Levelised cost of electricity in high concentrated photovoltaic grid connected systems: Spatial analysis of Spain

• The LCOE of HCPV grid connected systems in Spain is estimated and analysed.
• A new set of parameters and a deep explanation of the procedure are introduced.
• A set of innovative maps relating to the LCOE and energy yield is presented.
• The analysis and detection of the optimal zones for HCPV technology is conducted.
• A comparison between the LCOE of HCPV and PV systems in a future scenario is done.

Costs for High Concentrator Photovoltaic (HCPV) power plants dropped dramatically during 2013 and are expected to continue to fall in the next few years. Moreover, when viewed from the perspective of life cycle cost, HCPV becomes even more competitive than other renewable technologies in some geographical areas. Consequently, an analysis of the economic feasibility of the HCPV systems in future scenarios is necessary for comparison with other electricity generation technologies. One of the methods commonly used for the economic feasibility analysis in electricity generation projects is the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE). In this paper a cost analysis of electricity generation of HCPV technology in Spain by using the LCOE has been carried out. The results obtained in this LCOE analysis show that in 2020 the LCOE will be able to reach values for HCPV systems from 0.035 to 0.080 €/kW h, lower than LCOE for conventional PV systems, in some geographical areas of Spain. The results obtained in this analysis have been shown in innovative maps.