Design, optimization and feasibility study of parabolic trough solar thermal power plant with integrated thermal energy storage and backup system for Algerian conditions

The question of the increasing in energy demand and environmental protection has committed the Algerian government to launch the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency program, this program is based mainly on developing Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants. Parabolic trough solar thermal power plant (PTSTPP) is considered as one of most proven CSP technologies to produce electricity. In the present study, we are interested in: (i) evaluate the design, yield, investment cost as well as the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a parabolic trough solar thermal power plant with integrated thermal energy storage (TES) and backup system (BS). (ii) The optimization of the plant, (iii) and the feasibility of the optimized plant for eight different Algerian locations with semi-arid and arid climates are performed. In general, it was found that the semi arid and arid Algerian sites are suitable for realization of PTSTPP with integrated TES and BS especially for southern locations.