Author(s)

Ababacar Thiam^1,2, Cheikh Mbow³, Mactar Faye^1,2, Pascal Stouffs⁴, Dorothé Azilinon²

¹Efficiency and Energetic Systems Research Group, Alioune Diop University, Bambey, Senegal.
²Laboratoire d’Energétique Appliquée, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal.
³Faculté des Sciences et Technique, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal.
⁴Latep, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Pau, France.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is non-existent in Sahel. Such a situation arises from the high investment costs required by these energy infrastructures and from a lack of information on the identification of suitable sites to accommodate them. Conversely, CSP-biomass plants due to lower investment may be an option for CSP penetration in Sahel where Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) is between 1400 kWh/m²/year and 2000 kWh/m²/year and significant biomass potential. This work presents the results of an identification of suitable sites for hybrid CSP-Biomass in the Sahel, case study of Senegal, taking into account the Direct Normal Irradiation, the availability of water, space and biomass potential. The identified sites have a DNI > 1600 kWh/m²/year. The biogas production capacity is equivalent to 5,096,563 m³/year. The quantity of Typha Australis, invasive plant in Senegal river valley available is estimated at more than 3 million tons. The capacity of electrical energy in this zone is estimated at 6.89 GWe for an installation surface estimated at 275.61 km². The establishment of CSP/hybrid plants can also contribute to combat the proliferation of Typha Australis.

Biomass, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI), Hybrid, Typha Australis

Thiam, A. , Mbow, C. , Faye, M. , Stouffs, P. and Azilinon, D. (2017) Assessment of Hybrid Concentrated Solar Power-Biomass Plant Generation Potential in Sahel: Case Study of Senegal. Natural Resources, 8, 531-547. doi: 10.4236/nr.2017.88033.