Concentrating solar power contribution to the mitigation of C-emissions in power generation and corresponding extra-costs

In this paper, we first proceed to develop the mathematical tools for the calculation of CO2 emissions abatement (annual and total) due to the installation of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants instead of the traditional systems. For this, we take into account the targets for the CSP cumulative installed capacity from several scenarios elaborated by the International Energy Agency. We have also developed in this paper mathematical closed-form expressions for the evaluation of the extra-costs of implementing these scenarios, and calculated the unit costs of the CO2 emissions avoided by the new CSP systems. The obtained results are shown both graphically and numerically, and their applications to energy planning policies are discussed. From the results exposed in this paper, it is possible to evaluate the economic advantages of installing the new CSP plants in those geographical areas with higher pollutant electricity mixes, as well as the planning of the most convenient calendar for CSP systems implementation. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.