Solar Power Options for Utility Demand Reduction will be the Hot Topic
On August 27th at 10 a.m. CDT
The focus of the Obama Administration and much of the nation is on the use of renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and our use of coal to prove electric power, both of which will also reduce our Green House Gas emissions (GHGs). Many states have already mandated that a significant percentage of the electric power delivered by a utility be obtained from renewable sources. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that U.S. coal consumption for electricity generation will drop 4.6 percent this year partially because of falling demand but also because utilities are switching to natural gas, nuclear power and renewable energy. Power derived from the sun is one renewable that may offer a utility many potential benefits to meet these ever growing demands for renewable energy. Solar power may offer the potential for quick implementation with the ability to produce a larger output than wind or geothermal power and a greater reduction of GHGs than biomass when all factors of production are considered.
Nationally, the southwest has the potential to provide over 7,000 Gigawatts of generating potential, more than 10 times current U.S. demand. But is solar power really economically feasible today and will it power our future? There are two basic methods of converting solar energy to electricity - thermal and photovoltaic (PV). Which is best for a utility to utilize to reduce coal-fired demand? PV solar panels have been around for years and offer the ability to generate electricity locally where it is needed but in relatively small quantities and the solar panels are also fairly costly. Concentrating solar plants have also been utilized for many years and there have been many technological advances to improve efficiency and reduce capital and O&M costs. These plants can also store the sun’s heat efficiently and effectively (using thermal storage) for between six and twelve hours, meaning that they can dispatch power on demand.
The following speakers will discuss the economic issues of PV and thermal solar power, the driving forces (regulatory, government incentives, GHG reduction) for utilities to utilize these technologies, and provide an update on current PV and thermal technology along with their experience with plants in operation.
Mike Taylor, Director of Research and Education, Solar Electric Power Association.
Utilities are becoming significantly more involved in photovoltaic markets, engaging and exploring the solar value chain in new and unique ways, including utility ownership, energy purchase contracts and facilitating customer accessibility. In particular, the ‘distributed PV power plant' model, an aggregate of PV installations distributed on customer rooftops, is emerging as a particular trend. This presentation will review some of these innovative 'utility solar business model' proposals and how they may impact the PV and utility industries moving forward.
Dr. Juris Kalejs, Chief Technology Officer American Capital Energy, will discuss “Solar PV Systems Engineering for Utility-Scale Projects”.
American Capital Energy is engaged in financing, designing, constructing and installing utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. This level of effort represents an order of magnitude and more scale-up from typical roof-top installations of 1-2 MW peak power penetration, which are by far the most dominant form of grid-tied solar PV plants installed in the U.S. to date. Collaborations with planners and analysis resources such as available at the Georgia Institute of Technology are becoming commonplace in order to study high penetration scenarios for such grid-tied PV plants with the purpose of developing predictive capabilities for utility distributed energy sources offered by solar PV installations. This introductory talk will describe the status of the current commercial large PV plant industry in the U.S. and examine, together with Professor Meliopoulos, the issues of high penetration PV power generation that are of concern to utilities.
Professor Sakis Meliopoulos, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology, will discuss “Active Power Distribution Systems: Impact of Solar Options”.
Power distribution systems will transform into intelligent systems (through
smart grid technologies) with distributed and controllable resources
(Photovoltaic, PHEVs, solar thermal, small wind, standby generation,
controllable appliances, etc.). The challenge in the next couple of decades is
to develop the systems and controls to (a) fully optimize this diverse system
under normal operations and (b) make this system a valuable resource to the
power grid for the purpose of assisting the power grid in case of grid
emergencies. Solar options have unique
characteristics that must be fully utilized in an active power distribution
system. The main advantages of solar options stem from the fact that they are
available when mostly needed. The talk will discuss these issues and elaborate
on approaches to make solar options a valuable
resource to the active power distribution system.
Kelly Beninga, Director of Renewables Group, WorleyParsons Group, Inc.
Paula Mints, Principal Analyst PV Services Program, Associate Director Energy Practice, Navigant Consulting.
To register for the “Hot Topic Hour” on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. CDT, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm .
Bob McIlvaine
847 784-0012 ext. 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com