Khi Solar One
Plant |
Khi Solar One |
Location |
South Africa |
Owner(s) |
Abengoa |
Capacity (MW) |
50 |
Construction Start Date |
Nov. 2012 |
Construction End Date |
2016 |
Generation Start Year |
2016 |
Construction Cost ($) |
$450 mil |
Specific Cost ($/kW) |
9331.8 |
LCOE ($/kWh) |
0.22 |
Heliostat Aperture Area (m²) |
140 |
Heliostat Manufacturer |
Abengoa Spain |
Heliostat Model |
ASUP140 |
Heliostat Dimension |
13.1m x 10.7m |
Heliostat Facets (C x R) |
4x8 |
Solar Field Area (m²) |
576800 |
Tower Height (m) |
200 |
Receiver Fluid |
Water |
Receiever Manufacturer |
Cockerill Belgium |
Receiver Model |
Direct steam generation receiver |
Number of Heliostats |
4120 |
Tower Position (Lat/Long) |
(-28.537, 21.078) |
General Plant Data
· Location: South Africa
· Owner(s): Abengoa
· Capacity (MW): 50
Source: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-10-solar-tower-in-northern-cape-singeing-birds-ecologist-warns/
Plant Timeline
· Construction Start Date: Nov. 2012
· Construction End Date: 2016
· Generation Start Year: 2016
Plant Costs
· Construction Cost ($): $450 mil
· Specific Cost ($/kW): 9331.8
· LCOE ($/kWh): 0.22
Heliostat Design
· Heliostat Aperture Area (m²): 140
· Heliostat Manufacturer: Abengoa Spain
· Heliostat Model: ASUP140
· Heliostat Dimension: 13.1m x 10.7m
· Heliostat Facets (C x R): 4x8
· Solar Field Area (m²): 576800
Source: https://www.advisian.com/en/case-studies/khi-solar-one-50mw-solar-power-tower-plant
Source: https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/khi-solar-one-bringing-clean-electricity-to-over-45-000-south-african-homes/
Tower/Receiver
· Tower Height (m): 200
· Receiver Fluid: Water
· Receiever Manufacturer: Cockerill Belgium
· Receiver Model: Direct steam generation receiver
Source: https://www.jgafrika.com/portfolio/khi-solar-one-tower-4/
Source: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-10-solar-tower-in-northern-cape-singeing-birds-ecologist-warns/
Plant Layout
· Number of Heliostats: 4120
· Tower Position (Lat/Long): (-28.537, 21.078)
Source: https://www.dlr.de/en/latest/news/2017/20170110_when-and-how-is-investing-in-a-solar-power-plant-worth-it_20570
Local Environmental Conditions
Khi Solar One is located in Upington, Africa, which has a hot desert climate. Summer in Upington is hot, and the winters are short, cool and windy.
Lessons Learned
· Khi Solar One is the first concentrated solar power plant in South Africa. Instead of the usual energy storage method using molten salt, it uses superheated steam, which increasing the efficiency by 30% at most. Such system can store the energy up to 2 hours.
· The cooling system is also new, which uses natural drafts in the towers to separate the air by the fin blades and dissipate the heat. This innovative technology can lower the water consumption by 80% comparing to a wet-cooled CSP plant.
Source:
Sun Spot: The Khi Solar One Power Plant.
lotharhimmel.blogspot.com/2015/01/sun-spot-khi-solar-one-power-plant.html.
Other
Sources:
[1] “Khi Solar One | Concentrating Solar Power Projects | NREL.”
Solarpaces.nrel.gov, solarpaces.nrel.gov/project/khi-solar-one.
Link: https://solarpaces.nrel.gov/project/khi-solar-one
[2] “Khi Solar One Power Plant - Molten Salt Thermal Energy
Storage System, South Africa.” Power Technology, 30 Aug. 2021,
www.power-technology.com/marketdata/khi-solar-one-power-plant-molten-salt-thermal-energy-storage-system-south-africa/.
[3] Zhu, Guangdong, et al. Roadmap to
Advance Heliostat Technologies for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power. No.
NREL/TP-5700-83041. National Renewable Energy Lab.(NREL),
Golden, CO (United States), 2022.
Link: https://doi.org/10.2172/1888029