Optimal capacity allocation and scheduling strategy for CSP+PV hybrid standalone power plants

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation, as an important clean technology, has been widely adopted globally, especially in remote island areas where access to the main power grid is unavailable. PV power can serve as the primary energy source for standalone island grids. However, due to its dependence on sunlight, PV power output fluctuates, particularly during nighttime and under poor lighting conditions, necessitating the integration of energy storage technology or alternative power generation methods to ensure continuous power supply. Concentrating solar power (CSP) generation, as an emerging technology, can provide efficient power output when solar radiation is abundant and ensure continuous power supply through thermal energy storage systems during adverse weather conditions or nighttime. Although CSP offers advantages such as dispatchability, its high construction and maintenance costs may pose challenges in commercial deployment. Hybrid solar power plants combining both PV and CSP technologies leverage the strengths of both, ensuring more stable and economically viable power output. This study establishes a model for hybrid solar power plants, considering the impact of PV and CSP component capacities and proportions on performance and costs, i.e., capacity allocation. To maximize the overall benefits of standalone microgrids while ensuring the stability of the power station, a capacity allocation method guided by economic dispatch is proposed. Through iterative analysis, the optimal configuration is determined to minimize the system's equivalent annual costs. Simulation experiments validate the financial feasibility of hybrid solar power plants and the reliability of the proposed configuration method.