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A worldwide assessment of economic feasibility of HCPV power plants: Profitability and competitiveness

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  • Talavera, D.L.
  • Pérez-Higueras, P.
  • Almonacid, F.
  • Fernández, E.F.

Abstract

Numerous exhaustive analyses of the economic assessment of conventional PV systems are available in the literature. However, there is a lack of these studies concerning High Concentrator Photovoltaic (HCPV) technology. Besides, future owners and potential investors on HCPV plant demand information relating to the economic feasibility of their investment. In this work the profitability and competitiveness of HCPV plants in several countries are analysed. To analyse the profitability the internal rate of return (IRR) criterion has been used, while the competitiveness has been analysed based on estimating the so-called HCPV generation parity. As a result of the economic profitability analysis conducted the group of countries where the investment in HCPV could be interesting has been identified. The results obtained could be also useful for researchers to identify the weaknesses of the HCPV technology and take actions at making it more competitive. From the competitiveness analysis carried out in several Eurozone countries and USA for two possible scenarios 2015 and 2020, the results show that HCPV could be competitive in some locations in 2020. Therefore, government organizations of the studied countries, which participate in the design or the selection of support mechanisms for HCPV, can be guided by the results obtained.

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  • Talavera, D.L. & Pérez-Higueras, P. & Almonacid, F. & Fernández, E.F., 2017. "A worldwide assessment of economic feasibility of HCPV power plants: Profitability and competitiveness," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 408-424.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:119:y:2017:i:c:p:408-424
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.12.093
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    10. Natalia Iwaszczuk & Mariusz Trela, 2021. "Analysis of the Impact of the Assumed Moment of Meeting Total Energy Demand on the Profitability of Photovoltaic Installations for Households in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, March.
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    12. Sato, Daisuke & Yamagata, Yuki & Hirata, Kenji & Yamada, Noboru, 2020. "Mathematical power-generation model of a four-terminal partial concentrator photovoltaic module for optimal sun-tracking strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
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    15. Hu, Hemin & Guo, Chaohong & Cai, Haofei & Jiang, Yuyan & Liang, Shiqiang & Guo, Yongxian, 2021. "Dynamic characteristics of the recuperator thermal performance in a S–CO2 Brayton cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
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