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The combined cycle plants in 2019 are upswing due to definitive closure of conventional coal-fired power plants. The price increase of a ton of CO2, will close to 25 euros in 2019, could allow to increase their capacity factor above 50%. It has been already achieved a high flexibility imposed by the regulator of the Spanish network and possible hybridizations, in both gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator. Therefore, one step ahead directed to the reduction and treatment of the flow of exhaust gases at the outlet of the boiler during the operation is necessary. An optimization study based on a parametric analysis of this possible reduction has been carried out, with recirculation of the exhaust gases and the treatment of them with amines in a CO2 capture plant, both at the exit of the boiler, using real data base, to study their possible integration within the existing combined cycle. The results obtained are very promising: firstly, with the use a 35% of exhaust gases recirculation + capture plant in existing combined cycle, the efficiency of the gas turbine improves 0.5%. Secondly, the total number of tons of CO2 avoid per year would be around 633 kilotons (based on a capacity factor in 2019 closed to 0.41). Therefore, the saved cost in ton of CO2 for one existing combined cycle could be around 21.4 million of euros/year. This configuration, therefore, decreases the number of trains from 2 (existing combined cycle + capture plant) to 1.36. This decreasing is traduced in costs reduction and due to it an effective technique for pollutant emissions reduction. On the other hand, the new combined cycle will have an efficiency penalty caused by chemical absorption in the capture plant. The crossover requires approximately 30% of the middle/low steam of the turbine to obtaining 90% capture of CO2 with the corresponding penalty of 4 points in the global cycle performance and a reduction of power close to 21% with respect to the existing cycle. All boil down to a conflict of interests between €/Mw lost vs €/ton CO2 avoided. Clearly the rising in capacity factor and flexibility in current combined cycle plants will be decisive in future to elucidate this conflict. The results obtained are totally in contrast with other studies carried out being fully feasible for implementation in existing combined cycles.
David Borge-Diez; David Gómez-Camazón; Enrique Rosales-Asensio. New improvements in existing combined-cycles: Exhaust gases treatment with amines and exhaust gas recirculation. Energy Reports 2020, 6, 73 -84.
AMA StyleDavid Borge-Diez, David Gómez-Camazón, Enrique Rosales-Asensio. New improvements in existing combined-cycles: Exhaust gases treatment with amines and exhaust gas recirculation. Energy Reports. 2020; 6 ():73-84.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavid Borge-Diez; David Gómez-Camazón; Enrique Rosales-Asensio. 2020. "New improvements in existing combined-cycles: Exhaust gases treatment with amines and exhaust gas recirculation." Energy Reports 6, no. : 73-84.
This research reviews the technical requirements of grid-connected photovoltaic power plants to increase their competitiveness and efficiently integrate into the grid to satisfy future demand requirements and grid management challenges, focusing on Spain as a case study. The integration of distributed resources into the electric network, in particular photovoltaic energy, requires an accurate control of the system. The integration of photovoltaic energy has resulted in significant changes to the regulatory framework to ensure proper integration of distributed generation units in the grid. In this study, the requirements of the system operator for the management and smart control are first analysed and then the technical specifications established by the network operator in reference to the components of the facility are evaluated. This analysis identifies the shortcomings of the current legislation and concludes with a summary of the main technical recommendations and future regulatory challenges that need to be undertaken in the future. It is presented as a reference case that can be adapted worldwide.
Antonio Colmenar-Santos; Ana-Rosa Linares-Mena; Enrique-Luis Molina-Ibáñez; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; David Borge-Diez. Technical challenges for the optimum penetration of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: Spain as a case study. Renewable Energy 2019, 145, 2296 -2305.
AMA StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos, Ana-Rosa Linares-Mena, Enrique-Luis Molina-Ibáñez, Enrique Rosales-Asensio, David Borge-Diez. Technical challenges for the optimum penetration of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: Spain as a case study. Renewable Energy. 2019; 145 ():2296-2305.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos; Ana-Rosa Linares-Mena; Enrique-Luis Molina-Ibáñez; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; David Borge-Diez. 2019. "Technical challenges for the optimum penetration of grid-connected photovoltaic systems: Spain as a case study." Renewable Energy 145, no. : 2296-2305.
It results widely common for distribution network operators to impose restrictions on delivered solar photovoltaic generated power when the power plant rated power is greater than the maximum allowed due to the distribution network capacity. Thus, a feasible solution to maximize the performance of the solar power plant is the integration of battery energy storage systems. Although this configuration has been extensively studied in the existing literature, an optimal design method to determine the proper size and operation of the energy storage system needs to be developed. In this paper, a novel method to help power plants designers to determine the optimal battery energy storage capacity to integrate into any solar photovoltaic power plant is provided. The proposed algorithm minimizes the potential power curtailment and optimizes the utilization rate of the batteries storage system. The algorithm can be applied to any grid connected solar photovoltaic power plant under delivery power restrictions, regardless of power capacity and location. The algorithm has been implemented to a simulated power plant with delivery limitations based in a real case, and results with the optimal battery capacity show that the system would be able to recover up to the 83% of the curtailed energy and a yearly average capacity utilization of 56%. Moreover, the BESS operation has been validated with a scaled model run in Simulink and laboratory measurements, achieving 98% of curtailed energy recovery rate and a 57% of average capacity utilization.
Antonio Colmenar-Santos; Mario Monteagudo-Mencucci; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; Miguel de Simón-Martín; Clara Pérez-Molina. Optimized design method for storage systems in photovoltaic plants with delivery limitation. Solar Energy 2019, 180, 468 -488.
AMA StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos, Mario Monteagudo-Mencucci, Enrique Rosales-Asensio, Miguel de Simón-Martín, Clara Pérez-Molina. Optimized design method for storage systems in photovoltaic plants with delivery limitation. Solar Energy. 2019; 180 ():468-488.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos; Mario Monteagudo-Mencucci; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; Miguel de Simón-Martín; Clara Pérez-Molina. 2019. "Optimized design method for storage systems in photovoltaic plants with delivery limitation." Solar Energy 180, no. : 468-488.
This article examines the main market barriers that hamper the introduction of geothermal energy at local, national, and European levels as well as the necessary steps that need to be taken to eradicate them, thus contributing to the general use of this renewable source of energy. The novelty of this study lies in the detailed description of four different scenarios: the European Union (EU), Spain, the Canary Islands, and the agricultural sector for the three types of geothermal energies and their uses: Low-enthalpy or thermal uses, high-enthalpy or electrical uses and renewable energy mix. The results are expected to differ in terms of level of introduction, barriers, and measures to be taken. We have selected Spain within the European context due to its meagre 0.1% geothermal market share in primary demand for renewable energy, and the Canary Islands in particular, given its insular nature. We have likewise picked the agricultural sector due to its underdevelopment as far as renewable energies are concerned, including geothermal energy.
Antonio Colmenar-Santos; Elisabet Palomo-Torrejón; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; David Borge-Diez. Measures to Remove Geothermal Energy Barriers in the European Union. Energies 2018, 11, 3202 .
AMA StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos, Elisabet Palomo-Torrejón, Enrique Rosales-Asensio, David Borge-Diez. Measures to Remove Geothermal Energy Barriers in the European Union. Energies. 2018; 11 (11):3202.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonio Colmenar-Santos; Elisabet Palomo-Torrejón; Enrique Rosales-Asensio; David Borge-Diez. 2018. "Measures to Remove Geothermal Energy Barriers in the European Union." Energies 11, no. 11: 3202.