Measuring the opportunity: The value of CSP’s load following and dispatchability

Mark Mehos

Group Manager, Thermal Systems R&D

Program Manager, CSP NREL

World Bank MENA KIP Workshop, Dubai

CSP Markets, System Value & Financing

February 26-28, 2018

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• CSP with dispatchable thermal energy storage provides multiple benefits to regional grid systems.

• NREL has attempted to quantify this value within U.S. markets (U.S. Western Interconnect).

• Values include:

o Operational (fuel, carbon, system O&M)

o Capacity

o System inertia

o System flexibility

Discussion

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California Grid Analysis – Operation, Capacity, and Total

System Values

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Marginal curtailment of solar assuming equal energy mix of PV and CSP and additional CSP grid flexibility

Low curtailment at 30% solar penetration

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At 100ms after PV trip pref for all CSP units is increased by 5%

CSP for Primary Frequency Response

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Reports available at https://www.nrel.gov/research/publications.html

Authors:• Paul Denholm• Jennie Jorgenson• Mark Mehos

Key Words• Concentrating Solar Power

Quantifying the Benefits of CSP with Thermal Energy Storage

Thank you!

For more information:http://www.nrel.gov/csp/

Mark MehosUSA 303-384-7458mark.mehos@nrel.gov