Market-acceptable cost for a hybrid solar linear concentrator in India—A sensitivity study

ABSTRACT

A hybrid solar linear concentrator (HSLC) based on photovoltaic linear concentrator technology is capable of delivering both electricity and hot water for satisfying urban energy needs. The net output of such a system plays a major role in determining the benefit to cost ratio of such a system. Different approaches were tried in this article to consider the thermal energy in equivalent electrical energy terms to determine the net output of the system under select meteorological conditions. A sensitivity-based study is conducted based on these approaches considering the maintenance cost, payback, net present values and benefit to cost ratios. The capital cost of the system at Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000 yielded a benefit to cost ratio of 1.79 to 3, respectively whereas the same cost structures had an internal rate of return of 10.4% and 5.2%, respectively. When compared to the actual market price of the HSLC system, carbon credits earned during the lifetime operation of the HSLC system were useful for the mitigation of the high investment costs.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbon credits
• combined heat and power
• concentrator photovoltaics
• photovoltaic thermal technology
• sensitivity analysis

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), from the Australian Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST).