Design and assessment of a novel solar-based sustainable energy system with energy storage

This research paper presents an in-depth development and investigation of a solar-based energy system incorporating thermal energy storage to produce electricity, heat, fresh water, and hydrogen to cover the needs of a community for better sustainability. The proposed integrated energy system utilizes a concentrated solar plant to generate process heat, offering a novel approach to address the growing demand for diverse energy outputs. The assessment of the integrated system employs the first and second laws of thermodynamics, focusing on both energy and exergy analyses. A dynamic analysis, using real-world data where available, is conducted to ensure alignment between energy demand and supply. Two distinctive case studies are presented to highlight the versatility of the proposed system. In case study 1, the concentrated solar power plant focuses only on electricity production. The calculations are made based on the assumption that 6% of the total energy emitted by the sun is stored. The total work of the system is found to be 316,466.00 kWh. Additionally, as a result of the 24-hour analysis, case study 1 exhibits outstanding performance, reaching total energy and exergy efficiency of 31.66% and 33.36%, respectively. Emphasizing community electricity needs and incorporating thermal energy storage for enhanced flexibility help contribute to a tailored and successful energy production strategy. Case study 2 examines the integration of electricity generation with heating and cooling systems, as well as addressing the production of hydrogen and clean water. The total power generation, heating load, and cooling load capacities are obtained as 1,299,247.95, 531,588.54, and 555,708.16 kW/day, respectively. The system's high-power output facilitates daily desalination processes and hydrogen production, producing 29,018.10 kg of hydrogen and 369,013.52 m3 of clean water in a single day. As a result of the performance analysis, case study 2 provides the overall energy and exergy efficiencies of 20.68% and 16.87%, respectively. This holistic approach effectively addresses society's energy needs in line with sustainability goals. The parametric studies provide valuable insights into the system's resilience and applicability in diverse real-world scenarios, supporting ongoing development efforts. Beyond reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, the integrated energy system's long-term benefits make it a promising solution for achieving greener and more resilient communities, acknowledging the need to overcome challenges in its implementation.