Electrical Modelling and Simulation of Solar Power Towers

Photovoltaic installations seem more adequate to small sized widespread production than to large scale production in power plants. Portugal, namely the southern part, is worldwide known by its sunlight. Therefore, an alternative to use sun power as a source to produce electrical energy in relatively large power plants is the novel technology known as solar power towers. In this paper, an integrated model of the overall production system is presented. Using some available data concerning the solar irradiation in two sites, (one with high irradiation and other with low irradiation) a case study is built. Some simulations of the steady-state behavior of the overall solar power tower system installed in both sites are also presented and some conclusions regarding the electrical performance of such systems are drawn.