Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions isplaced by Molten Salt Storage in CSP Plants Compared to Conventional Power Plants

Alexander Schmitt; Vicente Tello; Ivan Muñoz; Carlos Felbol; Catalina Hernández; María Teresa Cerda; Frank Dinter

doi:10.52825/solarpaces.v2i.826

Authors

Alexander Schmitt Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation
Vicente Tello University of Chile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0361-7033
Ivan Muñoz Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation
Carlos Felbol Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0960-6538
Catalina Hernández Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3901-8446
María Teresa Cerda Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0091-1977
Frank Dinter Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5127-3760

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v2i.826

Keywords:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG), Molten Salts, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), CO2eq, Thermal Energy Storage (TES), System Advisor Model (SAM)

Abstract

Molten salts are the most widely used thermal energy storage system in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants, accounting for 50% of the installed capacity. Many studies have conducted life cycle assessments of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions produced within the CSP ecosystem; however, it has not yet been standardized for molten salt storage. This study compares GHG emissions of molten salt storage in CSP with conventional coal and natural gas power plants, to measure the environmental impact they can have in the CSP ecosystem. This was achieved with the use of simulations for 48 operational CSP plants worldwide using the system advisor model with their respective operation conditions. Results show that for the three configurations studied, CSP plants would result in annual 3,99 MMtCO2eq of emissions displaced when compared to a coal power plant and 1,61 MMtCO2eq compared to a natural gas power plant.

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