Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms

Combining energy storage with base-load power sources offers an effective way to cover the fluctuation of renewable energy. This study proposes a nuclear–solar hybrid energy system (NSHES), which integrates a small modular thorium molten salt reactor (smTMSR), concentrating solar power (CSP), and th...

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Main Authors: Chenxiao Ji, Xueying Nie, Shichao Chen, Maosong Cheng, Zhimin Dai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2189
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author Chenxiao Ji
Xueying Nie
Shichao Chen
Maosong Cheng
Zhimin Dai
author_facet Chenxiao Ji
Xueying Nie
Shichao Chen
Maosong Cheng
Zhimin Dai
author_sort Chenxiao Ji
collection DOAJ
description Combining energy storage with base-load power sources offers an effective way to cover the fluctuation of renewable energy. This study proposes a nuclear–solar hybrid energy system (NSHES), which integrates a small modular thorium molten salt reactor (smTMSR), concentrating solar power (CSP), and thermal energy storage (TES). Two operation modes are designed and analyzed: constant nuclear power (mode 1) and adjusted nuclear power (mode 2). The nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is applied to minimize both the deficiency of power supply probability (DPSP) and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The decision variables used are the solar multiple (SM) of CSP and the theoretical storage duration (TSD) of TES. The criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) method and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are utilized to derive the optimal compromise solution. The electricity curtailment probability (ECP) is calculated, and the results show that mode 2 has a lower ECP compared with mode 1. Furthermore, the configuration with an installed capacity of nuclear and CSP (100:100) has the lowest LCOE and ECP when the DPSP is satisfied with certain conditions. Optimizing the NSHES offers an effective approach to mitigating the mismatch between energy supply and demand.
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spelling doaj-art-eab657b1330e4255a3007f71667fde132025-08-20T02:59:11ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-04-01189218910.3390/en18092189Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary AlgorithmsChenxiao Ji0Xueying Nie1Shichao Chen2Maosong Cheng3Zhimin Dai4Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, ChinaShanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, ChinaShanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, ChinaShanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, ChinaShanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, ChinaCombining energy storage with base-load power sources offers an effective way to cover the fluctuation of renewable energy. This study proposes a nuclear–solar hybrid energy system (NSHES), which integrates a small modular thorium molten salt reactor (smTMSR), concentrating solar power (CSP), and thermal energy storage (TES). Two operation modes are designed and analyzed: constant nuclear power (mode 1) and adjusted nuclear power (mode 2). The nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is applied to minimize both the deficiency of power supply probability (DPSP) and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The decision variables used are the solar multiple (SM) of CSP and the theoretical storage duration (TSD) of TES. The criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) method and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) are utilized to derive the optimal compromise solution. The electricity curtailment probability (ECP) is calculated, and the results show that mode 2 has a lower ECP compared with mode 1. Furthermore, the configuration with an installed capacity of nuclear and CSP (100:100) has the lowest LCOE and ECP when the DPSP is satisfied with certain conditions. Optimizing the NSHES offers an effective approach to mitigating the mismatch between energy supply and demand.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2189nuclear and solar hybrid energy systemmulti-objective optimizationconcentrating solar powerthermal energy storagelevelized cost of electricitysolar multiple
spellingShingle Chenxiao Ji
Xueying Nie
Shichao Chen
Maosong Cheng
Zhimin Dai
Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
Energies
nuclear and solar hybrid energy system
multi-objective optimization
concentrating solar power
thermal energy storage
levelized cost of electricity
solar multiple
title Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
title_full Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
title_fullStr Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
title_short Optimization of a Nuclear–CSP Hybrid Energy System Through Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
title_sort optimization of a nuclear csp hybrid energy system through multi objective evolutionary algorithms
topic nuclear and solar hybrid energy system
multi-objective optimization
concentrating solar power
thermal energy storage
levelized cost of electricity
solar multiple
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2189
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AT xueyingnie optimizationofanuclearcsphybridenergysystemthroughmultiobjectiveevolutionaryalgorithms
AT shichaochen optimizationofanuclearcsphybridenergysystemthroughmultiobjectiveevolutionaryalgorithms
AT maosongcheng optimizationofanuclearcsphybridenergysystemthroughmultiobjectiveevolutionaryalgorithms
AT zhimindai optimizationofanuclearcsphybridenergysystemthroughmultiobjectiveevolutionaryalgorithms