Industrial energy accounts for a large percentage of global consumption and, thus, it is a target for decarbonization by renewable and in particular solar energy adoption. Low uncertainty simulation tools can reduce the financial risk of solar projects, fostering the transition to a sustainable energy system. Several simulation tools are readily available to developers; differences exist in the format of input data and complexity of physical and numerical models. These tools can provide a variety of results from technical to financial and sensitivity analysis, often producing significant differences in yield assessment and uncertainty levels. IEA SHC Task 64/SolarPACES Task IV—Subtask C aims to address the lack of standard simulation tools for Solar Heating of Industrial Processes (SHIP) plants. This article describes the collaborative work developed by the researchers participating in the task. The identification and classification of several currently available simulation tools are performed on the basis of their capabilities and simulation approaches. A case study of solar heat supply to a copper mining operation is defined, allowing a comparison of the results produced by equivalent simulation tools. The proposed methodology identifies the main sources of differences among the simulation tools, the assessment of the deviation considering a series of statistical metrics for different time scales, and identifies their limitations and bias. The effects of physical characteristics of SHIP plants and different simulation approaches are discussed and quantified. The obtained results allow us to develop a basic guideline for a standardized yield assessment procedure with known uncertainties. Creating this common framework could partially reduce the risk perceived by the finance industry regarding SHIP systems.

The world is undergoing an energy transformation, from a system based on fossil fuels to a system based on renewable energy, in order to reach the Paris Agreement target. Chile is no exception, and through the Asociación de Concentración Solar de Potencia (ACSP) has generated a new cost structure for tower-based Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology in the framework of the Long-Term Energy Plan, which updates the costs reported in previous studies. The changes experienced in this cost structure make it necessary to study the impact of this cost structure on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). This work develops simulations of CSP tower plants analyzing their generation and the LCOE based on the new cost structure mentioned, for the north of Chile between the Arica and Parinacota region and the Coquimbo region. The most relevant results show a significant reduction in the LCOE, compared to studies from 2020, reaching a minimum LCOE value of 52,6 USD/MWh. On the other hand, the impact on the net social benefit of including the green tax to the merit order of each of the generating plants that make up the electric park until 2021 is studied, which yields a negative impact under current legislation.

Chile, a global leader in copper production, faces increasing energy demands in its mining sector, particularly in the northern regions, where the country’s major mining operations are located alongside its vast solar potential. Reliable and continuous power supply is critical for these operations. In alignment with the country’s ambitious target to decarbonize its energy sector by 2050, innovative renewable energy solutions are required. This study examines the design and feasibility of a hybrid Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) system, intended to deliver 150 MW of base-load electricity to a mining operation near La Serena, Chile. The proposed system integrates a parabolic trough CSP plant with molten salt thermal storage and a bifacial PV array equipped with 1-axis tracking. A custom simulation model based on PySAM is used to assess the technical and economic performance of the hybrid system, focusing on the use of HELISOL XLP® as the heat transfer fluid in the CSP component. The results demonstrate that the hybrid system achieves a 70% capacity factor and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 84.39 USD/MWh, outperforming standalone CSP plants. Furthermore, the hybrid configuration enhances energy dispatch efficiency and reduces the overall LCOE, positioning it as a competitive solution for meeting industrial energy demands in Chile. The findings underscore the potential of hybrid CSP-PV systems to significantly lower energy costs while ensuring a stable power supply. This study contributes to Chile's renewable energy transition and provides valuable insights into the role of hybrid systems in supporting the decarbonization of energy-intensive industries, offering a scalable model for global applications and for further optimization and cost reduction of this kind of energy supply.

This study investigates the technical and economic impacts of self-dispatch strategies on Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants in Chile’s spot electricity market. The PySAM simulation tool was used to model three dispatch scenarios—Marginal Cost-Responsive Dispatch, Daytime Mandated Dispatch, and Continuous Base Load Dispatch—to assess their effects on energy production, load factors, and financial outcomes at the Crucero and Cardones substations. The findings indicate that the Marginal Cost-Responsive Dispatch strategy optimizes revenue by aligning energy generation with periods of higher market prices. This strategy mitigates the adverse financial impacts of zero-marginal-cost periods, which undermine the viability of more rigid approaches like Daytime Mandated Dispatch. Economic analysis shows that only the Marginal Cost-Responsive Dispatch consistently covers annualized capital expenditures (CAPEX), particularly at lower CAPEX levels. In contrast, the alternative scenarios fail to achieve financial sustainability due to forced generation during low-value periods. Consequently, these results underscore the crucial role of dispatch flexibility in enhancing the economic performance of CSP plants. The study suggests that market regulations should be revised to encourage strategies that enable CSP plants to dynamically respond to market conditions, supporting the broader integration of CSP technology into Chile’s energy market. Such adjustments are crucial for advancing the country’s decarbonization goals. Future research should focus on further developing advanced self-dispatch algorithms and hybrid CSP systems to optimize economic outcomes in increasingly dynamic market environments.