Using Existing Infrastructure to Realize Low-Cost and Flexible Photovoltaic Power Generation in Areas with High-Power Demand in China
Mingkun Jiang,
Jiashuo Li,
Wendong Wei,
Jiawen Miao,
Pengfei Zhang,
Haoqi Qian,
Jianmin Liu,
Jinyue Yan
Affiliations
Mingkun Jiang
Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety (MOE), School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; School of Business, Society and Energy, Mälardalen University, Västerås 72123, Sweden
Jiashuo Li
Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
Wendong Wei
School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; SJTU-UNIDO Joint Institute of Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China; Corresponding author
Jiawen Miao
School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Pengfei Zhang
Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
Haoqi Qian
Institute for Global Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Jianmin Liu
State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Coal-fired Power Generation and Pollution Control, Nanjing 210023, China
Jinyue Yan
School of Business, Society and Energy, Mälardalen University, Västerås 72123, Sweden; Corresponding author
Summary: This study develops a new concept involving using the existing infrastructure for photovoltaic (PV) generation to reduce the costs associated with increased land use and to avoid curtailment due to the mismatch between power supply and demand. We establish a method to estimate the technological potential and economic performance of the PV systems deployed in coal-fired power plants in China. The potential capacity of the examined 1,082 units in China reaches 4 GWe, which is equivalent to 32% of China's newly installed distributed PV capacity in 2019. A total of 87% of PV systems achieve plant-side grid parity compared with desulfurized coal benchmark electricity prices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the use of rooftops and coal storage sheds in power plants to facilitate low-cost, flexible PV power generation, thus opening a new channel for future PV generation development.
