Evaluating Utility Costs Savings and Resilience: A Case Study in Port Arthur, Texas
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of integrating solar photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and generators to enhance both cost savings and resilience in critical community facilities in Port Arthur, Texas. Using NREL's REopt model, we analyze four facilities: the Golden Triangle Empowerment Center (GTEC), Lamar State College (LSC), Port Arthur Independent School District (PAISD), and Port Arthur Transit (PAT). A key aspect of the analysis is the incorporation of the Value of Lost Load (VoLL) and microgrid upgrade costs to assess the hidden value of resilience during grid outages. While standalone PV scenarios show moderate cost reductions and a 10-15% decrease in CO2 emissions, the inclusion of resilience measures with BESS and generators significantly increases system costs. However, the hidden value of resilience - quantified through avoided outage costs - leads to a substantial improvement in financial outcomes, resulting in positive Net Present Value (NPV) at many sites. The study demonstrates that resilient solar and storage systems offer both economic and resilience benefits, particularly for underserved communities, by balancing energy savings and enhanced operational continuity during outages.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 2479453
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/PR--7A40-87735; MainId:88510; UUID:1c599747-79e7-454a-a84d-25dd752783e3; MainAdminId:75357
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Impacts of valuing resilience on cost-optimal PV and storage systems for commercial buildings
Increasing Resiliency Through Renewable Energy Microgrids
Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
Critical Facilities
Emergency Shelter Resilience
Golden Triangle Empowerment Center (GTEC)
Lamar State College (LSC)
Port Arthur Independent Schools District (PAISD)
Port Arthur Transit (PAT)
REopt
Resilience Analysis
Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN)
Techno-Economic Optimization
Texas
Value of Lost Load (VoLL)