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For large-scale dissemination of solar thermal power plants, in countries identified with huge potential, governments are offering various incentives. In an attempt towards studying the effectiveness of various incentives in reducing the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) delivered by solar thermal power plants in India, this paper presents simple mathematical frameworks that facilitate the determination of the required level of an incentive so as to ensure that the LCOE is within a pre-specified limit. For example, for a 50 MW solar thermal power plant at Barmer (Rajasthan), LCOE of Rs. 9.75 per kWh can be achieved by providing 6.3% viability gap funding or an interest subsidy of 3% or provision of 32% investment tax credits to the equity investor or provision of production tax credits to the equity investor at the rate of Rs. 0.81 per kWh for first 10 years of operation of a plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sizing of a solar thermal power plant directly affects its cost and also the annual electricity output and hence its financial attractiveness. It involves deciding appropriate values of design DNI, solar multiple and hours of thermal storage to achieve high annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) with the least cost of electricity delivered. An analysis of the impact of these design parameters on the performance of parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) and linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) based solar thermal power plants is presented using System Advisor Model for eight locations in India. Annual electricity output is estimated using radiation data source of SEC-NREL. Levelized unit cost of electricity (LUCE) is estimated using benchmark capital cost and other financial conditions specified by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of Government of India. For a design DNI of 950 W/m 2 , LUCE is minimum in solar multiple range of 1.4–1.6 for PTC based plants and of 1.8–2.0 for LFR based plants. With a solar multiple of 1.0, LUCE is minimum in design DNI range of 550–700 W/m 2 for PTC based plants and 450–550 W/m 2 for LFR based plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realistic assessment of utilization potential of solar energy for thermal power generation and identification of niche areas/locations for this purpose is critically important for designing and implementing appropriate policies and promotional measures. This paper presents the results of a detailed analysis undertaken for estimating the potential of solar thermal power generation in India. A comprehensive framework is developed that takes into account (i) the availability of wastelands (ii) Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) (iii) wastelands that are habitat to endangered species and/or tribal population and/or that is prone to earthquakes and (iv) suitability of wasteland for wind power generation. Finally, using an approach developed for the allocation of wastelands suitable for solar power generation between thermal and photovoltaic routes, the potential of solar thermal power generation is assessed for two threshold values of DNI – 1800 kW h/m 2 and 2000 kW h/m 2 . With all the wastelands having wind speeds of 4 m/s or more allocated for wind power generation, the estimated potential for solar thermal power generation is 756 GW for a threshold DNI value of 1800 kW h/m 2 and 229 GW for a threshold DNI value of 2000 kW h/m 2 . Results obtained can be used for identification of best suited areas for solar thermal power generation in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]