Concentrating solar power hybrid plants – Enabling cost effective synergies

This paper categorises different concentrating solar power (CSP) hybrid options into light, medium and strong hybrids and discusses the combination of CSP with coal, natural gas, biomass and waste materials, geothermal, and wind. The degree of hybridisation depends on the interconnection of the plant components. Light hybrids create only limited synergies, such as the joint use of a substation, and their cost reduction potential is therefore limited, while strong hybrids share major plant components, such as steam turbine and condenser, and can better match their energy output with electricity pricing.