Direct Molten Salt Linear receiver CSP-concepts with MS-TES compared with Direct Steam Generation Linear receiver CSP-concepts with solid bed TES

The use of molten salt in line focusing systems is under investigation by several CSP market players along the supply chain of a typical CSP-plant. In this paper, an economical analysis is performed, in order to compare the DMS system with a DSG-system with solid bed thermal storage and a classical parabolic trough system using thermal oil and a molten-salt storage system. The resulting LCOE values are further analyzed with a sensitivity analysis and further technical and operational optimization. As results, the economical values for the DMS show a good potential. The DSG-system with solid bed as thermal storage offers also a high and promising potential to achieve even clear lower LCOE-values, with very stable LCOE-level with regard to the sensitivity analysis. As one outcome of this study, the LCOE values for the DMS and the DSG-system are in any case lower compared to current state of the art solutions. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.