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Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant
Gardiner, B. W. 2025. Design and Optimisation of a Modular Photovoltaic – Concentrating Solar Power Hybrid Plant. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/8531e11b-d1db-4b0b-8805-dd69a3679108
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613942992338944 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gardiner, Benjamin William |
| author2 | McGregor, Craig |
| author_browse | Gardiner, Benjamin William McGregor, Craig |
| author_facet | McGregor, Craig Gardiner, Benjamin William |
| author_sort | Gardiner, Benjamin William |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Gardiner, B. W. 2025. Design and Optimisation of a Modular
Photovoltaic – Concentrating Solar Power Hybrid Plant. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/8531e11b-d1db-4b0b-8805-dd69a3679108 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132381 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:09.875Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132381 Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant Gardiner, Benjamin William McGregor, Craig Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Photovoltaic power systems Hybrid power systems Energy storage -- Equipment and supplies UCTD Gardiner, B. W. 2025. Design and Optimisation of a Modular Photovoltaic – Concentrating Solar Power Hybrid Plant. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/8531e11b-d1db-4b0b-8805-dd69a3679108 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies in a hybrid plant is a potential solution to some challenges faced by standalone PV systems. While PV technology is cost-effective, its output is limited to sunlight hours and is variable. Installing additional PV capacity without mitigating this variability can result in several drawbacks such as curtailment, diminishing returns, and the “duck-curve” phenomenon. To address this variability challenge, one approach is to store generated PV electricity in a battery energy storage system (BESS); however, these are expensive in large-scale utility projects. Alternatively, a PV system can be combined with a flexible power generation system, such as CSP technology, that can generate power as PV output diminishes. However, two primary challenges of establishing a CSP system is the long construction time and significant upfront capital required. These challenges could be mitigated by utilising a modular plant layout. This approach involves integrating several smaller-scale systems to collectively achieve the same capacity as a single, large-scale system. Therefore, this study investigates the design and optimisation of a hybrid plant comprising an array of 30MWe PV-CSP modules. Additionally, gas-fired systems are incorporated to provide backup power and ensure firm power generation. Each module integrates a PV system, a power tower CSP with thermal energy storage, and a gas-fired system for backup power. This configuration leverages the benefits of both PV and CSP technologies while the modular approach addresses the challenges associated with large-scale CSP systems, such as high upfront costs and lengthy construction periods. Based on performance and cost data, it was unclear whether gas-fired internal combustion engines (ICEs) or steam boilers were more cost effective as the gas-fired component. Hence, two module configurations were investigated: PV-CSP-ICE and PV-CSP-Boiler. A Python-based application was developed to integrate existing models with custom computational models to simulate each module configuration using hourly time series data over a full year to generate economic and performance metrics. Moreover, a Python-based financial model was developed to evaluate the financial performance of each configuration over its economic life. The PV-CSP-Boiler module configuration is more cost-effective than the PV-CSP-ICE configuration, primarily attributed the boiler system’s lower installation cost. To investigate the possible economic benefits of a modular plant layout, a single 120MWe plant was compared with a plant comprising 4 x 30Mwe modules. Both layouts incorporate the PV-CSP-Boiler configuration and generate approximately 1023GWhe annually once all components are constructed. Despite the earlier revenue generation of the modular layout, the large-scale plant demonstrates better economic performance across all investigated metrics. This is primarily attributed to the modular plant’s 9% higher levelised cost of electricity (LCOE). Based on the modular approach’s additional advantages, such as less susceptibility to single points of failure and greater flexibility in plant capacity, a more comprehensive financial and economic analysis is necessary to determine which option is the better investment for a given application. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie uitdagings kan versag word deur ‘n modulêre aanleguitleg te gebruik. Hierdie benadering behels die integrasie van verskeie kleinerskaalse stelsels om gesamentlik dieselfde kapasiteit as ‘n enkele, grootskaalse stelsel te bereik. Daarom ondersoek hierdie studie die ontwerp en optimering van ‘n hibriedaanleg bestaande uit ‘n reeks 30MWe fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag modules. Daarbenewens word gasaangedrewe stelsels geïnkorporeer om rugsteunkrag te verskaf en vaste kragopwekking te verseker. Elke module integreer ‘n fotovoltaïese-stelsel, ‘n kragtoring-gekonsentreerde sonkrag met termiese energieberging, en ‘n gasaangedrewe stelsel vir rugsteunkrag. Hierdie konfigurasie benut die voordele van beide fotovoltaïeseen gekonsentreerde sonkrag-tegnologieë terwyl die modulêre benadering die uitdagings wat verband hou met grootskaalse gekonsentreerde sonkrag-stelsels, soos hoë aanvangskoste en lang konstruksieperiodes, aanspreek. Gebaseer op prestasie- en kostedata, was dit onduidelik of gasaangedrewe interne verbrandingsenjins of stoomketels meer koste-effektief was as die gasaangedrewe komponent. Dus is twee modulekonfigurasies ondersoek: fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag-Interne verbrandingsenjin en fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag-Ketel. ‘n Python-gebaseerde toepassing is ontwikkel om bestaande modelle met pasgemaakte berekeningsmodelle te integreer om elke modulekonfigurasie te simuleer met behulp van uurlikse tydreeksdata oor ‘n volle jaar om ekonomiese en prestasiemaatstawwe te genereer. Daarbenewens is ‘n Python-gebaseerde finansiële model ontwikkel om die finansiële prestasie van elke konfigurasie oor sy ekonomiese lewe te evalueer. Die fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag-Ketel modulekonfigurasie is meer koste-effektief as die fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag-Interne verbrandingsenjins konfigurasie, hoofsaaklik toegeskryf aan die ketelstelsel se laer installeringskoste. Om die moontlike ekonomiese voordele van ‘n modulêre aanleguitleg te ondersoek, is ‘n enkele 120MWe aanleg vergelyk met ‘n aanleg bestaande uit 4x30MWe modules. Beide uitlegte inkorporeer die fotovoltaïese-gekonsentreerde sonkrag-Ketel konfigurasie en genereer ongeveer 1023GWhe jaarliks sodra die konstruksie van alle komponente voltooi is. Ten spyte van die vroeër inkomstegenerering van die modulêre uitleg, toon die grootskaalse aanleg beter ekonomiese prestasie oor alle ondersoekte maatstawwe. Dit word hoofsaaklik toegeskryf aan die modulêre aanleg se 9% hoër genivelleerde koste van energie. Gebaseer op die modulêre benadering se addisionele voordele, soos minder vatbaarheid vir enkele faalpunte en groter aanpasbaarheid in aanlegkapasiteit, is ‘n meer omvattende finansiële en ekonomiese analise nodig om te bepaal watter opsie die beter belegging vir ‘n gegewe toepassing is. Masters 2025-06-05T09:46:39Z 2025-06-05T09:46:39Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132381 Stellenbosch University xix, 129 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Photovoltaic power systems Hybrid power systems Energy storage -- Equipment and supplies UCTD Gardiner, Benjamin William Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title | Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title_full | Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title_fullStr | Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title_short | Design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic – concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| title_sort | design and optimisation of a modular photovoltaic concentrating solar power hybrid plant |
| topic | Photovoltaic power systems Hybrid power systems Energy storage -- Equipment and supplies UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132381 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gardinerbenjaminwilliam designandoptimisationofamodularphotovoltaicconcentratingsolarpowerhybridplant |