Power & energy optimization in solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power systems

Abstract

Solar Energy purvey a pure Environment-friendly, ample and everlasting energy resource to humanity. Electricity can be generated using solar energy by two different technologies namely photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. By using thermal energy storage technologies, CSP systems can store energy to generate electric power on cloudy days or overnight as compared to PV systems which results in flexibility in power network. Most important issue in energy market is the competitive cost of energy. Energy price of PV plant is less as compared to CSP plants. Whereas, CSP systems with thermal Energy storage capabilities can be effectively used to overcome intermittency issues of PV systems to balance demand with the supply of Electric power within safe levels of reliability by optimizing the Energy produced. This paper try to figure out the possible ways to optimize power and energy produced by Solar Energy technologies to reduce Carbon footprint. In addition to that, Solar PV and CSP systems are compared at two locations of tropical country India and simulations has been done in System Advisor Model (SAM) and presented graphically.