Performance and economics of a solar thermal power generation plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia: Parabolic trough collector

Abstract

The study explores the technical and economic feasibility of a thermal solar power generation plant using parabolic trough collectors (Euro Trough) in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. Total annual available solar radiation is calculated at 1,970 kWhr. The size of the proposed solar thermal power plant is 50 MW. The designed solar field is composed of 100 loops with a total footprint area at 0.864 km2, where each loop contains four solar collectors of ET150 Euro trough type. Heat transfer fluid flows in the collector field absorbers and exchanges heat in steam generator, which passes produced steam to Rankine cycle steam turbine for power generation. The study predicts total annual power generation capacity at 86.5 GWhr with capacity factor at 39% and an overall efficiency at 23.2%. The levelized cost of electricity is predicted at $0.107/kWhr, which is three times higher than the heavily subsidized electricity cost in Saudi Arabia.