The value of a dispatchable concentrating solar power transfer from Middle East and North Africa to Europe via point-to-point high voltage direct current lines

Denis Hess

Applied Energy, 2018, vol. 221, issue C, 605-645

Abstract: Dispatchable solar power from concentrating solar thermal power plants (CSP) combined with thermal energy storage and co-firing option can provide energy according to demand. A transfer of such electricity from CSP in desert regions to distant consumer centres may therefore complement domestic energies. A detailed energy system modelling showing the benefit and drawback of CSP from Middle East and North Africa for Europe was not yet done. This paper closes the scientific knowledge gap applying an energy system model with a least-cost approach and detailed scenario analysis for the year 2050. Energy system analyses describe the effects of including and excluding a transfer of CSP from MENA to EU via a grid or via point-to-point high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines. A multi-criteria assessment reveals the impact of such CSP-HVDC power plants on energy infrastructure, operational behaviour, cost and emission of the energy system. To evaluate national grid expansion, a new grid methodology is used as composed of transmission and distribution grid. The evaluation shows that power plant capacity, electrical storage and grid expansion as well as electrical curtailment can cause a beneficial impact when CSP-HVDC is used to supplement the energy portfolio in Europe.

Keywords: CSP-HVDC; EUMENA; Energy system model; Multi-criteria; DESERTEC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918305038
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:221:y:2018:i:c:p:605-645

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.159

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().