The SUNDISC cycle: A direct storage-charging dual-pressure air receiver cycle

Annual simulations with an hourly thermodynamic model returned the lowest levelized cost for a plant generating electricity during 87% of the year practically without co-firing. During almost all of this time, one of the two cycles operates at full load. The large storage capacity needed for this baseload plant is viable because of the low anticipated cost of the rock bed thermal energy storage technology. The calculated levelized cost of this plant is 25% lower than for a plant without a low-pressure receiver and is predicted to be on a par with a next-generation molten salt plant's cost once medium-scale roll-out has commenced.