GIS assessment of large CSP plant in Duqum, Oman

This paper discusses solar power prospects in Wilayat Duqum in Oman. First, the geographic and topographic information about the selected region is presented. The methodology of producing solar radiation map for Duqum using GIS tools is then presented. The results obtained show very high potential of solar radiation over Wilayat Duqum during the whole year. A slope analysis has allowed calculating the yearly electricity generation potential for different concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies such as the parabolic trough, parabolic dish, tower, and concentrated PV. Based on the development plan of the Duqum region, and the topologies of the land areas in the region, it is suggested that, for the CSP technologies requiring large amount of water for washing the mirrors, the selected area is a flat land (slope < 1%) located proximity to the sea (∼2 km) inside a total industrial area of around 50 km2, hence, allowing easy future expansion of the plant. It was proposed to start with a 100 MW power plant which is expected to consume about 2.4 km2 of flat land for the parabolic trough CSP technology. The total calculated potential of yearly electricity generation would be about 2.3 TWh. If half of the selected land (0.5 × 50 km2) is reserved for future expansion of the plant, the total future capacity can attain 1 GW of electric power. The selected area can also accommodate in the future different types of CSP technologies as they mature with time.