Aerosol impact on concentrating solar systems: Lessons learned from the Plataforma solar de Almería (Spain)

Abstract

The Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) is a unique scientific-technical center in the southeast of Spain thanks to its solar concentrating facilities that are large and varied. The PSA is located in the village of Tabernas (Almería), in one of the few deserts in Europe. The quantity and size of aerosols in the atmosphere negatively influence solar concentrating systems through different processes, making these systems less efficient. The aerosol measurement campaign carried out at PSA since March 2020 indicates frequent haze episodes and that there is a positive correlation on a monthly scale between aerosol concentration and its negative effects on solar concentrating systems. This fact has made it possible to unify all these variables into a common function that can be used in any location. The impact of aerosols on the electrical power production of a thermoelectric solar tower plant is analyzed. The aerosol loading in the atmosphere at this location is greater in the summer months and the negative effects of associated phenomena increase, making this season the least favorable for solar concentrating technologies at PSA. It can be said that there could be an increase of up to 50 % in the LCOE due to the negative effects of aerosols in the production of a solar tower plant at PSA. Similar studies are recommended in future sites for concentrating solar plants.