Utility experience with alternative forms of power generation

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6688512

McCrackin, F; Holte, K C; Straughan, I R

This paper summarizes the Southern California Edison Company's experience with solar central thermal receivers, solar troughs, solar dishes, photovoltaics, geothermal facilities, and wind turbine-generators (WTGs). Topics considered include the characteristics of alternative energy facilities (small-scale construction and modularity, public and political support, investor support, high startup costs, energy conversion efficiency, technical complexity, manufacturing for commercialization), reducing photovoltaic cell costs, the Brawley geothermal pilot plant, the Salton Sea geothermal pilot plant, the Heber geothermal generating station, wind resource assessment, demonstration testing of WTGs, commercial wind parks, and the entrepreneur's role (the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act, price guarantees). As of March 1983, about 60% (1266 MW) of Edison's goal of 2150 MW of renewable and alternative energy forms for development by 1990 was on line, under construction, or had signed contracts or letters of intent.

• Research Organization: Southern California Edison Co., Rosemead, CA
• OSTI ID: 6688512
• Report Number(s): CONF-830446-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
299000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320603* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Public Utilities-- (1980-)
BRAWLEY GEOTHERMAL FIELD
CALIFORNIA
CENTRAL RECEIVERS
COMMERCIALIZATION
CONSTRUCTION
CONVERSION
COST
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION IX
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
HEBER GEOTHERMAL FIELD
INVESTMENT
LAWS
MACHINERY
MANUFACTURING
NATIONAL ENERGY ACT
NORTH AMERICA
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PILOT PLANTS
POWER
POWER GENERATION
PRICING REGULATIONS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES ACT
REGULATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SALTON SEA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR RECEIVERS
START-UP
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USA
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES