TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparing concentrating solar and nuclear power as baseload providers using the example of South Africa
AU - Pfenninger, Stefan
AU - Keirstead, James
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Despite the increasing importance of variable renewable power generation, baseload, that is stable and predictable power generators, remain the backbone of many countries' power systems. We here compare CSP (concentrating solar power) and nuclear power as baseload electricity providers for the case of South Africa, which is adding significant new generation capacity, has an abundant solar resource, but also one existing and additional planned nuclear power plants. Both of these technologies are considered baseload-capable with sufficient available fuel (sunlight or fissible material) to provide large amounts of nearly emissions-free electricity. We find that under a range of technological learning assumptions, CSP compares favorably against nuclear on costs in the period to 2030, and has lower investment and environmental risks. The results suggest that while nuclear power may be an important low-emissions power technology in regions with little sun, in the case of South Africa, CSP could be capable of providing a stable baseload supply at lower cost than nuclear power, and may have other non-cost benefits.
AB - Despite the increasing importance of variable renewable power generation, baseload, that is stable and predictable power generators, remain the backbone of many countries' power systems. We here compare CSP (concentrating solar power) and nuclear power as baseload electricity providers for the case of South Africa, which is adding significant new generation capacity, has an abundant solar resource, but also one existing and additional planned nuclear power plants. Both of these technologies are considered baseload-capable with sufficient available fuel (sunlight or fissible material) to provide large amounts of nearly emissions-free electricity. We find that under a range of technological learning assumptions, CSP compares favorably against nuclear on costs in the period to 2030, and has lower investment and environmental risks. The results suggest that while nuclear power may be an important low-emissions power technology in regions with little sun, in the case of South Africa, CSP could be capable of providing a stable baseload supply at lower cost than nuclear power, and may have other non-cost benefits.
KW - Baseload
KW - Low-emissions electricity
KW - Nuclear power
KW - Solar power
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930869687&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2015.04.077
DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2015.04.077
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84930869687
VL - 87
SP - 303
EP - 314
JO - Energy
JF - Energy
SN - 0360-5442
ER -