Localization study for the implementation of a solar power plant in Brazil using Dish-Stirling systems

Abstract

This work presents a localization study for the implementation of a solar power plant in Brazil using systems with Stirling engines and parabolic dish concentrators, also known as Dish-Stirling systems. The demand for electricity in the world is constantly growing, and this will likely double over the next 40 years, creating an electrical energy deficit scenario that can be filled with renewable and clean sources. The electric power generation system presented in this paper is formed by the parabolic dish concentrator and a receiver, where the Stirling engine and the power generator are located. The Dish-Stirling system presents the greatest efficiency in the conversion of heat to electrical energy when compared to other thermal concentration technologies. The localization study employed several criteria to select the most suitable place for the implementation of the power plant. The weights of these criteria were defined with the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process. After determining the weights of each criterion, the localization study was carried out using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool in three cities of different regions of Brazil. Fuzzy logic was used to implement the thresholds for each subcriterion in the GIS system. Research in Brazil about thermal conversion with Dish-Stirling systems is still incipient. Therefore, this work intends to demonstrate the potential of solar energy in Brazil and pinpoint available locations for future projects. The municipality of Bom Jesus da Lapa in the State of Bahia stood out in comparison with the other cities evaluated in this paper.