This document discusses California's plan to meet its renewable energy and zero net energy building targets through significantly expanding distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems, with a focus on rooftop solar. It estimates California will need over 15,000 MW of new rooftop residential and commercial PV by 2020 to achieve these goals. It also outlines the economic and environmental advantages of distributed PV compared to large remote solar projects requiring new transmission infrastructure. Key challenges remain in fully aligning the utilities' business model with this distributed energy future.
2008 annual report for Timminco Limited. Timminco (TSX: TIM) is a leader in the production of low cost solar grade silicon for the rapidly growing solar photovoltaic energy industry.
Renewable Energy Industry Review Allliedschools Jul09Allied Schools
Source: http://www.training4green.com
In This Issue:
Renewable Energy Is Going Global – from the U.S. to China!
Career Profile Certified Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Installation Technician
Fed Budgets $4 Billion for Green Jobs
Despite Tighter Budgets, Companies Spend Money to Meet Green Initiatives
New U.S. Auto Standards: The Fast Track to Oil Independence
2008 annual report for Timminco Limited. Timminco (TSX: TIM) is a leader in the production of low cost solar grade silicon for the rapidly growing solar photovoltaic energy industry.
Renewable Energy Industry Review Allliedschools Jul09Allied Schools
Source: http://www.training4green.com
In This Issue:
Renewable Energy Is Going Global – from the U.S. to China!
Career Profile Certified Photovoltaic (PV) Systems Installation Technician
Fed Budgets $4 Billion for Green Jobs
Despite Tighter Budgets, Companies Spend Money to Meet Green Initiatives
New U.S. Auto Standards: The Fast Track to Oil Independence
FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ORKNEY’S WINDFARM DEVELOPMENT FOR SELF-SUFFICIENT FOR EN...aeijjournal
In Orkney islands, a number of wind energy projects have been established due to its potential for wind energy development especially as cluster developments on hilltop and moorland. This Self-sufficient Orkney Wind Energy (SOWE) project is trying to follow this pattern of development and has designed as a simple linear development of medium-large scale wind turbines which avoids dominating the landscape, while providing diversification required for the energy security, along with strong economic benefits to the local community. The developer completed preliminary designs and landscape assessment, resulting in the detailed design and the development of 27 wind turbine project for the expectation to generated electricity
of 549.2 GWh annually. The SOWE project has been designed and selected the use of the Enercon E44 - 900 kW and Norex N80 - 2.5 MW wind turbines. These machines represent the maximum scale, respectively, as; • the site layout and all modelling have used a 45m, and 60m turbine tower height;
• a rotor diameter of 44 m, and 80 m; and • The blade length is 22 m and 40 m. It has been found that the SOWE project provides a promising contribution towards the Scottish
Government renewable energy production and carbon reduction targets.
KEYWORDS
feasibility study, windfarm, Orkney, road transport
The Clean Coalition was a partner organization for the Grid-Scale Storage Conference, which took place on June 6-7, 2018 in San Francisco, CA. Executive Director Craig Lewis presented at the event.
Renewable microgrid operational results and economic evaluation using RETScre...IJECEIAES
This article describes the performance results of the first renewable microgrid of Chocó, Colombia, monitored over two years (2016-2017) adding an economic approach. A virtual platform is used to analyze, in real time, the microgrid power production, while a meteorological station measures the solar irradiance and the ambient temperature. The results indicated that the generation of AC PV energy was 21,817 kWh/year on 2016 and 23,301 kWh/year on 2017. The photovoltaic system’s average efficiency was 10.3 % on 2016 and 11.09 % on 2017. An economical analysis of the renewable microgrid is also presented using RETScreenTM software. The results show a net present value of $237,028 USD for an evaluation period of 25 years with annual energy savings of $4,622 USD. A calculation on greenhouse gas emissions show that 22.9 tCO2 per year are avoided when using the solar energy tech.
FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ORKNEY’S WINDFARM DEVELOPMENT FOR SELF-SUFFICIENT FOR EN...aeijjournal
In Orkney islands, a number of wind energy projects have been established due to its potential for wind energy development especially as cluster developments on hilltop and moorland. This Self-sufficient Orkney Wind Energy (SOWE) project is trying to follow this pattern of development and has designed as a simple linear development of medium-large scale wind turbines which avoids dominating the landscape, while providing diversification required for the energy security, along with strong economic benefits to the local community. The developer completed preliminary designs and landscape assessment, resulting in the detailed design and the development of 27 wind turbine project for the expectation to generated electricity
of 549.2 GWh annually. The SOWE project has been designed and selected the use of the Enercon E44 - 900 kW and Norex N80 - 2.5 MW wind turbines. These machines represent the maximum scale, respectively, as; • the site layout and all modelling have used a 45m, and 60m turbine tower height;
• a rotor diameter of 44 m, and 80 m; and • The blade length is 22 m and 40 m. It has been found that the SOWE project provides a promising contribution towards the Scottish
Government renewable energy production and carbon reduction targets.
KEYWORDS
feasibility study, windfarm, Orkney, road transport
The Clean Coalition was a partner organization for the Grid-Scale Storage Conference, which took place on June 6-7, 2018 in San Francisco, CA. Executive Director Craig Lewis presented at the event.
Renewable microgrid operational results and economic evaluation using RETScre...IJECEIAES
This article describes the performance results of the first renewable microgrid of Chocó, Colombia, monitored over two years (2016-2017) adding an economic approach. A virtual platform is used to analyze, in real time, the microgrid power production, while a meteorological station measures the solar irradiance and the ambient temperature. The results indicated that the generation of AC PV energy was 21,817 kWh/year on 2016 and 23,301 kWh/year on 2017. The photovoltaic system’s average efficiency was 10.3 % on 2016 and 11.09 % on 2017. An economical analysis of the renewable microgrid is also presented using RETScreenTM software. The results show a net present value of $237,028 USD for an evaluation period of 25 years with annual energy savings of $4,622 USD. A calculation on greenhouse gas emissions show that 22.9 tCO2 per year are avoided when using the solar energy tech.
Simulation and Analysis of a D-STATCOM for Load Compensation and Power Facto...IJMER
Power Generation and Transmission is a complex process, requiring the working of many
components of the power system in tandem to maximize the output. One of the main components to form
a major part is the reactive power in the system. It is required to maintain the voltage to deliver the
active power through the lines. Loads like motor loads and other loads require reactive power for their
operation. To improve the performance of ac power systems, we need to manage this reactive power in
an efficient way and this is known as reactive power compensation. In developing countries like India,
where the variation of power frequency and many such other determinants of power quality are
themselves a serious question, it is very vital to take positive steps in this direction.
The work presented here illustrates a method to compensate for the load reactive power using a
DSTATCOM
A DSTATCOM injects a current into the system to provide for the reactive component of the load
current. The validity of proposed method and achievement of desired compensation are confirmed by
the results of the simulation in MATLAB/ Simulink.
Distributed Generation Operation for Distribution System Volt/Var ControlNovalio Daratha Asteria
Discuss recent works in DG operation for voltage control in Distribution System.
Reactive capability of certain DGs is reviewed.
Constant and variable power factor mode of operation are discussed.
Grid Interconnection of Renewable Energy Sources at the Distribution Level Wi...Pradeep Avanigadda
Renewable energy resources (RES) are being increasingly connected in distribution systems utilizing power electronic converters.
This project presents a novel control strategy for achieving maximum benefits from these grid-interfacing inverters when installed in 3-phase 4-wire distribution systems.
The inverter can thus be utilized as:
1) power converter to inject power generated from RES to the grid &
2) shunt APF to compensate current unbalance, load current harmonics, load reactive power demand and load neutral current.
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI)inventionjournals
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of computer science and electronics. IJESI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Engineering Science and Technology, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online
Physical design and modeling of 25 v dc dc boost converter for stand alone so...ecij
As per the present development the shortage in powe
r all over the world seems to be abundance.
Renewable energy sources are the capable energy sou
rce along with the accessible resources of energy.
Among all the renewable resources of energy, solar
PV technology is most acceptable due to its
considerable advantage over other form of renewable
sources. Calculating the output of PV system is a
key
aspect. The main principle of this paper is to pres
ent physical modeling and simulation of solar PV sy
stem
and DC-DC boost converter in SIMSCAPE library of MA
TLAB. The benefit by SIMSCAPE library is that it
models the system physically and the outcome obtain
s from it will be considering all the physical resu
lt. In
this paper the output of solar cell has been interf
aced with the boost converter. The system model in
SIMSCAPE can be directly converted into hardware fo
r implement for actual time application
John Lushetsky, Program Manager of the Solar Energy Technologies Program at the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, presented on April 19, 2010 at the GW Solar Institute Second Annual Symposium. more information at http://solar.gwu.edu/Symposium.html
The first quarter of 2009 has ushered in a new era for the alternate energy market in the US. This has resulted in a visible increase in interest on alternate energy technologies. Most would think the attention to alternate energy has come just in time, especially with the rise in fossil fuel prices, stringent environmental regulations, and significant changes in preferences among consumers.
Analysis and Design of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System – Lebanon CaseIJERA Editor
The depletion of fossil fuels and their environmental consequences have prompted searching for other sources of energy aiming to global status amelioration. In the recent past, renewable energy sources have been considered as alternatives for the fossil fuel energy sources. The unexpected pattern of natural resources assesses integrated utilization of these sources to provide persistent and reliable power supply to the consumers. The technology’s advantages, requirements and related improvements are underlined and results are generalized. This paper covers the design of a solar and wind based hybrid renewable system presenting calculations and considerations in order to achieve an optimized design. Since hybrid systems performance relies mainly on geographical an d meteorological aspects, the study will consider the case of the Mediterranean area and in particular Lebanon.
Softer Solar Landings: Options to Avoid the Investment Tax Credit CliffGW Solar Institute
Federal tax policies have been an important driver for solar’s recent remarkable growth, but without action during the 114th Congress, the 30-percent investment tax credit (ITC) for solar and other clean energy technologies will expire at the end of 2016. If Congress were to allow this policy shock to occur, the economics of solar investments would worsen, reducing solar deployments in 2017 and beyond. Solar jobs would be lost, and solar cost reductions would be delayed. While these negative impacts of current law are undeniable, their magnitude remains an open question. This policy brief estimates the impacts that current law would have on the solar industry. It also formulates several
policy alternatives and estimates their effectiveness at mitigating the negative impacts of the investment tax credit cliff embedded within current law.
This research poster was created as a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium and is by The Solar Foundation.
The National Solar Jobs Census series is a product of The Solar Foundation®, conducted annually since 2010. The inaugural Census established the first credible employment baseline for the domestic solar industry.The Census surveys solar employers and quantifies jobs across all solar technologies and industry subsectors. Since 2010, employment has grown by 53%, representing nearly 50,000 new U.S. solar jobs.
This research poster was created as a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium and is by James Mueller and Amit Ronen.
Fitting Clean Energy into a Reformed Tax Code” Given the looming expiration of clean energy tax incentives and the likelihood of comprehensive tax reform, the clean energy sector need to be developing pragmatic and politically attuned alternatives that fit within the context of tax reform principles. The GW Solar Institute is launching a research series, Fitting Clean Energy into a Reformed Tax Code, which seeks to develop innovative policy solutions and inform policymakers on the full range of impacts that these potential options could have.
Consensus Recommendations on How to Catalyze Low-Income Solar in DCGW Solar Institute
This research poster was featured at the 2014 Solar Symposium and is by Amit Ronen and Anya Schoolman.
Extensive conversations among roughly 70 key stakeholders in the low-income housing, solar, finance, and government sectors revealed that the necessary leadership, consensus, and resources are available to launch a groundbreaking low-income solar initiative in the District. The Expanding Low-Income Solar in DC Roundtable, hosted by the GW Solar Institute and DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) on April 9, 2014, developed the recommendation that the city pursue a direct dollar-per-watt rebate program that incentivizes low-income participation and community solar projects, combined with a credit enhancement program that unlocks needed capital.
This project was featured at the 2014 Solar Symposium and analyzes both the solar potential of low income areas in the District as well as the resulting economic impact a full build-out could have.
This poster was created by Dan Moring and Ekandayo Shittu.
Dan Moring is a Graduate Research Analyst at the GW Solar Institute. He is a a student in the Sustainable Urban Planning program at GW, where his research focuses on integrating and analyzing spatial components of energy and building data.
Ekandayo Shittu is an Assistant Profession at the George Washington University School of Engineering and an Affiliated Faculty member at the GW Solar Institute. His research focuses on the economics and management of energy technologies, the design and impacts of climate change response policies on sustainability efforts, and patterns of consumer behavior in energy consumption in the emerging era of smart grid technologies. He’s a Lead Author on he IPCC Fifth Assessment report on climate change mitigation.
The GW Solar Institute working paper, Bridging the Solar Income Gap, details a wide range of policy tools to increase access to affordable solar energy, particularly for lower income families. These urgently needed tools could help unlock solar energy for all Americans and drive billions of dollars of solar wealth into lower income communities.
The GW Solar Institute, a research partner on the National Solar Jobs Census 2014, joined The Solar Foundation and BW Research Partnership in announcing that the solar energy industry added over 31,000 new jobs in 2014. This remarkable growth rate is almost twenty times the national average and accounts for 1 out every 78 new jobs created in the US since Solar Jobs Census 2013.
Tax Reform, a Looming Threat to a Booming Solar IndustryGW Solar Institute
This policy brief investigates the impact that recent Congressional tax reform proposals would have on the solar industry. As the first policy brief in an ongoing series, it outlines both the challenges and the opportunities for the solar industry within tax reform. The GW Solar Institute's analysis finds that all recent tax reform proposals would increase the cost of solar energy substantially compared to current policy. Even the Baucus tax reform proposal, which includes a 20 percent Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar, would increase costs by 34 percent over current policy due to its drastic changes to current depreciation schedules and the minimal impact from a lower corporate rate. No matter which other broader changes to the tax system Congress adopts in tax reform, additional energy sector policies would still be necessary to maintain solar’s economic competitiveness relative to current law.
This whitepaper summarizes recommendations from the Expanding Low-Income Solar in DC Roundtable, hosted by the GW Solar Institute and DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) on April 9, 2014. Extensive conversations among roughly 70 key stakeholders in the low-income housing, solar, finance, and government sectors revealed that the necessary leadership, consensus, and resources are available to launch a groundbreaking low-income solar initiative in the District.
Rhone Resch | Trends in Solar Energy Technology and Costs | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
Solar panel prices have dropped 80% in the last five years, dramatically changing the economics and feasibility of going solar.
Long-time solar industry leader Rhone Resch will talk about the rapidly changing solar energy landscape and where he sees solar going in the future.
Jon Hillis | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
This is an Ignite Style presentation (five minute max presentations with slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds) that was a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium Innovation Showcase.
Jon Hillis, Vice President, Prospect Solar
Combining Solar with Green Roofs: Find out how Green Roof Integrated PV in urban areas like DC can take advantage of the symbiotic relationship between solar panels and green roof plants, alleviate competition for roof space, and address energy concerns and storm water drainage issues that are prevalent in larger cities.
Hannah Masterjohn | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
This is an Ignite Style presentation (five minute max presentations with slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds) that was a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium Innovation Showcase.
Hannah Masterjohn, Program Director of New Markets, VoteSolar
Taking Shared Solar Nationwide: Find out how shared solar is expanding nationwide, how it differs from green tariffs, and how different states are attempting to use the policy as a tool to address barriers to low-income solar investments.
Bracken Hendricks | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
This is an Ignite Style presentation (five minute max presentations with slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds) that was a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium Innovation Showcase.
Bracken Hendricks, CEO, Urban Ingenuity
PACE and Affordable Housing: Find out how Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing can fund clean energy retrofits and help solve broader financial challenges for affordable housing developers, owners, and property managers by providing a new capital solution for affordable housing preservation.
Annie Harper | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
This is an Ignite Style presentation (five minute max presentations with slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds) that was a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium Innovation Showcase.
Annie Harper, Coordinator, Yale Community Carbon Fund
Lessons Learned from Low-Income Retrofits: Find out how the Yale Community Carbon Fund overcame implementation challenges to implement energy efficiency and renewable projects in low-income communities in Connecticut.
Beth Galante | Innovation Showcase | 2014 Solar SymposiumGW Solar Institute
This is an Ignite Style presentation (five minute max presentations with slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds) that was a part of the 2014 Solar Symposium Innovation Showcase.
Beth Galante, Chief Energy Efficiency Officer, PosiGen LLC
Making Third Party Ownership Work for Lower-Income Clients: Find out how bundling energy efficiency and solar, government incentives, and standardization is helping low-income individuals, families, and businesses in Louisiana achieve greater fiscal autonomy and energy independence by lowering their energy consumption.
1. California and distributed PV
GW Solar Institute Third Annual Symposium
Bill Powers, P.E., Powers Engineering
April 26, 2011
1
2. John Geesman, California Energy Commissioner, 2007
source: California Energy Circuit, State Sees DG Providing 25% Peak Power, May 11, 2007.
“There’s an ongoing schizophrenia in state policy
between what we say we want to do and what
we actually allow to happen.”
2
3. What is California’s plan? Energy Action Plan
Energy Action Plan Loading Order:
Energy efficiency & demand response
(net zero energy buildings – EE/rooftop PV)
Renewable energy
Combined Heat & Power - CHP
Conventional gas-fired generation
Transmission as needed
Challenges – 1) inadequate regulatory oversight,
2) energy efficiency and distributed generation
run counter to conventional utility business model
3
4. How much rooftop PV does California need to meet 2020
net zero energy targets for existing buildings? ~15,000 MW
CPUC, California Long-Term Strategic Energy Efficiency Plan, January 2011 update
Target: 25% of existing residential reaches 70% reduction
by 2020
Assume 30% reduction with EE, 40% with PV
Residential rooftop PV requirement = 4,800 MW
Target: 50% of existing commercial reaches net zero
energy by 2030 [assume 25% reach net zero by 2020]
Assume 30% reduction with EE, 70% with PV
Commercial rooftop PV requirement = 9,800 MW
Total 2020 residential/commercial rooftop PV = 14,600 MW
4
5. California Gov. Jerry Brown Clean Energy Jobs
Plan – local focus
12,000 MW of local renewable power by 2020,
out of 20,000 MW target
Feed-in tariff for renewables under 20 MW
4,000 MW of new combined heat & power
(can be fueled with biogas or biomethane)
5
6. Distributed PV in California – the pace is
accelerating
PV Project Underway Capacity Completion
(MW) date
California Solar Initiative 3,000 2016
Utility distributed PV 1,100 2014
SB 32 feed-in tariff 750 2014
CPUC renewable auction 1,000 2014
mechanism
SMUD feed-in tariff 100 2012
Total committed DG PV ~6,000
6
7. What is the California IOU renewable energy plan?
CPUC, 33% RPS Implementation Analysis Preliminary Results, June 2009, p. 87.
J. Firooz, Transmission in Short Supply or Do IOUs Want More Profits?, Natural Gas & Electricity Journal, July 2010.
graphic: Black & Veatch and E3, Summary of PV Potential Assessment in RETI and the 33% Implementation Analysis,
Re-DEC Working Group Meeting, December 9, 2009, p. 10.
Original plan was 10,000 MW of
large-scale, remote solar.
Priority emphasis on new, high
profit (12% ROI) transmission.
Up to $15 billion in new
transmission additions in
California, justified on renewable
energy, if utility plans realized.
Now up to 3,000 MW of
distributed PV, beyond 3,000 MW
in California Solar Initiative, also
in the pipeline: IOU-owned PV,
Renewable Auction Mechanism,
SB 32 FIT.
7
8. 10,000+ MW Path 46, passing thru Mojave and Colorado deserts,
has lightest load in West. However, access is uncertain due to
existing proprietary long-term capacity contracts.
Sources: 2005 CEC Strategic Transmission Investment Study; June 2010 WECC Path Utilization Study Part of TEPPC 2009 Annual Report.
8
9. Achilles heel of remote central station generation,
whether solar or wind - cost of new transmission
sources: 1) RPS Calculator, 2) J. Firooz, P.E., CAISO: How its transmission planning process has lost sight of the public’s interest,
prepared for UCAN, April 15, 2010.
California Public Utilities Commission calculated
$34/MWh transmission cost adder in June 2009 for
remote renewable generation.
CPUC assumed renewable generation financed over 20
yr, transmission over 40 yr.
Cost adder is $46/MWh if generation and transmission
financed over same 20 yr period (apples-to-apples).
9
10. Cost of energy for solar and wind – California
agency analyses
source: Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, RETI Phase 2B Final Report, May 2010, Tables 4-5, 4-7, 4-8, CPUC 2010 LTPP
proceeding, Long-Term Renewable Resource Planning Standards, Attachment 1, Table 1, June 2010.
Technology Capital cost Capacity Capacity Cost of
factor energy
($) (MW) (%) ($/MWh)
Solar thermal, 5,350 – 5,550 200 24 202
dry-cooled
Fixed thin-film PV 3,600 – 4,000 20 24 138
Tracking 4,000 – 5,000 20 27 135
polysilicon PV
Onshore wind 2,371 utility-scale 33 95
10
11. Germany installs residential PV at $4/Wdc, lower
cost than utility-scale solar thermal
source: C. Landen – Sovella AG, Complexity cost and economies of scale: Why German residential PV costs 25% less than US,
presented at Solar Power International, October 2010.
11
12. Distributed PV as reliable as peaking gas turbine at
summer peak in California
source: B. Powers, Bay Area Smart Energy 2020, to be released in May 2011.
Top 100 hours of summer peak load in
PG&E territory in 2007.
Correlated to hour-by-hour cloud cover
at Oakland and San Jose airports.
Correlated to hour-by-hour global
irradiance for same sites.
Solar resource > 95% available during
all peak hours.
One anomalous data point due to
scattered clouds at airports when rest of
Bay Area nearly cloud free (see GOES
satellite images at right, 3 pm and 4 pm,
July 5, 2007).
12
13. Utilities – wind power must be backed-up by
combustion turbines
World without RPS requirements – utilities build
combustion turbines to meet rising peak load.
World with RPS requirements – utilities build combustion
turbines, and wind turbines, and new transmission to
meet rising peak load.
Or central station solar thermal or solar PV, and new
transmission.
Or distributed solar PV (ideally with limited 2 to 3 hr
energy storage), and no new transmission.
13
14. Germany – the gold standard
source of 7,400 MWdc in 2010: Renewable Energy World, New Record for German Renewable Energy in 2010, Germany , March 25, 2011.
source of 50,000 MW distributed PV projected by 2020: DENA Grid Study II – Integration of Renewable Energy Sources in the German Power
Supply System from 2015 – 2020 with an Outlook to 2025, April 2011.
7,400 MWdc distributed PV installed in 2010
60 percent less than 100 kW
80 percent less than 1 MW
1,550 MWac of wind installed in 2010
50,000 MW distributed PV projected for 2020
Framework for success: feed-in tariff
14
15. April 20th 2011, Germany – PV provides 20% of country’s
electricity at mid-day
German source, EEX Transparency Platform:
http://www.transparency.eex.com/en/Statutory%20Publication%20Requirements%20of%20the%20Transmission%20System%20Operators
Installed Jan. 1, 2011:
wind, 27,000 MWac
solar PV, 16,500
MWdc
Graphic:
yellow = PV
green = wind
gray = conventional
15
16. April 20th 2011, Germany – PV provides 20% of
country’s electricity at mid-day, wind < 1%
German source, EEX Transparency Platform:
http://www.transparency.eex.com/en/Statutory%20Publication%20Requirements%20of%20the%20Transmission%20System%20Operators
Top graphic – PV
production, >
12,000 MW at mid-
day, weather
conditions clear to
partly cloudy
Bottom graphic –
wind production,
ranging from 2,400
MW at midnight to
400 MW at noon
16
17. Western Interconnect 2010 loads a bit higher than German
loads: min 73,000 MW, max ~150,000 MW
Black & Veatch, Need for Renewables and Gas Fired Generation in WECC - Wyoming Infrastructure Authority Board Meeting, Jan 25, 2010.
17
18. Status of utility-scale desert solar on public lands –
lawsuits, cancellations, and uncertainty
Solar project Technology MW Status
Ivanpah Power tower 370 lawsuit
Blythe Solar trough 1,000 lawsuit
Calico Dish stirling 663 cancelled
Desert Sunlight PV 550 lawsuit
Lucerne Valley PV 45 lawsuit
Palen Solar trough 500 lawsuit
Imperial Valley Dish stirling 709 cancelled
Genesis Solar trough 250 lawsuit
Ridgecrest Solar trough 250 cancelled
18
19. Problem – ARRA projects are going on undeveloped public
lands, not retired ag lands or mining/military brownfields
source of photos: B. Powers and Solar Done Right website: http://solar.ehclients.com/images/uploads/env_impacts_of_lg-scale_solar_projects.pdf
19
20. 1,000 MW Solar Millenium Blythe Solar – disturbed ag
land alternative is feasible, ARRA deadline is hurdle
Sept 2010 CEC Decision: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2010publications/CEC-800-2010-009/CEC-800-2010-009-CMF.PDF
Blythe Mesa Alternative
would include a 1,000 MW
solar facility on three non-
contiguous areas totaling
approximately 6,200 acres.
Blythe Mesa Alternative is
potentially feasible and
meets all but one of the
project objectives.
Private parcel acquisition
would likely not occur
quickly enough to complete
permitting in 2010 to qualify
for ARRA funding.
20
21. 1,000 MW Solar Millenium Blythe Solar will disturb 7,000
acres of currently undisturbed public land - nearly size of DC
sources: photo of Washington, DC – Google Earth; 7,000 acres of disturbed land - California Energy Commission, Blythe Solar Project
webpage: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solar_millennium_blythe/index.html
21
22. Mojave Solar Development Zone proposal, April 2007 – Solar
Millenium suggests brownfields, anticipates siting challenge
source: Solar Millenium public comment, April 17, 2007 IEPR CEC Workshop, Renewable Transmission, Sacramento. See:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2007_energypolicy/documents/2007-04-17_workshop/public_comments/22RainerAringhoffSolarMillenium.pdf
22
23. 550 MW Desert Sunlight in shadow of Joshua Tree
National Park – too big and too close
August 2010 BLM DEIS: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/Solar_Projects/Desert_Sunlight.html
December 2010 CEC Decision: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2010publications/CEC-800-2010-010/CEC-800-2010-010-CMF.PDF
Project site surrounded on three sides by Joshua Tree NP
Disturbed agricultural land nearby in Desert Center (photo)
Large project not appropriate on border of national park
23
24. Recommended guidance to Department of
Interior for use in prioritizing 2011 projects
source: California Desert & Renewable Energy Working Group, Recommendations to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Ways to Improve
Planning and Permitting for the Next Generation of Solar Energy Projects on BLM Land in the California Desert, December 22, 2010
#1 Low Conflict Areas: timely or expedited permitting/
probable permit approval
Mechanically disturbed lands such as fallowed agricultural lands.
Brownfields, idle or underutilized industrial areas.
Locations adjacent to urbanized areas and/or load centers where
edge effects can be minimized.
Locations that minimize the need to build new roads.
Meets one or more of the following transmission sub-criteria:
transmission with existing capacity and substations is already
available; minimal additional infrastructure would be necessary,
such as incremental transmission re-conductoring or upgrades,
and development of substations; new transmission line only if
permitted and no legal challenges.
24
25. Signers of December 2010 recommended guidance:
who’s who of utilities, solar developers, NGOs
Lisa Belenky, Center for Biological Diversity
Darren Bouton, First Solar, Inc.
Barbara Boyle, Sierra Club
Laura Crane, The Nature Conservancy
Kim Delfino, Defenders of Wildlife
Shannon Eddy, Large-scale Solar Association
Sean Gallagher, Tessera Solar
Arthur Haubenstock, BrightSource Energy
Rachel McMahon, Solar Millennium
Michael Mantell, Chair, California Desert & Renewable Energy
Working Group
Wendy Pulling, Pacific Gas & Electric
Johanna Wald, Natural Resources Defense Council
Peter Weiner, Solar industry attorney
V. John White, Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable
Technologies
25
26. EPA’s “RE-Powering America's Land” initiative
see: http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/; photo: PV on former landfill, Ft. Collins, CO.
Siting Renewable Energy on
Potentially Contaminated Land
and Mine Sites
EPA is encouraging renewable
energy development on current
and formerly contaminated land
and mine sites.
EPA would be the appropriate
lead federal entity to designate
“low conflict area” sites for utility-
scale solar projects.
Dept. of Interior/BLM is not the
appropriate entity, as many of
these low conflict sites are not on
BLM land.
26
27. California is already on the road to a predominantly
distributed PV future
No technical or economic impediments.
PV at the point-of-use is more cost-effective than
remote solar thermal whether or not new transmission
is needed.
Remote PV that does not require new transmission is
comparable in cost to PV at the point-of-use – line
losses negate much of the desert sun advantage.
Hurdles are institutional – investor-owned utility model
has not yet been re-aligned to advance distributed PV,
and regulators are not forcing the issue.
27