Funded Projects

Grid Integration

Planning and Modeling for High-Penetration PV

Distributed PV systems are outside the scope of most utility planners and engineers, due to their small size and historically low market-penetration and utility personnel may not be familiar with the operational characteristics of these systems. In addition, due to the rapid growth in distributed PV systems, utility grid operation models and planning tools lack the ability to account for distributed PV generation technologies and resources. Problems also exist with the current methods for estimating solar resources and predicting PV system output. Existing solar resource models are based on lower resolution insolation data sets and usually provide only hourly resource values. Only with the emergence of higher concentrations of PV onto distribution feeders has there been a recognition that rapid changes in atmospheric conditions over relatively small areas can have significant impacts on the aggregated PV system output and on the associated electricity distribution system.

Existing methods for predicting and planning for high penetration PV limit the ability of utilities to strategically locate this technology within their T&D systems. New solar resource and utility planning models provide utilities with the means to identify optimal locations for high penetration levels of PV. As PV and other DG resources form a larger portion of the electricity generation mix, it will be increasingly important to have electric system planning, design, and operation modeling tools that provide utilities and others in the solar industry, with the ability to accurately assess and forecast energy output and account for distributed PV systems.

Testing and Development of Hardware and Software for High-Penetration PV

Successful grid integration of high-penetration PV requires robust grid, PV communications, control systems, and operational procedures. PV systems will need to be capable of dynamically interacting with varying frequency and voltage conditions on the grid including load and VAR (reactive power) control to improve reliability. New software and hardware tools will emerge in response to these needs. Field testing, and demonstrations are needed before these new tools can realize widespread market adoption.

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Improved Solar Technologies

The improved PV production technologies focus includes testing and demonstration of new solar technologies and strategies with improved performance/reliability or lower costs. The projects funded in this focus area aim to demonstrate the viability of distributed concentrating PV (CPV), and combining PV with energy storage. By concentrating the available solar radiation on smaller cell material, CPV systems provide for much higher efficiencies compared to traditional flat plate PV. This is both beneficial to reducing system costs with less cell material requirements as well as more energy production in a given area. However, the current market place lacks data on the reliability and long term performance of such systems to allow for financing of CPV projects. Providing long term performance data and information to establish the bankability and reliability will enable confidence towards CPV in the distributed generation market.

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Innovative Business Models

The Innovative Business Model focus area includes projects that provide support to build the market for solar energy. Successful deployment of new business models is required to meet the goals and objectives of the CSI Program. Testing and demonstration of innovative business models will help support expansion of cost-competitive solar technologies by reducing costs or increasing value of the solar system to owners or utilities. The program supports activities that enhance the competitiveness of new technologies, or to help reach a ‘tipping point' into widespread commercialization." This can include projects that involve testing of technologies or measures that enable streamlining of regulatory processes or standards in ways that allow new products to come to market more quickly and at lower costs.

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Cross-cutting: Integration

For utilities, energy efficiency and distributed PV  can help defer the need to build additional peaking generation and T&D system infrastructure. For utility customers, distributed PV provides more control over energy prices. Installing a PV system is one of a number of options available to these customers.  Their other choices include energy efficiency, energy storage, and demand response. Energy efficiency provides the most cost-effective means for addressing energy use within a home, business or community. Implementing energy efficiency measures not only reduces electricity demand but also helps reduce the size and required capital for a PV system.  The choices available can leave customers at a loss to determine the optimum balance of energy efficiency measures and PV system type and size for the specific application.  At present, there are no clear guidelines (especially in retrofit situations) on the energy efficiency measures that utility customers should consider prior to, or in conjunction with, procuring a PV system. Additionally, there is a critical gap in the ability of the current market to provide combined energy efficiency services along with PV  services for the residential sector.

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