Utility-scale CSP value proposition
The Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI) contracted Fichtner and ITP to assess the role and value of Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) across four Australian use cases: grid connected power, remote area power (mining), industrial process heat, and green fuels production.
ITP used its grid model, openCEM, to do extensive long term planning forecasting both for the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS) using AEMO ISP 2022 data. The study evaluated a range of CST plant configurations and storage durations, and their associated cost projections. openCEM results demonstrated that the electricity sector could save up to $10B if included CST in the electricity mix, by unlocking cheaper options for dispatchable renewables that incorporate long duration storage.