Assessment of the Techno-economic Viability of the Optimal CSP Plant Technology in Egypt's Climate

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) are the two main methods for capturing solar energy. Egypt has so far focused its energy investments on solar PV technology. However, considering Egypt's hot, dry weather throughout the year, centralized large-scale PV power generation would not be the best option for Egypt's energy needs. In light of the preceding, this study assesses the most suitable CSP technologies (parabolic trough collector, linear Fresnel reflector, and solar power tower (SPT)) for massively centralized power generation in Egypt. There are six potential sites for the construction of these power stations, all of which are close to cities and dispersed around Egypt. This is a result of the region's natural appropriateness for developing solar power facilities, its configuration, and its proximity to the Egyptian electrical system. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and annual water consumption are two of the proposed power plant's key economic factors, which are examined. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is used to verify the comparative technical analysis, which is based on electrical output and the capacity utilization factor. The results show that the Benban SPT site has both the highest produced energy and the lowest LCOE, with an annual production of 258,789.8 MWh and 11.71 ¢/kWh.