Process intensification and integration of solar heat generation in the Chinese condiment sector - A case study of a medium sized Beijing based factory

Results showed that for the heating of process water, flat plate solar collectors performed best with an estimated 20 year Levelised Cost of Energy of 0.063 €/kW h. Steam generation was most cost effective with a cascade system of photovoltaic and flat plate collectors, with an estimated 20 year Levelised Cost of Energy of 0.145 €/kW h. The model predicts that integration of this technology would lead to a reduction of 14% in heating utility demand.