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Concentrating solar power with thermal energy storage can add quantifiable value for utilities, according to a new study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
CSP can add significant value to a utility's energy mix and boost its bottom line, according to a study released Dec. 20 by NREL.
Specifically, CSP with six-hour storage capacity can lower peak net loads when the sun is not shining, NREL found. CSP displaces more expensive gas-fired generation during peak loads and can continue to flatten peak load in the evenings when photovoltaic solar power is not available. CSP could add nearly $36 per MWh to the capacity and operational value of a utility, the study determined.
The NREL study used simulations to determine the quantifiable value for CSP. The lab said the study is one of the first instances of operational and capacity valuation for CSP with...