Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria
Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of three molten salt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower plants located in the regions of Mechria, Adrar, and Tindouf in Algeria. The study evaluates the thermal efficiency, economic feasibility, and performance of these CSP usin...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97236-4 |
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| author | Larbi Mohamed Rouibah Abdelkader Kouider Laroussi Arvind R. Singh Mohit Bajaj Milkias Berhanu Tuka |
| author_facet | Larbi Mohamed Rouibah Abdelkader Kouider Laroussi Arvind R. Singh Mohit Bajaj Milkias Berhanu Tuka |
| author_sort | Larbi Mohamed |
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| description | Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of three molten salt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower plants located in the regions of Mechria, Adrar, and Tindouf in Algeria. The study evaluates the thermal efficiency, economic feasibility, and performance of these CSP using the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, which accurately models Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), a critical factor influencing plant performance. Key parameters analyzed include Solar Multiple (SM), Thermal energy storage (TES) hours, capacity factor (CF), and the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The results demonstrate that an optimal heliostat field configuration with a SM of 1.8 and 10 h of TES achieves a capacity factor of 51.49%, with a minimum LCOE of 0.097 $/kWh. In Mechria, with operational and maintenance costs projected at 2.51 million dollars. For the Adrar region, a SM of 1.6 and TES of 2 h yield an LCOE of 0.18 $/kWh at a capacity factor of 24.03%. Similarly, in Tindouf, a SM of 1.6 and TES of 8 h result in a capacity factor of 18.95% and an LCOE of 0.17 $/kWh. The analysis reveals that the design of CSP systems, particularly the combination of solar Multiple and TES, plays a pivotal role in optimizing the economic performance of the plants, This approach enables researchers to save time and costs by using satellite-derived DNI estimations, enhancing data accuracy and optimizing CSP deployment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e98469d4fe21498e9f9c86fda88b41fe |
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| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e98469d4fe21498e9f9c86fda88b41fe2025-08-20T02:20:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115112210.1038/s41598-025-97236-4Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in AlgeriaLarbi Mohamed0Rouibah Abdelkader1Kouider Laroussi2Arvind R. Singh3Mohit Bajaj4Milkias Berhanu Tuka5Laboratory Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics of University of Djelfa (LAADI)Laboratory Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics of University of Djelfa (LAADI)Laboratory Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics of University of Djelfa (LAADI)Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Hanjiang Normal UniversityDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University)Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology UniversityAbstract This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of three molten salt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower plants located in the regions of Mechria, Adrar, and Tindouf in Algeria. The study evaluates the thermal efficiency, economic feasibility, and performance of these CSP using the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, which accurately models Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), a critical factor influencing plant performance. Key parameters analyzed include Solar Multiple (SM), Thermal energy storage (TES) hours, capacity factor (CF), and the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The results demonstrate that an optimal heliostat field configuration with a SM of 1.8 and 10 h of TES achieves a capacity factor of 51.49%, with a minimum LCOE of 0.097 $/kWh. In Mechria, with operational and maintenance costs projected at 2.51 million dollars. For the Adrar region, a SM of 1.6 and TES of 2 h yield an LCOE of 0.18 $/kWh at a capacity factor of 24.03%. Similarly, in Tindouf, a SM of 1.6 and TES of 8 h result in a capacity factor of 18.95% and an LCOE of 0.17 $/kWh. The analysis reveals that the design of CSP systems, particularly the combination of solar Multiple and TES, plays a pivotal role in optimizing the economic performance of the plants, This approach enables researchers to save time and costs by using satellite-derived DNI estimations, enhancing data accuracy and optimizing CSP deployment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97236-4Concentrating solar powerSystem advisor modelDirect normal irradianceSolar tower systemOptimizationEnergy performance |
| spellingShingle | Larbi Mohamed Rouibah Abdelkader Kouider Laroussi Arvind R. Singh Mohit Bajaj Milkias Berhanu Tuka Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria Scientific Reports Concentrating solar power System advisor model Direct normal irradiance Solar tower system Optimization Energy performance |
| title | Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria |
| title_full | Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria |
| title_short | Comprehensive techno-economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in Algeria |
| title_sort | comprehensive techno economic optimization and performance analysis of molten salt concentrated solar power tower plants in algeria |
| topic | Concentrating solar power System advisor model Direct normal irradiance Solar tower system Optimization Energy performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97236-4 |
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