A sustainability-based comparison between Photovoltaics and Concentrating Solar Power in Chile

The projected increase in energy demand in Chile, along with the need of more sustainable energy solutions are increasing the use of renewable energies in Chile. Among currently used renewables, solar power represents one of the most promising options, given the high irradiance levels available in the Atacama desert. Solar power can be implemented as photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, being the first alternative the most popular nowadays. In order for CSP to become a sustainable alternativa for power generation in Chile, economic and environmental impacts need to be considered. This work presents a comparative analysis between the economic and environmental impacts of CSP and PV systems in Chile. The study employs the levelized cost of energy and life-cycle analysis to evaluate hypothetical systems, under conditions currently available in the north of Chile. Results obtained show that economic cost of PV remain lower than CSP, however CSP can achieve lower environmental impacts and supply power continuously. These results suggest both the need for more applied studies in solar plants in Chile, along with improved regulations which consider LCA analysis to truly assess the impacts of solar power and choose the more effective and sustainable energy solutions.