ABSTRACT:
This report describes the results of the comparative analyses conducted in evaluating the technical and economic performance of alternative solar thermal conversion concepts. This report describes primarily the application and extension of the mission analysis methodology initially developed under the preceding contract and described in previous reports. The material covered is an extension of and is complementary to that described in these previous reports. The mission analysis methodology was applied on a consistent basis to the evaluation of alternative solar thermal conversion concepts for providing electrical power under realistic operating environments. This report is divided into five sections: a comparative technical evaluation, a margin analysis, a comparative economic evaluation, preferred system selection and definition, and environmental impact and market capture potential.