Assessment of distributed photovoltaic electric-power systems. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6741904

Neal, R W; DeDuck, P F; Marshall, R N

The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for assessing the potential impacts of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems on electric utility systems, including subtransmission and distribution networks, and to apply that methodology to several illustrative examples. The investigations focused upon five specific utilities. Three were actual planned future systems for Northeast Utilities Service Company, Alabama Power Company, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Two were synthetic utilities. Impacts upon utility system operations and generation mix were assessed using accepted utility planning methods in combination with models that simulate PV system performance and life-cycle economics. Impacts on the utility subtransmission and distribution systems were also investigated. The economic potential of distributed PV systems was investigated for ownership by the utility as well as by the individual utility customer. Presented are the methods that were developed for the study, the approach used to define preferred PV systems that could minimize the cost of energy, quantitative results for the case studies, and conclusions based on these results. The results show that by 1995 distributed PV systems may have economic potential in some applications in certain regions of the United States, if a significant reaction in PV costs is achieved, fossil fuel prices continue to rise at 3% over a 6% general inflation rate, satisfactory performance and operating and maintenance requirements are demonstrated with experimental large-scale systems over extended periods of time, and other assumptions are met. The overall potential impact on the utility industry in this time appears relatively small; nevertheless, the potential market for PV systems could approach available PV production capacity in the future.

• Research Organization: JBF Scientific Corp., Wilmington, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6741904
• Report Number(s): EPRI-AP-2687; ON: DE83900566
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
ECONOMIC IMPACT
CLIMATES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COST
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
POWER DEMAND
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
VALUES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
POWER SUPPLIES
POWER SYSTEMS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
SIMULATION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
299001 - Energy Planning & Policy- Solar- (1989-)