Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Solar-Geothermal Power Plant in México
Abstract
Solar energy integration with existing geothermal power plants offers a promising approach to enhance renewable energy output. Hybrid systems, particularly those combining parabolic trough collectors (PTC) with geothermal facilities, can improve the efficiency and sustainability of energy production. This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating PTCs into the Cerro Prieto geothermal power plant to boost steam quality and increase overall energy generation. Specifically, we compared two configurations: using Therminol VP1 as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) and employing direct steam generation (DSG). Our results indicate that both configurations successfully enhanced steam quality, with VP1 showing higher exergy efficiency and requiring a smaller solar field area; DSG achieved superior energy efficiency but faced significant pressure drops. These findings demonstrate that solar-geothermal hybrid systems can significantly improve plant performance by carefully selecting the appropriate HTF and optimizing system parameters. This research underscores the potential of such hybrid systems to advance renewable energy technologies, providing valuable insights for future energy planning and policy development.