Techno-economic optimization of molten salt based CSP plants through integration of supercritical CO2 cycles and hybridization with PV and electric heaters

The present study explores the integration of supercritical CO2 (sCO2) power cycles into Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants using molten salt, and the hybridization of these plants with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems through electric heaters. Techno-economic evaluations determined the optimal power cycle configuration and subsystem designs for two different scales and locations and then compared them with state-of-the-art solar power plants. The results show that hybridizing PV with state-of-the-art CSP can lead up to a 22% reduction in the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) compared to standalone CSP systems. This hybridization and the use of electric heaters are particularly beneficial for small-scale installations and locations with low DNI/GHI ratios. By replacing the steam Rankine cycle with a sCO2 power block, a further 42% reduction in LCOE can be achieved at small scales, even with a simple recuperated cycle. In conclusion, the hybridization with PV and the integration of sCO2 power blocks provide cost benefits despite the temperature limitations imposed by the molten salt. Hybrid PV-CSP plants with sCO2 power blocks prove to be a cost-effective solution for capacity factors exceeding 60%. For lower capacity factors, configurations combining PV with battery energy storage or PV with electric heaters, thermal energy storage, and sCO2 power blocks are preferable options.