Hybridization of Concentrated Solar Power With Wind and PV to Meet the Self-Consumption Requirements

This paper explores the hybridization of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants with wind and photovoltaic (PV) technologies to meet self-consumption demands in two distinct locations: Calama (Chile) and San José del Valle (Spain). We evaluate various hybrid configurations under two primary scenarios: one where excess energy cannot be utilized or fed into the grid, and another where electric heaters are used to transfer excess energy to thermal storage systems. Our findings reveal that hybrid plants significantly reduce the LCOE and increase the Capacity Factor (CF) compared to standalone CSP plants, with optimal configurations varying by location due to differences in climatic conditions. In Calama, wind energy plays a crucial role, whereas in San José del Valle, a combination of PV and wind is more effective. Additionally, the use of electric heaters to store surplus energy enhances system efficiency. This study underscores the viability and efficiency of hybrid CSP plants, especially when adapting to regional climatic and geographic characteristics, providing a compelling case for their implementation in diverse locations.