Optimal Thermal Energy Storage Configuration Model for CSP Units

Concentrating solar power (CSP) generation provides a new way to exploit solar energy. Its thermal energy storage (TES) can improve the output flexibility of CSP greatly and mitigate the peak load regulation problem brought by renewable energy. The proper configuration of TES capacity can promote the efficient utilization of CSP resource as well as lower the general cost. This paper proposes a TES capacity configuration model which can work out an optimal configuration scheme of TES capacity as well as generation schedule. It can reflect the actual role TES plays in electricity transfer and takes the influence of different load scales and illumination conditions into consideration which ensures its optimality and generality over a relatively long time scale. The case studies proved the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed method. It can provide an effective tool for TES capacity configuration of CSP units as well as generation expansion of systems containing CSP.