Assessment of electrical power generation in various regions of Nepal through solar organic Rankine cycle technology

Abstract

The utilization of solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology in Nepal shows promise due to its ample solar radiation. This technology should be harnessed for the purpose of generating solar energy. The academic version of engineering equation solver was used to develop simulation models, which predict the potential of solar ORC power generation across the country. The study is limited to areas with solar irradiance of 5.5 kWh/m²/day and excludes certain regions. The installation of the plant requires open land with access to water, and a 10 km² land area was considered for the solar collector. The working fluids for the solar ORC plant are R245fa, R11, and R123. The simulation results showed a maximum overall system efficiency of 6.8%. The power output for various districts was also simulated, with Jumla having the highest power output, followed by Baitadi and Surkhet. The power output for different temperatures (90–120°C) using R245fa as the working fluid was 270, 320, 350, and 380 MW. Additionally, the study determined the cost of electricity production for the system with working fluids. The cost of electricity production was found to be 164.11$/MWh, and the levelized cost of electricity ranged from 220–265$/MWh. The payback period for the investment varies from 18 to 12 years with an internal rate of return of over 10%. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to ascertain the feasible investment strategies for the solar ORC system. Therefore, the study concludes that a solar ORC plant is technically feasible in Nepal for electrical power generation, with promising potential for clean energy generation.