In the heart of South Asia, Bangladesh is on the cusp of a solar revolution, and a groundbreaking study led by Md. Abdu Rabbir Rasul from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Dhaka is paving the way. The research, published in Energy Conversion and Management: X, delves into the potential and challenges of implementing Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology in the country, offering a beacon of hope for a sustainable energy future.
CSP technology, which harnesses the sun’s energy to generate electricity, has long been touted as a game-changer in the renewable energy sector. Unlike traditional photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, CSP plants use mirrors to concentrate sunlight and produce heat, which is then converted into electricity. This process allows for efficient energy storage, making CSP a reliable source of power even when the sun isn’t shining.
Rasul and his team conducted a comprehensive techno-economic feasibility analysis of three distinct CSP technologies—Parabolic Trough, Linear Fresnel, and Solar Power Tower—in five different locations across Bangladesh. The sites were carefully selected based on factors such as the availability of nearby hydrological assets and the district’s average Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), a measure of the solar radiation received per square meter by a surface that is always perpendicular to the rays coming from the direction of the sun at its current position in the sky.
The study utilized the System Advisor Model (SAM) software to simulate the technical and economic aspects of implementing a 50 MW CSP plant in each location. The results were striking. “From a technical aspect, keeping an average Thermal Energy Storage (TES) of 6 hours, the Capacity Factor (CF%) and for economic feasibility, the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Net Present Value (NPV) were optimized to determine the best possible blueprint,” Rasul explains. The findings revealed that the Power Tower-Molten Salt technology emerged as the frontrunner, offering an impressive LCOE as low as $0.1251/kWh in Dinajpur, an NPV as high as $40,880,084 in Cox’s Bazar, and a CF% as high as 48.3% in Dinajpur.
The implications of these findings are profound. Bangladesh, a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels, could see a significant shift towards renewable energy. The integration of CSP technology into the national grid could not only reduce carbon emissions but also enhance energy security and create new commercial opportunities. The potential for CSP to replace or hybridize conventional power generation techniques is immense, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the country’s energy challenges.
The study’s findings are particularly relevant for the energy sector, highlighting the commercial viability of CSP technology in Bangladesh. As the world moves towards a low-carbon future, countries like Bangladesh are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their energy mix. CSP technology, with its ability to provide dispatchable power, could play a crucial role in this transition.
The research by Rasul and his team is a significant step forward in understanding the potential of CSP technology in Bangladesh. As the country continues to grapple with energy challenges, the findings of this study offer a roadmap for a sustainable energy future. The commercial impacts of this research are far-reaching, with the potential to reshape the energy landscape of Bangladesh and beyond. The study, published in Energy Conversion and Management: X, is a testament to the power of innovation and the potential of renewable energy to transform lives and economies.
