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This work presents techno-economic assessment and optimization results for wind power implementation. The results constitute an attempt to provide recommendations on optimal design configurations and operating conditions for future possibilities of installations in Kuwait, where the wind speed is at maximum levels at high altitudes during the early daytime and late nighttime, whereas in the afternoon, the wind speed reaches its maximum at low altitudes. This cyclic behavior indicates that the wind speed and direction change in a predictable pattern, benefiting wind power generation. The techno-economic assessment and optimization are performed for multi-row design configurations of power plants. The selection using an optimal method comes through evaluating 2220 configurations, from which 60 optimal configurations are determined for different variations of the number of rows in the wind power plant (N r) based on the minimization criterion of the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). The optimal configurations have optimal wind power plant layout angle (θ plant). Some of the main findings are as follows:(i) the N r and θ plant values impact the LCOE, wake losses, performance ratio, capacity factor, and annual gross energy. (ii) The wind power density is calculated to be 289 W/m2, (iii) June and July have high levels of generation, wind speed, temperature, and humidity, (iv) there exists an exponential relation between the installed cost per watt and N r. (v) The present value of annual energy, net present value (annual costs), annual energy, and annual gross energy have increasing linear trends as N r increases, and (vi) the optimal configurations require a power purchase agreement price of at least 7.03 cent/kWh to make a positive return on investment. • N r and θ plant impact the LCOE, wake losses, and other performance parameters. • 60 configurations with optimal θ plant based on the minimum LCOE are identified. • Wind shear and power density values are calculated. • June and July have high-level generation, wind speed, temperature, and humidity. • LOESS analyses confirm prevailing wind with a consistent northwest component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Concentrating Solar Power - Parabolic Trough (CSP-PT) technology with dry-cooled condenser system is an alternative option for arid climate locations such as Kuwait. In this work, the performance of various CSP-PT design configurations is evaluated, including 19 configurations that have been reported in the literature as being optimal. These have optimal Solar Multiple (SM) values based on the lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE). Furthermore, an evaluation of CSP-PT with Thermal Energy Storage (TES), including wind power potential, is performed. It is revealed that coinciding peaks of electrical load, solar, and wind resources promote co-generation from CSP-PT/TES and wind power with significant benefits. Also, the wind speed is found to be at maximum levels at high altitudes in the early daytime and late nighttime. Whereas in the afternoon, it reaches maximum values at low altitudes. The calculated wind shear exponent is between 0.14-0.18 and showing a cyclic behavior. Such findings promote mega-scale wind power generation. From the techno-economic assessment, it is concluded that the SM value for optimal CSP-PT/TES configuration increases with an increasing number of full load hours of storage (N h TES). In addition, the N h TES has significant effects on the annual energy generation, capacity factor, and LCOE. However, the impact of N h TES on the annual overall plant efficiency is insignificant. Furthermore, the optimal SM and lowest LCOE values are determined. Also, the periods of 24 h continuous electricity generation from CSP-PT/TES without fossil backup have been identified. • Coinciding peaks of load, solar, and wind resources promote co-generation. • Wind speed increases in early-day/late-night at high altitudes and in afternoon at low altitudes. • α is calculated to be 0.14–0.18 and showing cyclic behavior in the wind resource. • N h TES has maximal effects on E ele , a , CF, and LCOE but minimal effect on η overall. • Periods of 24 h generation from CSP-PT/TES without fossil backup are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluates the concentrating solar power (parabolic trough) technology for electricity generation in Kuwait. The assessment is performed on an existing plant in Spain, and the model is validated using published data. The Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) of Spain exceeds that of Kuwait by a difference of 176.2 kWh/m 2 a , but the overall performance of the Kuwait case exceeds that of Spain. With wet cooling, the Kuwait case performance exceeds that of Spain for the annual overall plant efficiency by 2.9% and the annual efficiency of the Solar Field (SF) by 4.1%. Additionally, the annual net electricity output of the Kuwait case exceeds that of Spain by 14,534 MWh e. With dry cooling, the Kuwait case performance exceeds that of Spain for the annual overall plant efficiency by 1.1% and the annual efficiency of the SF by 3.0%. However, the annual net electricity output of the Spain case exceeds that of Kuwait by only 749.8 MWh e. The better performance of the Kuwait case is due to the DNI impact on the number of full load hours of steam turbine, ambient temperature, wind speed, and SF heat loss/dumped energy. The techno-economic assessment considered numerous design configurations utilizing dry cooling in Kuwait due to the lack of water resources. The solar multiple and the number of full load hours of storage are varied to identify optimal configurations. It is concluded that the optimal solar multiple is at 3.3 corresponding to the lowest LCOE of 15.0663 ¢ / kWh for 16 h of storage. • Design climatic conditions for CSP-PT plants in Kuwait are determined. • Effects of dry and wet cooling options on CSP-PT plant performance are examined. • Number of full load hours of steam turbine, and electricity output are evaluated. • Water consumption, plant efficiency, and SF performance measures are estimated. • Techno-economic parameters for 50 MW CSP-PT plants are calculated and compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]