ABSTRACT
Concentrated solar energy-driven multi-generation systems are also suitable for decentralized installations. Integrated systems powered by concentrated solar energy and biomass energy make up a promising option. The conventional steam Rankine cycle is widely used in commercial concentrated solar power plants. The duration and intensity of the solar irradiation affect the performance, capacity factor, and economic viability of the system significantly. The sizing and configuration of the system also depend on the solar irradiation. Concentrated solar collector type and size and thermal energy storage type and size need to be carefully selected, as both these systems have major shares in the capital cost of the complete system. The use of thermal energy storage facilitates delivery of the utilities according to the need by absorbing the variations due to fluctuations in the solar irradiation. Concentrated solar collector powered medium-scale dispatchable multi-generation energy systems with thermal energy storage are typically more costly than fossil fuel based and biomass based systems.
