Bachelor Thesis/
Semester Project HS2016
Integration of Concentrated Solar Power Plants in Iberian
Peninsula
The International Energy Agency has declared that over 26% of World’s energy
supply by 2020 will come from renewable energy sources. Europe has marked a new
period in energy policy as several countries including Portugal for multiple days have been
powered only by renewable energy sources. Potential for Concentrated Solar Power
(CSP) in Iberian Peninsula has not been fully used although Spain has realized more than
50 CSP projects over last decade and the number is likely to increase. Project for World’s
largest CSP plant (560MW) has begun right across the Gibraltar meaning that the Iberian
Peninsula is a great resource for renewable energy, not just for the region but also for the
whole Europe.
EnerPol, LEC’s system-wide bottom-to-top modelling energy system tool is used to
assess future scenarios in the operation and planning of large-scale energy systems. The
goal of this Semester Project is using EnerPol to assess the impact of integration of CSP
plants in Iberian Peninsula.
The project tasks shall include:
• Develop and implement methodology for CSP plant optimal geographical location
assessment (40%)
• Derive physical and economical characteristics of CSP and assess the impact of new
CSP plants on existing power system infrastructure (30%)
• Assess the reliability of European power system under future scenarios (30%)
If you are motivated and proactive student with interest in energy systems, renewable
energy technologies, energy laws and policy, and you possess good programming skills
(Python/Matlab) apply for an interview!
Contact: Janis Vinklers, Institut für Energietechnik, LEC, ETH Zürich, ML J 31,
Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zürich, T: +41 44 632 35 26, email:
vinklers@lec.mavt.ethz.ch