Land-Use competitiveness of photovoltaic and concentrated solar power technologies near the Tropic of Cancer

Solar radiation can be utilized for electricity generation through two main categories of solar power technologies: (1) photovoltaic (PV), and (2) concentrated solar power (CSP). In this study, three-dimensional computer models of electricity generation from 9 different solar power systems (4 PV and 5 CSP) using the simulation program Energy3D were used to establish a generic ranking of these systems in terms of the expected electric energy output during one year per unit land area. This performance metric is referred to as energy generation intensity (EGI), with ‘energy’ here referring to electric energy in particular. The analysis is aimed for low-latitude zones near the Tropic of Cancer. Solar power systems composed of long rows of connected PV modules, with single-horizontal-axis solar tracking (variable tilt), or with fixed optimized orientation were found to have the best EGI. On the other hand; heliostats with solar towers, PV units with single-vertical-axis solar tracking, and PV units with two-axis solar tracking were found to have the lowest EGI. Other four CSP systems: parabolic dishes, parabolic troughs, linear Fresnel reflectors (LFR), and compact linear Fresnel reflectors with two absorbers formed an intermediate group. Considering all of the 9 solar systems, the estimated EGI ranged from 113.1 kWh/year.m2 to 227.2 kWh/year.m2. The monthly contributions to EGI were contrasted; and daily and hourly energy generation intensities were examined on December 21 and June 21. Minor validation was performed using the simulation tool PVWatts Calculator for benchmarking, and using the web application PVGIS for PV systems calculation.