With environmental concerns and energy needs increasing, many regions in the world are promoting renewable energy technologies making use of various policy instruments. Although today the PV systems price is decreasing, which gives it a competitive edge; we see the technology still being dependent on policy instruments for its dissemination.   The aim of this study is to research on whether or not a solar PV system is economically viable under certain circumstances. The study analyzes this by performing a cost beneficial analysis for the lifetime of the solar PV system making use of a discounted savings model. The systems being considered in this study are from California and Germany as these regions are leading in solar PV dissemination in their respective regions. The policies that are aiding the deployment of solar PV technologies are varied and thus this study compares benefits from different policy instrument for a residential customer investing in a solar PV system.   The research objectives in this study are pursued making use of major concepts such as Grid Parity, Levelized Cost of Electricity and financial methods such as discounting.  Further, to understand how the different independent variables such as retail electricity prices, PV system pricing, WACC, self-consumption rate and storage availability are having an impact and how the results change with variation in these variables, a sensitivity analysis is conducted.   The results obtained in this study show that a solar PV system installed in California and Germany both make net benefits over their lifetime. When compared, the Californian solar PV system under the Net Energy Metering policy is making more net economic benefits in the range of $ 40,351 in Eureka and $53,510 in San Francisco; when compared to the German solar PV systems under the Feed in Tariff ranging $4,465 in Berlin and $11,769 in Munich. Furthermore the Californian solar PV systems still prove to be more beneficial even when compared to the German solar PV systems under the self-consumption law of the Feed in Tariff ranging $ 6,443 in Berlin and $ 13,141 in Munich.  But when the self-consumption rate is increased in the German case, it is noted that the associated benefits increase.   The study at hand thus results in the California Net Energy Meter policy instrument proving to be more beneficial to a residential customer than the German Feed in tariff with and without self-consumption. Another important finding made in this study is that despite the German solar PV system making lesser benefits than the Californian ones, they attain Grid Parity before the ones in California.

Meeting electricity demand and power shortage remains as a challenge to the people of the Gambia. As the country is undergoing tremendous electricity accessibility expansion [1], to secure the environment for the future generation, it is necessary to consider renewable energy to be the major source of electricity production, to be specific, solar energy. This is because the country experiences the radiation from the sun throughout the year, it is sustainable not only to our environment for the future generations, but also economically. However, due to the intermittent nature of most renewable energy technologies, it is cumbersome to rely on them 100 % as a primary source of electricity production. Nonetheless, with suitable storage technologies, combination of different renewable sources, and intercountry grid connections can enhance to overcome this challenge. In this thesis work, designed and techno economic evaluation was carried out for high PV penetration that will meet 50 % electricity demand of the Gambia in year 2040. Three scenarios were considered in this study, based on the Strategic Electricity Roadmap 2020 to 2040 [1]. These scenarios are high, universal access (AU), and low electricity demand. Economically, 50 % electricity supply to meet the demand is possible for all the three cases. Consideration was mainly put on four key figures, thus, levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), payback period (PBP), net present cost (NPC) and solar fraction (SF). To achieve 50 % SF for the high electricity demand scenario, LCOE and PBP are 0.129 $/kWh and 12 years respectively. As for AU electricity demand case, 50 % SF is achieved with 0.126 $/kWh and 10 years for LCOE and PBP respectively. For low electricity demand scenario, 0.127 $/kWh and 10 years for LCOE and PBP respectively for 50 % SF. However, the optimum design recommended by HomerPro were 45 % SF with LCOE of 0.126 $/kWh and PBP of 9 years for high electricity demand scenario. As for the AU electricity demand case, the optimum design is 48 % SF, LCOE of 0.125 $/kWh, and PBP of 9 years. In the last scenario, which is low electricity demand case, 46 % SF, 0.124 $/kWh LCOE, and 9 years PBP.

Conventional concentrating solar power (CSP) plants typically have a very high levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) compared with coal-fired power stations. To generate 1 kWh of electrical energy from a conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant without a storage application, costs the utility approximately R3,08 (Salvatore, 2014), whereas it costs R0,711 to generate the same amount of energy by means of a highly efficient supercritical coal-fired power station, taking carbon tax into consideration. This high LCOE associated with linear Fresnel CSP technology is primarily due to the massive capital investment required per kW installed to construct such a plant along with the relatively low-capacity factors, because of the uncontrollable solar irradiation. It is expected that the LCOE of a hybrid plant in which a concentrating solar thermal (CST) station is integrated with a large-scale supercritical coal-fired power station, will be higher than that of a conventional supercritical coal-fired power station, but much less than that of a conventional CSP plant. The main aim of this study is to calculate and then compare the LCOE of a conventional supercritical coal-fired power station with that of such a station integrated with a linear Fresnel CST field. When the thermal energy generated in the receiver of a CST plant is converted into electrical energy by using the highly efficient regenerative Rankine cycle of a large-scale coal-fired power station, the total capital cost of the solar side of the integrated system will be reduced significantly, compared with the two stations operating independently of one another for common steam turbines, electrical generators and transformers, and transmission lines will be utilised for the integrated plants. The results obtained from the thermodynamic models indicate that if an additional heat exchanger integration option for a 90 MW (peak thermal) fuel-saver solar-augmentation scenario, where an annual average direct normal irradiation limit of 2 141 kWh/m2 is considered, one can expect to produce approximately 4,6 GWh more electricity to the national grid annually than with a normal coal-fired station. This increase in net electricity output is mainly due to the compounded lowered auxiliary power consumption during high solar-irradiation conditions. It is also found that the total annual thermal energy input required from burning pulverised coal is reduced by 110,5 GWh, when approximately 176,5 GWh of solar energy is injected into the coal-fired power station’s regenerative Rankine cycle for the duration of a year. Of the total thermal energy supplied by the solar field, approximately 54,6 GWh is eventually converted into electrical energy. Approximately 22 kT less coal will be required, which will result in 38,7 kT less CO2 emissions and about 7,6 kT less ash production. This electricity generated from the thermal energy supplied by the solar field will produce approximately R8,188m in additional revenue annually from the trade of renewable energy certificates, while the reduced coal consumption will result in an annual fuel saving of about R6,189m. By emitting less CO2 into the atmosphere, the annual carbon tax bill will be reduced by R1,856m, and by supplying additional energy to the national grid, an additional income of approximately R3,037m will be due to the power station. The annual operating and maintenance cost increase resulting from the additional 171 000 m2 solar field, will be in the region of R9,71m. The cost of generating 1 kWh with the solar-augmented coal-fired power plant will only be 0,34 cents more expensive at R0,714/kWh than it would be to generate the same energy with a normal supercritical coal-fired power station. If one considers that a typical conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant (without storage) has an LCOE of R3,08, the conclusion can be drawn that it is much more attractive to generate electricity from thermal power supplied by a solar field, by utilising the highly efficient large-scale components of a supercritical coal-fired power station, rather than to generate electricity from a conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Conventional concentrating solar power (CSP) plants typically have a very high levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) compared with coal-fired power stations. To generate 1 kWh of electrical energy from a conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant without a storage application, costs the utility approximately R3,08 (Salvatore, 2014), whereas it costs R0,711 to generate the same amount of energy by means of a highly efficient supercritical coal-fired power station, taking carbon tax into consideration. This high LCOE associated with linear Fresnel CSP technology is primarily due to the massive capital investment required per kW installed to construct such a plant along with the relatively low-capacity factors, because of the uncontrollable solar irradiation. It is expected that the LCOE of a hybrid plant in which a concentrating solar thermal (CST) station is integrated with a large-scale supercritical coal-fired power station, will be higher than that of a conventional supercritical coal-fired power station, but much less than that of a conventional CSP plant. The main aim of this study is to calculate and then compare the LCOE of a conventional supercritical coal-fired power station with that of such a station integrated with a linear Fresnel CST field. When the thermal energy generated in the receiver of a CST plant is converted into electrical energy by using the highly efficient regenerative Rankine cycle of a large-scale coal-fired power station, the total capital cost of the solar side of the integrated system will be reduced significantly, compared with the two stations operating independently of one another for common steam turbines, electrical generators and transformers, and transmission lines will be utilised for the integrated plants. The results obtained from the thermodynamic models indicate that if an additional heat exchanger integration option for a 90 MW (peak thermal) fuel-saver solar-augmentation scenario, where an annual average direct normal irradiation limit of 2 141 kWh/m2 is considered, one can expect to produce approximately 4,6 GWh more electricity to the national grid annually than with a normal coal-fired station. This increase in net electricity output is mainly due to the compounded lowered auxiliary power consumption during high solar-irradiation conditions. It is also found that the total annual thermal energy input required from burning pulverised coal is reduced by 110,5 GWh, when approximately 176,5 GWh of solar energy is injected into the coal-fired power station’s regenerative Rankine cycle for the duration of a year. Of the total thermal energy supplied by the solar field, approximately 54,6 GWh is eventually converted into electrical energy. Approximately 22 kT less coal will be required, which will result in 38,7 kT less CO2 emissions and about 7,6 kT less ash production. This electricity generated from the thermal energy supplied by the solar field will produce approximately R8,188m in additional revenue annually from the trade of renewable energy certificates, while the reduced coal consumption will result in an annual fuel saving of about R6,189m. By emitting less CO2 into the atmosphere, the annual carbon tax bill will be reduced by R1,856m, and by supplying additional energy to the national grid, an additional income of approximately R3,037m will be due to the power station. The annual operating and maintenance cost increase resulting from the additional 171 000 m2 solar field, will be in the region of R9,71m. The cost of generating 1 kWh with the solar-augmented coal-fired power plant will only be 0,34 cents more expensive at R0,714/kWh than it would be to generate the same energy with a normal supercritical coal-fired power station. If one considers that a typical conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant (without storage) has an LCOE of R3,08, the conclusion can be drawn that it is much more attractive to generate electricity from thermal power supplied by a solar field, by utilising the highly efficient large-scale components of a supercritical coal-fired power station, rather than to generate electricity from a conventional linear Fresnel CSP plant. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (PhD (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The power conversion unit of a large solar chimney power plant converts the fluid power, first into mechanical power, and then into electrical power. In this dissertation a tool is developed to determine the layout and the number of turbines of the solar chimney power conversion unit providing the lowest cost of electricity. First, the history of the solar chimney concept and the related fields of research are presented. Potential features and configurations of the power conversion unit are introduced, and it is shown how the solar chimney power conversion unit compares to those of other applications. An outline of the dissertation is given, and its potential impact is discussed. An analytical turbine model is developed. Several modelling approaches and the performance of single rotor and counter rotating turbine layouts are compared. Preliminary turbine designs are investigated, experimentally and numerically. The main aim of the experimental investigation is to verify the applicability of the loss model used in the analytical turbine model. The aim of the numerical investigation is to evaluate a commercial software package as a tool in context with solar chimney turbines. For each component of the power conversion unit an analytical performance model is introduced. Using these models, the single vertical axis, multiple vertical axis and multiple horizontal axis turbine configurations are compared from an efficiency and energy yield point of view, and the impact of the various losses on the overall performance is highlighted. A detailed cost model for the power conversion unit is also presented. To optimize for cost of electricity this cost model is then linked to the performance models, and the resulting optimization scheme is applied to several plant configurations. It is shown that for a large solar chimney power plant the power conversion unit providing minimal cost of electricity consists of multiple horizontal axis turbines using a single rotor layout including inlet guide vanes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die drywingsomsettingseenheid van ’n groot sonskoorsteenaanleg sit die vloeidrywing om, eers in meganiese drywing en dan in elektriese drywing. In hierdie proefskrif word ’n gereedskapstuk ontwikkel om die uitleg en aantal turbines van die sonskoorsteen-drywingsomsettingseenheid te bepaal wat die laagste koste van elektrisiteit lewer. Eerstens word die geskiedenis van die sonskoorsteen en verwante navorsingsvelde behandel. Moontlike eienskappe en konfigurasies vir die drywingsomsettingseenheid word voorgestel, en daar word aangetoon hoe die sonskoorsteendrywingsomsettings- eenheid vergelyk met ander toepassings. ’n Raamwerk van die proefskrif word gegee, en die potensiële trefkrag daarvan word bespreek. ’n Analitiese turbine-model word ontwikkel. Verskeie nabootsingsbenaderings en die vertoning van ’n enkelrotor en teenroterende turbine-uitlegte word vergelyk. Voorlopige turbine-ontwerpe word ondersoek, eksperimenteel en numeries. Die hoofdoel van die eksperimentele ondersoek is om die toepaslikheid van die verliesmodel in die analitiese turbine-model te bevestig. Die doel van die numeriese ondersoek is om kommersiële sagteware op te weeg as ’n gereedskapstuk in die konteks van sonskoorsteenturbines. Vir elke onderdeel van die drywingsomsettingseenheid word ’n analitiese model voorgestel. Met gebruik van hierdie modelle word die enkele vertikale-as, die veelvoudige vertikale-as an die veelvoudige horisontale-as turbinekonfigurasies vergelyk vanuit ’n benuttingsgraad- en energie-opbrengsoogpunt,en die uitwerking van die verskillende verliese op die algehele gedrag word uitgewys. ’n Kostemodel in besonderhede word vir die drywingsomsettingseenheid aangebied. Om vir die koste van elektrisiteit te optimeer word hierdie kostemodel dan gekoppel aan die vertoningsmodelle, en die gevolglike optimeringskema word toegepas op verskeie aanlegkonfigurasies. Daar word aangetoon dat vir ’n groot sonskoorsteenaanleg die drywingsomsettingseenheid wat die minimumkoste van elektrisiteit gee, bestaan uit veelvoudige horisontale-as turbines met enkelrotoruitleg en inlaatleilemme. / Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Wind and solar technologies have experienced rapid market growth recently as a result of the growing interest for implementation of renewable energy. However, the intermittency of wind and solar power is a major obstacle to their broader use. The additional risks of unexpected interruptions and mismatch with demand have hindered the expansion of these two primary renewable resources. The goal of this research is to analyze an integrated energy system that includes a novel configuration of wind and solar coupled with two storage methods to make both wind and solar sources dispatchable during peak demand, thereby enabling their broader use. Named DSWiSS for Dispatchable Solar Wind Storage System, the proposed system utilizes compressed air energy storage (CAES) that is driven from wind energy and thermal storage supplied by concentrating solar thermal power in order to achieve this desired dispatchability. Although DSWiSS mimics the operation of a typical CAES facility, the replacement of energy derived from fossil fuels with energy generated from renewable resources makes this system unique. While current CAES facilities use off peak electricity to power their compressors, this system uses power from wind turbines. Also, rather than using natural gas for heating of the compressed air before its expansion through a turbine, DSWiSS uses solar thermal energy and thermal storage. For this research, two models were created; the first is a dynamic model of a 1.5 MW variable speed wind turbine, programmed in PSCAD/EMTDC, that utilizes rotor resistive control to maintain rated power output. This model simulates the dynamic response of the wind turbine to changing wind conditions as well as the nominal performance parameters at all wind speeds. The second model is a steady state thermodynamic simulation of the turbomachinery power unit in the DSWiSS facility. By assuming conditions similar to those of a currently operating CAES facility in McIntosh, Alabama, the model calculates the performance parameters of DSWiSS and estimates the relative energy input requirements. By combining these models with a levelized lifetime cost analysis estimates of the power system performance and the cost of energy for the DSWiSS facility were estimated. The combination of these components yielded an efficiency greater than 46% for the main power block and a nearly equal utilization of both renewable resources. It was also estimated that the overall system is only slightly more expensive per unit of electricity generated than the current technologies employed today, namely coal, nuclear, and natural gas, but is comparable to a stand-alone solar thermal facility. However, this economic analysis, though accurate with regard to the technologies chosen, will not be complete until cost values can be placed on some of the externalities associated with power generation such as fuel cost volatility, national security, and emissions. / text

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) of Agenda 2030 calls for an increase in the use of renewable energy sources, among other targets. The percentage of fossil fuel-fired thermal generation for electricity is increasingly being reduced as renewable energy technologies (RET) advance in cost-competitiveness, and as greenhouse gas and industrial air pollutant emission limits become more stringent. In certain cases, renewable energy contributes to energy security by improving a nation’s trade balance, since local resources are harnessed and imports are reduced. RET investments are becoming more frequent gaining a sizeable share in the electric power mix of numerous countries. However, RET is affected by existing fossil fuel-fired electricity generation, especially in countries that have domestic reserves. While coal may be dirty, others such as natural gas provide multiple benefits, presenting a challenge to renewables. Additionally, RET endowment varies for each geographical location. This often does not correspond to the location of major electricity demand centers.  Therefore, large scale RET adoption and integration becomes logistically more cumbersome, as it necessitates existence of a developed grid network. Utilizing a series of analyses in two different settings – Africa and Cyprus – this thesis draws insights on RET growth policy and the level of technology representation in long term energy models. In order to capture specific challenges of RET integration, enhancements in traditional long-term energy system models are called for and carried out.  The case of Africa is used to assess adoption of RET under various trade scenarios. It is home to some of the world’s greatest RET resource potential and the single largest potential RET project, Grand Inga.  While, the island of Cyprus has goals of introducing large percentages of RET into its electric power mix. Each have important idiosyncrasies which are reflected in the analysis. On the one hand, natural gas competes with RET in Cyprus and forms a key transition fuel away from oil. On the other hand, lack of cross-border interconnectors limit RET project development across Africa. / <p>QC 20170519</p>

As part of efforts to curb the protracted electricity problem in Nigeria, the government enacted the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP) in 2014. Through this policy, the country plans to increase its electricity generation from renewables to 20% by 2030. This thesis investigates the economic feasibility of this lofty goal, and as well determine the best hybrid configuration for off-grid rural/remote power generation across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria The economic feasibility results, using Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) tool, show that the 20% renewables goal in the Nigerian power generation mix by 2030 is economically feasible but will require vast investment, appropriate supportive mechanisms, both fiscal and non-fiscal (especially for solar PV) and unalloyed commitment on the part of the government. Moreover, the techno-economic results with Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) reveal Small hydro/Solar PV/Diesel generator/Battery design as the most cost-effective combination for power supply in remote/rural areas of Nigeria. Findings also highlight the better performance of this system in terms of fuel consumption and GHGs emission reduction. Lastly, the study identifies factors influencing RE development, and offers strategic and policy suggestions to advance RE deployment in Nigeria.

The performance of parabolic trough based solar power plants over the last 25 years has proven that this technology is an excellent alternative for the commercial power industry. Compared to conventional power plants, parabolic trough solar power plants produce significantly lower levels of carbon dioxide, although additional research is required to bring the cost of concentrator solar plants to a competitive level. The cost reduction is focused on three areas: thermodynamic efficiency improvements by research and development, scaling up of the unit size, and mass production of the equipment. The optimum design, performance simulation and cost analysis of the parabolic trough solar plants are essential for the successful implementation of this technology. A detailed solar power plant simulation and analysis of its components is needed for the design of parabolic trough solar systems which is the subject of this research. Preliminary analysis was carried out by complex models of the solar field components. These components were then integrated into the system whose performance is simulated to emulate real operating conditions. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to get the optimum conditions and minimum levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). A simplified methodology was then developed based on correlations obtained from the detailed component simulations. A comprehensive numerical simulation of a parabolic trough solar power plant was developed, focusing primarily on obtaining a preliminary optimum design through the simplified methodology developed in this research. The proposed methodology is used to obtain optimum parameters and conditions such as: solar field size, operating conditions, parasitic losses, initial investment and LCOE. The methodology is also used to evaluate different scenarios and conditions of operation. The new methodology was implemented for a 50 MWe parabolic trough solar power plant for two cities: Tampa and Daggett. The results obtained for the proposed methodology were compared to another physical model (System Advisor Model, SAM) and a good agreement was achieved, thus showing that this methodology is suitable for any location.

Nigeria is presently being faced with a growing electricity demand problem following its population growth rate. The total installed capacity is far less than the current demand for electricity supply. As a way of bridging out this supply gap, the federal government is mobilizing all of its potential energy options. Coal is widely used for power generation in many countries. But today, the continued usage of coal for power generation is being challenged by the disturbing global warming phenomenon. This is due to the quantity of uncontrolled carbon dioxide emission from traditional coal-fired power plants. The aim of this dissertation is to critically analyse the future of the Nigerian coal power stations following the need to do carbon dioxide emission control necessary for ensuring a sustainable environment. Achieving this aim entails the appraisal of environmental regulation standards and cost structures of carbon dioxide (C02) emission reduction options for the coal power stations. Controlling carbon dioxide emission from existing coal power stations requires retrofit system that captures and effectively sequestrates the captured CO2. The cost and performance effect of the CO2 retrofit system on the existing power plant can be simulated with standard computer software models. In this study the lECM-cs computer modelling tool for power plants was used in determining the cost and performance impacts of applying an Amine-based C02 capture system to the Oji river power station in Nigeria. With the lECM-cs model, it was established that reducing C02 emission imposes an additional cost on the power plant which increases the unit cost of electricity generated. This additional cost index requires economic justification for its acceptance. This is due to the need to demonstrate its viability judging from the cost of electricity generated from other sources in the Nigerian economy. For the Oji river case, the station is old and requires extensive renovation. This causes a cost escalation over and above the cost associated with the CO2 sequestration system. As such, Oji coal power station does not have an economic future if C02 emission sequestration becomes obligatory. The future of coal power stations in Nigeria can be considered from two scenarios: one where the current national environmental standard is retained and another where it is revised. The revision classifies CO2 as a pollutant which makes its emission reduction imperative for coal power plants. Under the current standard, building modern large capacity pulverized coal-fired power plants with improved steam cycles should be encouraged. But with the review of the national standard, the focus should be on building new large capacity coal power stations with integrated CO2 emission control. This will ensure an environmentally friendly future for coal power stations in Nigeria. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.