Life cycle assessment (LCA) of a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in tower configuration with different storage capacity in molten salts

Although studies on the levelized cost of energy (LCoE) of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants were published in recent years, these studies were not related to the environmental impact generated. To fill this literature gap, this study compares the environmental impacts generated by four tower solar thermal plants with different storage capacities, 3, 6, 9, and 17.5 equivalent hours in nominal conditions were considered, being the plant of 17.5 h, a plant in operation. Results show that the environmental impacts generated throughout its useful life decrease when storage capacity increases. But when the storage capacity goes from 9 h to 17.5 h, the impacts generated are practically the same. Of the four plants analyzed, the most environmentally efficient plant is the one with a storage capacity of 9 h. •LCA of tower CSP plants with different storage capacity in molten salts•Different storage capacities, 3, 6, 9, and 17.5 equivalent hours are analyzed.•The environmental impacts are analyzed with ReCiPe and IPCC 2013 methods.•The most environmentally efficient plant is the one with a storage capacity of 9 h.•The solar field, the TES system, and the tower have greatest impact.