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Sol-Gas Project: Hybrid combined cycle cogeneration plant based on central receiver technology

Objective



SOLAR ENERGY MAY PLAY A KEY ROLE TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN PRESENT AND FUTURE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS, WHILE CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, SINCE THEIR USE INVOLVES NONE OR NEGLIGIBLE EMISSIONS OF CO2, SO2, AND NOx.
HOWEVER, THE WIDESPREAD USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IS RESTRAINED BY THE HIGH INVESTMENT/PROFIT RATIO OF THIS TYPE OF INSTALLATION WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER TRADITIONAL ALTERNATIVES. ONE IMPORTANT PROBLEM POSED BY SOLAR ENERGY LIES IN THE RELATIVELY FEW HOURS OF EQUIPMENT OPERATION, WHICH MAKES INVESTMENT RETURNS DIFFICULT. AN ADDITIONAL INCONVENIENCE LIES IN THE LACK OF CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND, DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE ENERGY SOURCE AND THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY STORAGE. AN APPROPRIATE SOLUTION IS TO COMPLEMENT THE POWER SUPPLY OF THE GENERATING SYSTEMS WITH FOSSIL FUELS, TO INCREASE THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT AND BETTER ADAPT TO THE DEMAND.
A MOST PROMISING CONCEPT IS A HYBRID SOLAR ENERGY-NATURAL GAS SYSTEM, WHERE SOLAR CENTRAL RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY IS COMBINED WITH FOSSIL FUEL TO MAKE THE INSTALLATION MORE PROFITABLE, INCREASING ITS USE AND VERSATILITY. THUS, THE HYBRID SYSTEM BENEFITS FROM THE ADVANTAGES OF A CENTRAL RECEIVER, RATHER THAN PARABOLIC TROUGH, SYSTEM: A SMALLER RECEIVER SURFACE, WHICH ENABLES OPERATING AT HIGHER ENERGY FLUXES AND HIGH ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; A BETTER COSINE FACTOR WHICH YIELDS SUPERIOR FIELD EFFICIENCY; AND LOWER TECHNOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS (EASY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN). CONCEPTUALLY, THE FOSSIL FUEL IS USED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND INTELLIGENTLY, OVERCOMING THE DEFICIENCIES ENCOUNTERED IN RENEWABLE ENERGY. THUS, THE CONVENTIONAL ENERGY INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE INSTALLATION, IN ADDITION TO THE PURELY ENERGETIC CONTRIBUTION.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO CARRY OUT THE PREPARATORY PHASES (FEASIBILITY STUDY AND ASSESSMENT OF MARKET POTENTIAL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA) OF THE SO-CALLED SOL-GAS PROJECT. A PROJECT WHICH AIMS TO BUILD A SOL-GAS COGENERATION PLANT IN ANDALUSIA (SPAIN) THAT FULFILLS THE ABOVE MENTIONED REQUIREMENTS.THE PLANT WOULD BE IN THE RANGE OF 35MWe AND PRODUCE APPROXIMATELY 40t/h OF SATURATED STEAM AS PROCESS HEAT. IT COULD SERVE AS A EUROPEAN PROTOTYPE FOR OTHER SOL-GAS COGENERATION PLANTS TO SUPPLY THERMAL PROCESS ENERGY FOR INDUSTRIAL PLANTS OR SEAWATER DESALINATION

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Sociedad para el Desarrollo Energetico de Andalusia SA
EU contribution
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Address
11,Calle Bolivia
41012 Sevilla
Spain

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Total cost
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Participants (6)