Large-Scale Solar Thermal Power: Technologies, Costs and Development

✍ Scribed by Werner Vogel, Henry Kalb

• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 509
• Edition: 23
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This important contribution to the issue of renewable energy describes the technical and economical requirements of mass-produced solar thermal power plants, from the different types of power plants to the development needs and a massive development program. The authors - renowned and experienced experts in the field - show that solar thermal power plants, because of their simple technology, are easy to build with high production rates and therefore can play a substantial role in the rapid substitution of fossil fuels. On the basis of solar thermal power (using long distance transmission) and coal from substituted coal plants, a future energy system is described supplying gas and liquid fuels. This is the first discussion of a complete concept, of a crash-strategy, for the partial replacement of oil and natural gas.

✦ Table of Contents

Large-Scale Solar Thermal Power: Technologies, Costs and Development......Page 5
Contents......Page 9
Preface......Page 17
The Significance of the Rapid Deployment of Solar Thermal Power Plants for Energy Policy......Page 19
Acknowledgments......Page 27
List of Tables......Page 29
1.1 Historical Background......Page 33
1.2 Formulating the Problem......Page 36
2.1 Solar Tower Power Plants as the Basis for Cost Estimates: Cost Analyses......Page 39
2.2 The Combined System of Solar and Backup Power Plants (“Solar Power System”)......Page 41
2.2.1 Solar Base-Load Plants......Page 42
2.3.1 Introductory Remarks......Page 43
2.3.2 Investments and Power Costs......Page 44
2.3.3 Are the Additional Costs Compared to Nuclear Plants Affordable?......Page 50
2.3.3.1 Burden on the Economy Due to Higher Power Costs (The Cost DifferenceSolar Energy – Nuclear Energy)......Page 51
2.3.4 Possibly Lower Cost Differences, Potential for Further Development......Page 53
2.3.5 “Hidden” Costs of Conventional Power Plants......Page 56
2.3.5.1 Nuclear Power Plants......Page 57
2.3.5.2 Coal-Fired Power Plants......Page 58
2.3.5.3 Fossil-Fuel Backup Power Plants for the Solar Power System......Page 60
2.4.1 Special Aspects of Solar Power-Plant Development......Page 61
2.4.2 The Simplest Technology – Consequences for Development and Construction on a Large Scale......Page 64
2.4.3.1 Stability......Page 75
2.4.3.2 Cost Predictions......Page 76
2.4.4 The Most Important Single Point: A Cost Study for the Standard Heliostat......Page 79
2.4.5 The Interdisciplinary Character of Solar-Plant Development......Page 80
2.4.7 Industrial Initiatives and Start-up Funding......Page 81
3: Solar Technologies – An Overview......Page 83
3.1 Dish Plants......Page 84
3.2 Tower Power Plants......Page 87
3.3 Parabolic Troughs......Page 93
3.4 Linear Fresnel Plants......Page 96
3.5 Updraft (Chimney) and Downdraft Power Plants......Page 99
4.1.1 Solar Power Systems with Coal-Fired Backup Power Plants (Instead ofNatural Gas Plants)......Page 103
4.1.2 Overview of Costs......Page 106
4.1.3 Coal-Fired Base-Load Power Plants with CO2 Sequestration......Page 114
4.1.4 Coal-Fired Power Plants without CO2 Sequestration......Page 116
4.1.5 Nuclear Power Plants......Page 117
4.1.6 Weighing Cost Differences......Page 121
4.1.7 Separate Considerations of Solar and Backup Power Supplies......Page 123
4.1.8 Solar Power at the Plant Site......Page 124
4.1.9 Hydrogen Production......Page 125
4.2 Comparison with the Study of Sargent and Lundy......Page 126
4.2.1.1 Investment Costs......Page 130
4.2.1.2 Operating and Maintenance Costs......Page 131
4.2.2 Response of the NRC to the S&L Study......Page 135
4.2.2.1 The Research-Political Context of the S&L Study and the Criticism of the NRC......Page 138
4.2.2.2 Conclusions Based on the Current Preliminary State of Knowledge......Page 140
4.3 Some Special Points Concerning Cost Estimates......Page 142
4.3.1 The Effect of Mass Production on the Indirect Costs......Page 143
4.3.2 Solar Multiple/"24-h Design Insolation"......Page 144
4.3.2.1 Recalculation for a "Base-Load" Power Plant......Page 145
4.3.3 Land Prices in Spain......Page 146
4.3.4.1 European Alternatives in Negotiations with North African Countries for Potential Power Plant Sites......Page 147
4.3.5 Specific Land-Area Requirements......Page 149
4.3.6.1 Costs......Page 152
4.3.7 Dry Cooling......Page 153
4.3.7.1 Literature References to Dry Cooling for Solar Power Plants......Page 155
4.3.7.2 Literature References to Dry Cooling for Conventional Power Plants......Page 157
4.3.8 Technical Reliability......Page 158
4.3.9 Power Transmission via Overhead Power Lines......Page 159
4.4 Calculating the Power Costs......Page 161
4.4.1 Capital Costs, Nominal or Real Interest, Operating Lifetimes......Page 162
4.4.1.1 Note on the Technical Operating Lifetime......Page 164
4.4.2 Interest Rates......Page 165
4.4.3 Equity Capital and Outside Capital......Page 166
4.4.3.1 Conclusions......Page 170
5.1 Overview......Page 173
5.2 Spain: Capacity Utilization and Insolation......Page 179
5.3 The USA......Page 184
5.4 Solar Tower Plants – Permissible Slope of the Terrain......Page 187
5.5 Spain: Availability of Sites......Page 189
5.6 Morocco/Sahara......Page 192
5.7 China, India, and Potential Sites in Tibet – Inaccuracy of the Available Maps......Page 196
5.7.1 Conclusions......Page 201
5.8 Insufficient Accuracy of the Insolation Data; Measurement Program......Page 203
6.1 Estimating the Heliostat Costs......Page 213
6.1.1 Examples......Page 214
6.1.2 Preliminary Conclusions......Page 216
6.2 Necessary Measures for the Precise Determination of Costs in Mass Production......Page 217
6.3.1 Technology......Page 218
6.3.2 Development Aspects......Page 223
6.4 Installations for Operational Testing of the Heliostats......Page 226
6.5.1 Heliostat Costs in the S&L Study......Page 228
6.5.2 The Sandia Heliostat Study......Page 229
7.1.1.1 Costs......Page 241
7.1.1.2 Design and Function......Page 242
7.1.1.3 Developmental Requirements......Page 243
7.1.2 System Development: Molten-Salt Circuits and Receivers......Page 246
7.1.2.1 Molten-Salt Circuits......Page 247
7.1.2.3 A Test Installation for Receiver Development......Page 249
7.2.1 Technology......Page 250
7.2.2.1 Airflow Piping......Page 257
7.2.2.3 Air-Recovery System......Page 258
7.2.2.4 Test Installation for Receiver Development......Page 259
8.1 Basic Facts......Page 261
8.2.1 Preliminary Remarks......Page 264
8.2.2 Investment Costs......Page 266
8.2.3 Operating and Maintenance Costs......Page 269
8.2.4 Power Costs......Page 270
8.3 Development Program and Cost Estimates for Mass Production......Page 272
8.4.1 Preliminary Remarks......Page 273
8.4.2 Molten-Salt Heat-Storage System......Page 275
8.4.3 Heat-Storage Systems Based on Concrete......Page 278
8.4.4 Test Facilities for Solid and Thermocline Heat-Storage Systems......Page 280
9.1 Introductory Remarks......Page 283
9.2 The Principle......Page 284
9.3 Investment and Power Costs......Page 288
9.4.1 The Development of Components......Page 291
9.4.1.1 The Chimney......Page 292
9.4.1.2 Heat Storage......Page 293
9.4.2 A Demonstration Plant......Page 294
9.4.3 Detailed Cost Estimates......Page 295
9.4.4 Development Costs......Page 296
10: Fossil-Fuel Power Plants......Page 297
10.1.1 Investment Costs......Page 298
10.1.2 Gas Costs......Page 299
10.1.3 Operating and Maintenance Costs......Page 300
10.2.1 Investment Costs......Page 301
10.2.2 The Price of Coal......Page 302
10.2.3 Plant Efficiencies/Contribution of Coal Price to Power Costs......Page 304
10.3 Coal-Fired Plants with CO2 Sequestration......Page 307
10.3.1 Cost Estimates According to EIA AEO 2007 (Without Storage Costs): The Cost of Power......Page 308
10.3.2.2 The Cost of CO2 Storage at Sea......Page 309
11.1.1 Overview......Page 313
11.1.2 Gas from Coal Gasification for Backup Power Plants......Page 315
11.1.3 Smaller Coal-Fired Installations in the Solar Plants–Solar-Coal Hybrid Power Plants......Page 316
11.1.4 The Combination of Solar Thermal and Offshore Wind Plants − Offshore Wind Power as a Conditional Alternative to Solar Energy for Europe......Page 322
11.2.1 Gasifi cation versus Direct Power Generation Using Coal − Solar Energy for CoalReplacement in Power Generation and for Hydrogen Production......Page 324
11.2.2 The Cost of Coal Gasification (for H2 Production)......Page 325
11.2.2.1 Conventional and Advanced Gasification......Page 329
11.2.3 The Assumed Cost of CO2 Storage......Page 330
11.2.4 Syngas as a Particularly Inexpensive Substitute......Page 332
11.2.5 Backup Power Plants as Consumers of Gas – Gas Transport and Storage Costs......Page 334
11.2.6 Backup Power Plants: Switching to Other Fuels When Gas is in Great Demand–Development of Combustion Chambers......Page 336
11.2.7.1 Gas Purification and Separation......Page 337
11.2.7.3 Development of Gasification Facilities – The Higher Efficiency of the Shell Process......Page 339
11.2.8 Preconditions for the Substitution of Natural Gas by H2 or Syngas: Modification of the End-User Appliances and the Transport Networks......Page 342
11.2.9 The Possible Extent of Coal Gasification Using Substitutable Power-Plant Coal......Page 344
11.2.9.1 Gas Quantities Made Available by the Substitution of Current Coal-Fired and Gas Power Plants......Page 347
11.3 Coal as the Only Major Alternative to Oil and Gas? – The Scope of the Coal Resources for Power Generation and Gasification on a Large Scale – the Potential for Sequestration of CO2......Page 350
11.3.1 Coal Reserves......Page 351
11.3.2 The Future Consumption of Coal – Depletion Time of Resources......Page 356
11.3.3 The Potentially Limited Capacity for Economical Storage of CO2......Page 361
11.4.1 Hydrogen Production from Electrolysis......Page 364
11.4.2 Transporting Hydrogen......Page 373
11.4.3 Sun Methanol for Around 90 $/Barrel Oil Equivalent–An Effective Brake on the Oil Price. The USA as a Future Sun-Coal-Fuel World Power. “OPIC” as the Answer to OPEC......Page 376
11.4.3.1 Costs......Page 378
11.4.3.2 Coal Consumption......Page 384
11.4.3.3 A Price Brake on Petroleum − The Potential of Sun Methanol in the USA......Page 387
11.4.3.4 Liquid-Fuel Production from Coal Alone? – Sun Methanol to Conserve US Coal Reserves......Page 389
11.4.3.5 Methanol Production using Nuclear Hydrogen......Page 390
11.4.3.6 OPIC......Page 391
11.4.3.7 The CO2 Balance......Page 392
11.4.4 Hydrogen and Coal for Liquid Energy Carriers in a Future Solar-Hydrogen Energy System......Page 394
12.2.1 Estimates According to the “Chicago Study”......Page 399
12.2.1.1 Conclusions from Table 12.1......Page 408
12.2.2 A Problem: The Lack of Competition among System Manufacturers – The Contrast to Solar Energy......Page 413
12.3.1 Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs......Page 415
12.3.2 Enrichment and Other Fuel Costs, Not Including the Cost of Natural Uranium......Page 416
12.4 Consumption and Cost of Natural Uranium per kWhel......Page 418
12.5.2 General Problems of Nuclear Power Generation......Page 419
12.6.1.1 Lifetime......Page 422
12.6.1.2 Classification of Ores According to Their Uranium Content......Page 426
12.6.1.3 Unconventional Uranium Reserves......Page 427
12.6.1.4 Thorium Reserves......Page 429
12.6.2 The Present and Future Price of Uranium – Geographical Distribution of the Uranium Reserves......Page 430
Appendix A: Solar Tower Power Plants: Comparison of Kolb (1996), Kalb/Vogel), SunLab), S&L)......Page 435
Appendix B: Inflation, Purchasing Power Parities......Page 471
Appendix C: Energy Statistics......Page 475
Appendix D: Comments on the Earlier Study (Kalb and Vogel 1986a)......Page 487
References......Page 493