Methods for Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the U.S. Electric Utility System
Abstract
This report outlines the methods, data, and tools that could be used at different levels of sophistication and effort to estimate the benefits and costs of DGPV. In so doing, we identify the gaps in current benefit-cost-analysis methods, which we hope will inform the ongoing research agenda in this area. The focus of this report is primarily on benefits and costs from the utility or electricity generation system perspective. It is intended to provide useful background information to utility and regulatory decision makers and their staff, who are often being asked to use or evaluate estimates of the benefits and cost of DGPV in regulatory proceedings. Understanding the technical rigor of the range of methods and how they might need to evolve as DGPV becomes a more significant contributor of energy to the electricity system will help them be better consumers of this type of information. This report is also intended to provide information to utilities, policy makers, PV technology developers, and other stakeholders, which might help them maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of integrating DGPV into a changing electricity system.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1159357
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-6A20-62447
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION; SOLAR PHOTOVOLTATICS; DISTRIBUTED GENERATION; UTILITY RATE STRUCTURES; Energy Analysis; Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
Citation Formats
Denholm, P., Margolis, R., Palmintier, B., Barrows, C., Ibanez, E., Bird, L., and Zuboy, J. Methods for Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the U.S. Electric Utility System. United States: N. p., 2014.
Web. doi:10.2172/1159357.
Denholm, P., Margolis, R., Palmintier, B., Barrows, C., Ibanez, E., Bird, L., & Zuboy, J. Methods for Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the U.S. Electric Utility System. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1159357
Denholm, P., Margolis, R., Palmintier, B., Barrows, C., Ibanez, E., Bird, L., and Zuboy, J. 2014.
"Methods for Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the U.S. Electric Utility System". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1159357. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1159357.
@article{osti_1159357,
title = {Methods for Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation to the U.S. Electric Utility System},
author = {Denholm, P. and Margolis, R. and Palmintier, B. and Barrows, C. and Ibanez, E. and Bird, L. and Zuboy, J.},
abstractNote = {This report outlines the methods, data, and tools that could be used at different levels of sophistication and effort to estimate the benefits and costs of DGPV. In so doing, we identify the gaps in current benefit-cost-analysis methods, which we hope will inform the ongoing research agenda in this area. The focus of this report is primarily on benefits and costs from the utility or electricity generation system perspective. It is intended to provide useful background information to utility and regulatory decision makers and their staff, who are often being asked to use or evaluate estimates of the benefits and cost of DGPV in regulatory proceedings. Understanding the technical rigor of the range of methods and how they might need to evolve as DGPV becomes a more significant contributor of energy to the electricity system will help them be better consumers of this type of information. This report is also intended to provide information to utilities, policy makers, PV technology developers, and other stakeholders, which might help them maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of integrating DGPV into a changing electricity system.},
doi = {10.2172/1159357},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1159357},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}