Exergo-economic analysis of parabolic trough integrated cogeneration power plant

Cogeneration plant produces heat and electricity simultaneously, and have a great potential towards best use of primary energy resources as compared to other plants, which produces heat and electricity separately. Parabolic trough integrated cogeneration power plant (PTICPP) is one of the attractive alternatives to utilising solar energy in an efficient manner. The economically viable PTICPP could bring an opportunity for its utilisation at large scale. Therefore, estimation of the levelised cost of electricity (LCE) is done by two different rational cost apportionment method namely; lost-kilowatt and exergy method. To achieve the objective of this paper, a reference PTICPP having a capacity of 20 MWe and 61.94 MWth is designed, and comprehensive thermal performance of reference plant is analysed at the variable amount of irradiation. In Indian climatic condition, the minimum estimated LCE are 0.127 $/kWh and 0.114 $/kWh respectively by lost-kilowatt and exergy method.