Published at Journal of Energy Storage – Simulation and techno-economic optimization of a PV-CSP hybrid system with thermal energy storage under stability-oriented operation strategy

Abstract:
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are renowned for low electricity generation costs, but their intermittent and non-dispatchable generation poses significant challenges to grid stability and curtailment. Concentrated solar power (CSP), equipped with thermal energy storage (TES), can provide firm, dispatchable power, but its wide deployment is constrained by high capital and operating costs. To address limitations of PV and CSP systems, this study proposes an operation strategy for hybrid PV-CSP plants to utilize the thermal storage capacity of CSP systems. The proposed strategy utilizes stable power supply and grid capacity constraints to guide TES systems operation, providing a methodology for determining supply target power, followed by system simulation, techno-economic evaluation and capacity parameter optimization. Over an annual simulation, the hybrid plant achieved an average monthly target-fulfillment rate of 93.5 %, indicating robust operational performance. The effects of various capacity parameters on system operation are evaluated, with capacity allocation optimized based on metrics of levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and channel utilization rate (CUR). Analysis of capacity parameters demonstrates that the rated output power of CSP systems exerts the most substantial impact on hybrid system operations. Optimization results demonstrate that configuration combining large-scale PV with thermal energy storage-dominated CSP systems (Mode I) could achieve 40–50 % CUR at 0.06–0.07 $/kWh LCOE, while the hybrid system pairing small-scale PV with large-capacity CSP plants (Mode II) attains 70–80 % CUR with 0.08–0.086 $/kWh LCOE. PV-CSP hybrid power systems effectively address operational challenges inherent in sole PV and CSP systems.

Bo Wang, Tao Ma, Yanjun Dai, Wentao Xie, Peng Xue, Simulation and techno-economic optimization of a PV-CSP hybrid system with thermal energy storage under stability-oriented operation strategy, Journal of Energy Storage, Volume 150, 2026,120371, ISSN 2352-152X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2026.120371

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