A dynamic model of a pure-solar combined cycle power plant has been developed in order to allow determination of the thermodynamic and economic performance of the plant for a variety of operating conditions and superstructure layouts. The model was then used for multi-objective thermo-economic optimisation of both the power plant performance and cost, using a population-based algorithm. In order to examine the trade-offs that must be made, two, conflicting, objectives will be considered, namely minimal investment costs and minimal levelised energy costs. It was shown that efficiencies lie in the region of 18-24% accompanied by levelised electricity costs in the region of 12-24 UScts/kWhe.
QC 20150423