# Toward a Sustainable Energy Production System Based on Concentrated Solar Power Plants: Social and Water Availability Issues

## TL;DR

This paper explores the sustainability and social impacts of concentrated solar power plants in Spain, focusing on optimal locations and energy production.

## Contribution

A multiobjective model is introduced to evaluate CSP deployment in Spain, integrating environmental, economic, and social factors.

## Key findings

- Optimal CSP locations prioritize DNI and energy demand while minimizing water use and social impact.
- A fully renewable system with 9 CSP plants could reduce unemployment by 2.5 to 21% in Spain.
- Estimated investment for the system is 785 B€2025 with a competitive LCOE of 0.086–0.093 €/kWh.

## Abstract

The green transition of energy production systems is
one of the
most critical tasks for society nowadays. Concentrated solar power
(CSP) plants require direct normal irradiance (DNI) to produce electricity. Nevertheless, the highest DNI values are usually found in regions with limited water availability,
which can be a sustainability issue when using cooling technologies.
Furthermore, deploying new infrastructure has significant socio-economic
implications, requiring careful evaluation of CSP facility locations.
In this work, a multiobjective mixed-integer linear programming model
is developed, considering several variables related to production
(such as DNI, temperature, and available land), environmental
factors (such as water consumption by cooling systems), and social
concerns associated with the deployment of the facilities. The model
evaluates each region of Spain to choose the optimal location for
five scenarios of technology substitution. The results show that decisions
prioritize DNI values and seasonal energy demand
followed by investment cost and social impact, while we avoid wet-cooling
technology to increase job creation. Furthermore, a fully renewable
electricity system using 9 CSP plants requires an estimated investment
of 785 B€2025, presents a competitive LCOE of 0.086–0.093
€/kWh, and has the potential to contribute to a reduction in
national unemployment by approximately 2.5 to 21%.