The integration of renewable energy sources into electric power distribution systems. Volume 1: National assessment
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- 6714 Norway Road, Dallas, TX (United States)
- Zaininger Engineering Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
Renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic, solar thermal electricity, and wind turbine power are environmentally beneficial sources of electric power generation. The integration of renewable energy sources into electric power distribution systems can provide additional economic benefits because of a reduction in the losses associated with transmission and distribution lines. Benefits associated with the deferment of transmission and distribution investment may also be possible for cases where there is a high correlation between peak circuit load and renewable energy electric generation, such as photovoltaic systems in the Southwest. Case studies were conducted with actual power distribution system data for seven electric utilities with the participation of those utilities. Integrating renewable energy systems into electric power distribution systems increased the value of the benefits by about 20 to 55% above central station benefits in the national regional assessment. In the case studies presented in Vol. II, the range was larger: from a few percent to near 80% for a case where costly investments were deferred. In general, additional savings of at least 10 to 20% can be expected by integrating at the distribution level. Wind energy systems were found to be economical in good wind resource regions, whereas photovoltaic systems costs are presently a factor of 2.5 too expensive under the most favorable conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 10171039
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-6775/V1; ON: DE94015935
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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POLICY AND ECONOMY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
POWER SYSTEMS
PLANNING
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
SOLAR THERMAL CONVERSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
WIND POWER
SOLAR-ASSISTED POWER SYSTEMS
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UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES AND POWER GENERATION
ELECTRIC POWER