This report assesses a series of potential impacts associated to the future deployment of CSP cooperation projects, such as socioeconomic, social and environmental impacts. These have not been accounted for in the modeling exercise but may become an obstacle or a driver for the successful deployment of such projects.
The report presents the results of the sustainability assessment of two CSP technologies: a parabolic trough power plant and a central receiver power plant. For each of these technologies three scenarios are evaluated: a Pure Spanish Investment scenario, where most of the investments are made by Spanish firms, a second scenario that exemplifies a possible cooperation project with Germany as off-taker and a third scenario that considers China as a supplier of some components.
Finally, the report presents sustainability assessment results for an alternative technology equivalent in terms of flexibility and dispatchability that uses PV panels and batteries.
Key findings of the sustainability assessment performed include the following:
- CSP deployment will create added value and employment that will be mostly retained in Europe.
- CSP electricity has a low carbon and water footprint, but CSP power plants originate some social risks in their value chain.
- The penetration of the Chinese CSP industry in the European market will worsen the sustainability of the CSP plants
- A cooperation project using central receiver technology seems to perform best in the sustainability indicators analysed.
- An equivalent system in terms of flexibility and dispatchability that uses photovoltaic panels and batteries performs worse in all the sustainability indicators analysed.
You can read the report here.
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