open access publication

Article, 2024

Retrofit of a coal-fired power plant with a rock bed thermal energy storage

Journal of Energy Storage, ISSN 2352-152X, 2352-1538, Volume 75, Page 109238, 10.1016/j.est.2023.109238

Contributors

Serrano, María Isabel Roldán [1] Knobloch, Kai 0000-0003-1682-906X (Corresponding author) [2] Giuliano, Stefano [1] Engelbrecht, Kurt Luther 0000-0002-3713-9415 [2] Hirsch, Tobias 0000-0003-0063-0128 [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] German Aerospace Center
    2. [NORA names: Germany; Europe, EU; OECD];
  2. [2] Technical University of Denmark
    3. [NORA names: DTU Technical University of Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

Power production accounts for about one-fifth of the global final energy consumption and over one-third of all energy-related CO 2 emissions. Low-cost, large-scale thermal energy storages are considered as solutions for the decarbonization of fossil-fired power plants by their conversion into power-to-heat-to-power systems, so-called thermal storage power plants. This paper investigates the retrofit of a Chilean coal-fired power plant with an innovative solid media storage from a techno-economic perspective. Selecting a storage capacity of 5.27 GWh th , corresponding to 8 h of discharge, and increasing the inlet steam generator temperature from 590 to 650 °C lead to the highest annual round-trip efficiency of 34.9% and to up to 3.4% lower levelized cost of electricity. Minimum levelized cost of electricity as low as 88.1 €/MWh is attained and considered as close to competitiveness with well-established molten salt storage systems. A sensitivity analysis shows that assuming even five times lower storage costs, initially the strongest driver of capital expenditure, only meant 4% lower levelized costs of electricity on average. On the other hand, the design of electricity purchase for charging, for example with green power purchase agreements, turns out to be the key lever to a successful implementation.

Keywords

CO 2 emissions, GWh, agreement, analysis, average, capacity, capital, capital expenditure, coal-fired power plants, competition, consumption, conversion, cost, cost of electricity, decarbonization, design, discharge, efficiency, electricity, electricity purchase, energy consumption, energy storage, energy-related CO 2 emissions, expenditure, final energy consumption, generator temperature, global final energy consumption, implementation, inlet, large-scale thermal energy storage, lever, low cost, lower levelized cost, lower levelized cost of electricity, media storage, minimum, minimum levelized cost, minimum levelized cost of electricity, molten salt storage system, perspective, plants, power, power plants, power production, power purchase agreements, production, purchase, purchase agreement, retrofit, rocks, round-trip efficiency, sensitivity, sensitivity analysis, solution, steam generation temperature, storage, storage capacity, storage cost, storage power plants, storage system, system, techno-economic perspective, temperature, thermal energy storage

Funders

  • Danish Energy Agency

Data Provider: Digital Science

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