Performance Comparison of the 1.2 Megawatt Photovoltaic Power Plant with a Hybrid Concentrated Solar Power/Fossil Fuel system in Iran

Greenhouse gas emission increased in recent years and it is the main reason for global warming. To overcome the challenges, sustainable and renewable energy sources are required. In this paper, an economic analysis fulfilled for 1.2megawatt photovoltaic power plant with different tracking systems in several cities of Iran by RETScreen software. Moreover, results compared with the same capacity hybrid of concentrated solar power and fossil fuel power plant under several scenarios. The results show that the two-axis tracker photovoltaic power plant has 48% more capacity factor than a fixed state. Also, using the tracking system for the photovoltaic power plant and a thirty percent reduction in capital expenditure for the concentrated solar power system decreased the levelized cost of electricity by 21% and 28%, respectively. The minimum levelized cost of electricity is achieved US$ 0.084/kWh. Also, it was found that the concentrated solar power system reduces greenhouses gas emission two times more than the same capacity of photovoltaic. Finally, the concentrated solar power has a better economic, environmental and technical performance than the photovoltaic system in the future.