficiency of retrofitting concepts based on the addition of a solar tower to an existing parabolic trough power plant. It is assumed that existing infrastructure can be used to avoid costs for additional generation capacity. A reference power plant and retrofitting concepts for different scenarios have been selected a priori. A benchmark methodology is developed, which considers the generation capacity of a power plant and thus allows the techno-economic comparison of retrofitted power plants to reference cases. Furthermore estimations about the ageing behaviour of the reference power plant are defined. A simulation tool is selected, which simulates the retrofitted power plants. Finally the developed benchmark methodology is applied and a decision about the cost-efficiency of retrofitted parabolic trough power plants with solar towers, compared to overhauled PTC power plants combined with new solar towers, is worked out.