Process Heat Generation Potential from Solar Concentration Technologies in Latin America: The Case of Argentina

Isidoro Lillo, Elena Pérez, Sara Moreno and Manuel Silva
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Isidoro Lillo: Department of Energy Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n 41092 Seville, Spain
Elena Pérez: Andalusian Association for Research and Industrial Cooperation, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n 41092 Seville, Spain
Sara Moreno: Department of Energy Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n 41092 Seville, Spain
Manuel Silva: Department of Energy Engineering, University of Seville, Camino de los Descubrimientos, s/n 41092 Seville, Spain

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: This paper evaluates the potential of solar concentration technologies—compound parabolic collector (CPC), linear Fresnel collector (LFC) and parabolic trough collector (PTC)—as an alternative to conventional sources of energy for industrial processes in Latin America, where high levels of solar radiation and isolated areas without energy supply exist. The analysis is addressed from energy, economic and environmental perspective. A specific application for Argentina in which fourteen locations are analyzed is considered. Results show that solar concentration technologies can be an economically and environmentally viable alternative. Levelized cost of energy ( LCOE ) ranges between 2.5 and 16.9 c€/kWh/m 2 and greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions avoided range between 33 and 348 kgCO 2 /(m 2 ·year). CPC technology stands out as the most recommendable technology when the working fluid temperature ranges from 373 K to 423 K. As the working fluid temperature increases the differences between the LCOE values of the CPC and LFC technologies decrease. When 523 K is reached LFC technology is the one which presents the lowest LCOE values for all analyzed sites, while the LCOE values of PTC technology are close to CPC technology values. Results show that solar concentration technologies have reached economic and environmental competitiveness levels under certain scenarios, mainly linked to solar resource available, thermal level requirements and solar technology cost.

Keywords: feasibility; solar thermal energy; heat process; greenhouse gas emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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