Hybridizing a Geothermal Power Plant with Solar Thermal Collectors: A Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis

Electricity generation with geothermal energy is a mature technology, but the utilization potential has limits concerning resource availability and investment costs. Mixing solar thermal collectors with geothermal is a potential solution to a GEO plant's efficiency and economics. This study analyzes the techno-economic potential of a geothermal power plant with solar thermal collectors' adjunct to it. It features a hybrid plant design that uses the heat from solar thermal collectors to boost the temperature of the geothermal fluid before entering the power plant. A techno-economic analysis assessed the performance and costs of this hybrid system. A hybrid geothermal-solar plant produced 7% more power output than a stand-alone geothermal plant, leadingto an LCOE reduction between 0-10%. we conducted a study focusing on iridization that can be allowed in varied geothermal settings but on and on assessing the cost for different plant capacities. It was found that hybridizing geothermal plants with solar thermal collectors is a very attractive and technically feasible option to increase the efficiency of geothermal power generation under reasonable economic conditions. This technology can pave the way for the possible increment in energy production, lower LCOE, and mainstreaming of renewable energy in the power sector.