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2018
Conference Paper
Titel
Combining concentrating solar power with multiple effect distillation at inland locations - An economically viable option for Northern Chile?
Abstract
In several previous studies only coastal locations are considered to be suitable for concentrating solar thermal power plants integrated with multiple effect distillation (CSP+MED), even though inland locations provide a better solar resource. The presented paper presents the concept of pumping seawater to inland locations for desalination by means of CSP+MED plants. For selected locations in Northern Chile it is shown that solar resource and altitude are the two most important factors for the identification of suitable locations for CSP+MED cogeneration plants. A substantially higher solar resource at inland locations can compensate the effect of increasing altitude on pumping power. For the case study it could be shown that inland CSP+MED plants are economically viable in Northern Chile. For locations in the Antofagasta region with high annual DNI sum up to 2,600 kWh/(m²a) plants located 90 km away from the coast are preferable, in the Copiapó region with moderate annual DNI sums of around 2,000 kWh/(m²a) plants located 15 to 30 km away from the coast provide the best economic performance.