Development of CSP plants in Wallacea region: solar intensity resource assessment and CSP plant design specification

Wallacea region is a significant location for doing research on biodiversity and geology. However, many places in the region still have problems of electricity availability. To balance between MDG and natural resources conservation, providing electricity based on green renewable energy is welcomed. The aim of this paper is to report preliminary assessment of solar thermal energy potential in the region and to provide design specification of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. Firstly, resource assessment is described based on sun spot number, latitude and rain fall analysis. Secondly, CSP plants design specification is derived including power capacity, structure as well as solar tracking control system. From the work reported in this paper it is concluded that a CSP plant is feasible to be built at Nusa Tenggara Timur (NIT) which has specification as follows: power capacity of 100 kW, capacity factor of 19.2%, and annual solar power to electric efficiency of 10%. Such a plant can be realized using CSP panel area of 1,250 m(2) and it will produce annual electric energy of 168.36MWh. Furthermore, the prototype of CSP plant developed by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) may be deployed in the region after conducting improvement in power efficiency and the reliability of its solar tracking control system (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.