A techno economic feasibility analysis of Concentrated Solar Thermal power plants as a dispatchable resources of Pakistan A case study of Tharparkar

Project Title

A techno economic feasibility analysis of Concentrated Solar Thermal power plants as a dispatchable resources of Pakistan A case study of Tharparkar

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Pakistan is identified to be the one of next-11 top emerging economies of the world after the BRICS. This emphasis for establishing a competitive electricity market that can fulfil the demand of country considering the environmental concerns. In this scenario reliability of power is something that cannot be comprised. Dispatchable power stations play a major role in balancing supply and demand. This balance is essential for maintaining the fixed frequency of alternating current and for avoiding blackouts; All dispatchable power stations incorporate some form of storage, whether it be electrical, thermal, mechanical or chemical (i.e. a stored fuel). Pakistan is facing electricity crisis for over a decade despite enormous renewable energy resources particularly hydro, solar, wind and biomass. By 2030 Pakistan is planned to fulfil 30% of its electricity requirement from renewables other than hydro that be more than 25,000MW. Greater emergence of solar PV and wind simply means greater exposure to intermittency. Pakistan seeks an emergence of an environment friendly technology that can fulfil its energy requirement with no or very low intermittency at low generation cost. Earlier dispatchable power was regarded as the generation which can start quickly and meet the peak demand requirements but arrival of renewables in power system has increased worth of its presence since it has just not to supply peak demand but also meet during the unavailability of renewable energy source because of its intermittent behaviour. This study would consider several characteristics i.e., Availability of fuel, Levelized cost of electricity, flexibility in technology, environmental impacts of different potential dispatchable power generation resources of Pakistan, will develop a simulation model using System Advisor Model and would recommend the viability of Concentrated Solar Power in the country and suitability of Tharparkar for deployment of solar power.

Project Objectives

This research aims at analyzing Concentrated solar thermal technology as techno-economically viable dispatchable resource of electricity in Pakistan. The objectives of this research study are as follows:

• To thoroughly analyze technical feasibility of Concentrated Solar Thermal (CSP) power plants in Pakistan
• To compare CSP plants as dispatchable renewable energy resource for the country
• To determine and evaluate Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of CSP and other dispatchable power source
• To develop a feasibility report with simulation model System Advisor Model for the cite of Mithi, Tharparkar

Project Implementation Method

This study is to attempt the different technologies of Concentrated Solar Thermal (CSP) Plants in area of Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan. It is taken under consideration for measuring the feasibility level for the potential of CSP in Pakistan. The site is roughly selected as it is hugely blessed with direct solar irradiation. System Advisor Model (SAM) is used for developing techno economic model. Area identified for research has major meteorological conditions almost comparative to that of Rajasthan in India where CSP plant is successfully operating.

As research aims to study the feasibility of CSP as future dispatchable resource so Thermal Energy storage is considered very precisely. Along with developing tentative financial model, research aims to study the adequate availability of water, transportation, transmission lines, and communication channels. Research also objects to study overall environmental and socioeconomic impact assessment. And following framework is set to be followed.

Benefits of the Project

Final deliverable is going to be detailed feasibility report which would be helpful in suggesting the potential of Pakistan for the implementation of the technology by providing quantitative details of possible control over emissions and saving of foreign exchange. Final work would also tentatively provide Levelized Cost of energy for Solar Thermal Plants as well as would also discuss levelized social cost of Electricity along with other comparison with other technologies. This study would encourage more research on the technology and would also try to address the two major challenges in the implementation of Concentrated Solar Thermal plants on the cite of Tharparkar: Scarcity of water and soiling of mirrors.

This project would elaborate following benefits of the technology.

Relaxation in the dependency on imported oil: The implementation of this project could result in the reduction of import of oil, this may lead our energy market to be much more stable and quite less sensitive to the global fluctuating oil market.

Saving of Foreign Exchange Reserves: Mineral Fuel, Oil and Distillation Products are major import with a massive share of 29% of total imports. Thus a game changing phenomenon will come into play and would keep our annual fiscal balance far away from the trade deficit in the short term and from the debt in the long term.

Clean & Green Environment: Electricity has a share of 28% in overall CO2 emissions. This technology can bring considerable resistant to these emissions.

Socioeconomic uplift of the Area: Arid regions of the country in general and Tharparkar in particular has very low human development index of 0.227 being one of the most deprived area of the country. Commercialization of technologies in such areas would help People to raise their socio-economic status.  

Step towards Achieving Sustainable Goals 2030: Commercialization of this technology in Pakistan would directly help the country to give a share in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDGs 7,8 and 9 and 12.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

From Solar technologies, Photovoltaics (PV) has already been commercialized and gives a major share in today’s world energy requirement however Concentrated solar thermal has yet to go through the learning curve and seems to be a major contributor as a baseload and dispatchable resource in energy mix generation of future. CSP is growing as a very mature technology; this can be realized from the fact that India, China, and Iran, three out of four neighbor countries of Pakistan have already adopted its commercialization

Site selection was a very crucial task and Tharparkar has got many benefits over other areas. Few major are as follows:

1. Meteorological Conditions

This area receives adequate Direct Normal irradiance DNI throughout the year typically greater than 1650kWh/m2 annually. Since the region is very dry so its relative humidity is quite low.

1. Availability of Land

1. Tharparkar is district of least population density in the province of Sindh.
2. Easy available and barren land

Tharparkar is the largest district of Sindh spread over an area of 19388.59 km2. According to the last Agriculture Census of Sindh in 2010, 464241 acres of farms in district Tharparkar is uncultivated.

1. Accessibility of Transmission lines

There is a 247 kilometer 500kV(kilovolts) Thar to Matiari transmission line. From Matiari to Lahore there is further ±660 kV HVDC Line of approximately 886 km[14].

1. Adequate Road and Communication Network

A proper road and communication network is available because of the mega Thar coal project. Each part of the district is connected with every other part and with outside through a wide interconnected road network of more than 1600 kilometers, and several other road projects are under consideration.

Final Deliverable would include other meterological and required financial details required for complete feasibility.

Final Deliverable of the Project Software SystemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology Clean TechOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	52090
Book: CSP Technologies Recent Trends	Equipment	1	30272	30272
Book: Powerplant design with two CST powers	Equipment	1	11618	11618
Book: Feasibility Study of Solar Powerplant	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Transport	Miscellaneous	2	3500	7000
Print	Miscellaneous	6	200	1200