COMPETITIVE SOLAR THERMAL POWER STATIONS UNTIL 2010 - THE CHALLENGE OF MARKET INTRODUCTION (1998)

This report was arranged by Franz Trieb, from the German Aerospace Center in 1998. The report looks into an alterative option for the world’s electricity market. Solar thermal power stations based on parabolic trough concentrating collectors could serve as a viable competitor.

In order to make this plan appealing to investors, it must possess three important attributes which are an acceptable technology, profit, and financial risk.

Solar thermal power stations have proven to be a good investment. Presently, the stations don’t retain as high as a profit as do fossil fuels. They are the closest competitor out of any other solar technology.

In a span of 10 years, cost-reduction will be down 50 per cent and electricity costs will be less than 0.06 US$kWh for hybrid system cycles and less than 0.038 US$kWh for hybrid combined cycles.

The program that is going to help launch these solar thermal power stations is called SYNTHESIS. It will require a total investment of $16 billion, as well as an additional 6 per cent start-up funding. Most of the investment amount including the start-up funding will be handled by private finance.

Author : Franz Trieb

Date of publication : 1998

Pages : 5

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