Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar Thermal Power Plants in Oman Study

This report presents a techno-economic analysis of solar thermal power plants in Oman, addressing challenges such as cost, thermal development, and government policies related to solar photovoltaic technology. The study examines a 500KW grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) plant using hourly real data and numerical simulation to evaluate concentrated solar photovoltaic (CSPV) technology. It employs HOMER software to estimate annual accuracy, capacity factor, and installation costs. The research explores the potential of solar energy in Oman due to its climate and geographical location, highlighting the country's high solar energy generation potential. It discusses various solar technologies, including crystalline silicon, thin-film amorphous silicon, and concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems, comparing their efficiency, advantages, and disadvantages. The report also addresses the need for solar energy in Oman, driven by natural gas prices, electricity prices, and public acceptance, while providing an optimum configuration for a grid-connected Concentrated PV system with a techno-economical assessment.