Exploring the performance of an innovative integrated solar tower power plant with hydrogen generation and storage

Abstract

This study examines the incorporation of solar tower technology with a Solid Oxide Fuel cell, and a steam turbine to produce power from solar energy. The various subsystems are combined to accomplish high overall energy efficiency, provide steady operation, as well as decrease rate of exergy destruction. In order to ensure a continuous operation, power is produced during the discharge cycle by the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), utilizing the hydrogen produced by the Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC). The energetic and exergetic analyses, as well as the exergoeconomic technique, are applied to evaluate the system's performance indexes. Simulation is conducted for Yazd, Iran, utilizing the maximum solar irradiation. The exergy and economic results of the suggested system demonstrate that the solar tower has the most considerable exergy destruction rate as well as capital investment cost, which is 296.4 MW and 2515$/h, respectively. As a result, this examined work is computed to have 12.73% energy efficiency and 13.39% exergy efficiency. (c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.