Solar electric has been getting all the headlines lately, yet there is another type of solar energy that has been affordable and available in the U.S. for more than 100 years. The technology is a solar thermal system and it is primarily used to provide domestic hot water (DHW).
The first U.S. large production solar DHW system came in the late 1800s. Clarence Kemp patented a method to combine the old practice of exposing metal tanks to the sun with the use of the solar box. He called his new solar water heater the “Climax.”
Kemp sold his solar water heaters in California — where over 1,600 units were in service by 1900. In 1909, William J. Bailey patented an improved solar water heater. He separated the solar water heater into two parts with a heating element exposed to the sun outside and an insulated storage tank in the house. Households could now have solar-heated water day and night and the next morning.
Bailey's “Day and Night” solar had a motto “Sunshine Like Salvation is Free.” From 1909 through 1918 Bailey sold more than 4,000 systems in California. Later, after the solar boom in California, Floridians purchased and shipped more than 100,000 solar water heaters between 1930 and 1954. Half of Miami homes had solar water heaters. In the early 1950s electricity became cheap in Florida and electric utilities gave away electric water heaters to gain market control. By 1973, there were only two full-time solar water heating companies left in the U.S.
In 1973, the Organization of Oil Exporting Companies (OPEC) started an oil embargo against the U.S. The Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act passed in 1974, which established the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) and led to the solar thermal boom of the 1970s and 1980s. SERI later became the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) based in Golden, Colo. During this time, installing a solar system on your home was considered a patriotic act.
The federal and state solar thermal tax credits that existed from 1979 to 1986 started a nationwide boom in solar hot water systems that helped establish hundreds of manufacturers and thousands of contractors and distributors.
In Grand Junction alone in 1985, there were 25 solar companies (there are now 8-10 solar companies in GJ). After the tax credits ended in 1986, there was one GJ solar company that stayed in business, Atlasta Solar Center, which is alive and well today.
After 1986, over 95% of all solar companies nationwide went out of business. Between 1978 and 1986 there were 1 million solar thermal systems installed in the U.S — 1 out of every 65 households. By contrast, there are only about 150,000 grid-tied solar electric systems installed in the U.S. — 1 out of every 1,000 households.
Today, solar water heating has strong growth. In 2006, solar water heating installations more than doubled compared to 2005 due to the residential federal solar tax credit. Then in 2008, installations grew 56%. Solar (DHW) prices and technologies continue to improve. Some of the old solar DHW systems look like a science experiment and were overcomplicated (see photo 1). New, more attractive, evacuated solar tubes can be flush mounted on the roof (see photo 2).
A new solar DHW system can now be purchased for as little as $2,500, and can save hundreds of dollars a year. Solar electric systems typically cost 10 times that. Atlasta Solar has been installing and servicing solar DHW systems for more than 30 years.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Survey says Coloradans are fed up with oil companies, want more renewables
Survey says Coloradans are fed up with oil companies, want more renewables
By Scot Kersgaard | 08.24.11 | 8:39 am
Coloradans blame market speculation and oil companies for high gas prices, and the vast majority say the best way to bring prices down is to crackdown on market manipulation, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The Checks and Balances Project commissioned Colorado pollster Chris Keating to conduct research that shows that 79 percent of Coloradans favor a crackdown on oil price speculation and market manipulation to reduce gas prices. The survey showed 77 percent of Colorado voters think reducing oil consumption through efficiency would also be an effective way to reduce prices.
“Coloradans are tired of paying for their gas twice: once at the pump and again through their taxes,” said Matt Garrington, deputy director of the Checks and Balances Project. “It’s clear car and truck drivers in this state want solutions to this problem now, including a crackdown on market manipulation, a balanced approach to energy development and an end to taxpayer handouts for oil companies.”
Garrington told The Colorado Independent that the surveyors asked open ended questions along the lines of “Why do you think oil prices are so high? and What could be done to bring prices down?”
“We didn’t lay out policy options to choose from. We just asked people what they thought,” he said.
According to Garrington, Coloradans strongly favor ending taxpayer subsidies for oil companies. Seventy-two percent of Coloradans say ending oil company subsidies and transferring those subsidies to companies that are developing wind and solar power would be an effective strategy for the nation.
Garrington pointed to a ThinkProgress study that shows how market manipulation affects the price of oil. The study shows that while the effect of speculation varies, it can increase the price of oil substantially.
“It’s time for oil and gas companies to stand on their own two feet,” said Garrington. “Coloradans understand that we simply can’t afford to pay billions in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil. It is simply immoral to continue the Big Oil gravy train when Americans have been asked to sacrifice billions in cuts to Medicare.”
To reduce gas prices, he said seven of 10 Coloradans favor diversification of the sources of energy by creating a national renewable electricity standard that requires 20 percent of electricity to come from sources like solar, wind and geothermal power.
The live telephone poll conducted May 24-26, 2011 by Keating Research, Inc. as an internal messaging survey. It was released to the public on the eve of the Americans for Prosperity “Running on Empty” Colorado tour stops that promote increased oil drilling. The Checks and Balances Project criticized the group as a front for Big Oil and noted that billionaire oil refinery tycoons David and Charles Koch fund the organization.
“The Americans for Prosperity tour is running on empty ideas. Instead of investing our energy dollars into drilling deeper and putting Colorado land and water at risk, we need to build cars that can go further on a gallon of gasoline and to tap into the clean energy of the wind and sun – energy sources we have right here in Colorado that never run out,” said Garrington.
Results of the survey were based on 603 interviews with registered Colorado voters statewide. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
Responding to additional questions by email, Garrington said this about why the poll was conducted and why it is being released now, several months after the polling was completed.
“Checks and Balances was interested in learning where the public was at on gas prices and subsidies in the context of the larger political debate happening in Washington. We chose to release the poll in response to the Americans for Prosperity tour, which is backed by Big Oil and the Koch Brothers. AFP is using gas prices to try and take political advantage of the American public and leverage more handouts for Big Oil – this time in the form of our public lands, drinking water, and air quality.”
By Scot Kersgaard | 08.24.11 | 8:39 am
Coloradans blame market speculation and oil companies for high gas prices, and the vast majority say the best way to bring prices down is to crackdown on market manipulation, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The Checks and Balances Project commissioned Colorado pollster Chris Keating to conduct research that shows that 79 percent of Coloradans favor a crackdown on oil price speculation and market manipulation to reduce gas prices. The survey showed 77 percent of Colorado voters think reducing oil consumption through efficiency would also be an effective way to reduce prices.
“Coloradans are tired of paying for their gas twice: once at the pump and again through their taxes,” said Matt Garrington, deputy director of the Checks and Balances Project. “It’s clear car and truck drivers in this state want solutions to this problem now, including a crackdown on market manipulation, a balanced approach to energy development and an end to taxpayer handouts for oil companies.”
Garrington told The Colorado Independent that the surveyors asked open ended questions along the lines of “Why do you think oil prices are so high? and What could be done to bring prices down?”
“We didn’t lay out policy options to choose from. We just asked people what they thought,” he said.
According to Garrington, Coloradans strongly favor ending taxpayer subsidies for oil companies. Seventy-two percent of Coloradans say ending oil company subsidies and transferring those subsidies to companies that are developing wind and solar power would be an effective strategy for the nation.
Garrington pointed to a ThinkProgress study that shows how market manipulation affects the price of oil. The study shows that while the effect of speculation varies, it can increase the price of oil substantially.
“It’s time for oil and gas companies to stand on their own two feet,” said Garrington. “Coloradans understand that we simply can’t afford to pay billions in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil. It is simply immoral to continue the Big Oil gravy train when Americans have been asked to sacrifice billions in cuts to Medicare.”
To reduce gas prices, he said seven of 10 Coloradans favor diversification of the sources of energy by creating a national renewable electricity standard that requires 20 percent of electricity to come from sources like solar, wind and geothermal power.
The live telephone poll conducted May 24-26, 2011 by Keating Research, Inc. as an internal messaging survey. It was released to the public on the eve of the Americans for Prosperity “Running on Empty” Colorado tour stops that promote increased oil drilling. The Checks and Balances Project criticized the group as a front for Big Oil and noted that billionaire oil refinery tycoons David and Charles Koch fund the organization.
“The Americans for Prosperity tour is running on empty ideas. Instead of investing our energy dollars into drilling deeper and putting Colorado land and water at risk, we need to build cars that can go further on a gallon of gasoline and to tap into the clean energy of the wind and sun – energy sources we have right here in Colorado that never run out,” said Garrington.
Results of the survey were based on 603 interviews with registered Colorado voters statewide. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
Responding to additional questions by email, Garrington said this about why the poll was conducted and why it is being released now, several months after the polling was completed.
“Checks and Balances was interested in learning where the public was at on gas prices and subsidies in the context of the larger political debate happening in Washington. We chose to release the poll in response to the Americans for Prosperity tour, which is backed by Big Oil and the Koch Brothers. AFP is using gas prices to try and take political advantage of the American public and leverage more handouts for Big Oil – this time in the form of our public lands, drinking water, and air quality.”
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Grand Valley's first solar farm began producing electricity Aug. 1.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Grand Valley's first solar farm began producing electricity Aug. 1.
Two years ago the rural electric cooperative Grand Valley Power began looking into how it could promote solar energy to its customers.
The utility broke ground in May for the 88-solar panel farm at 714 29 Road.
Rooftop solar arrays on private homes usually cost $15,000 to $20,000 — a hurdle for many of its members, GVP energy service administrator Derek Elder said.
For a $950 one-time upfront leasing fee of the 235-watt panel, a co-op member can receive electricity for 25 years. At current electricity rates that means a person would recoup his investment in 22 years.
“The reality is rates will go up,” Elder said. “As rates go up, the (rate of) return will come down.
“A lot of our solar grid-tie customers (who install solar arrays on their homes) are retired or getting ready to retire and are on a fixed income and are looking to control their expenses (against future rate increases) as much as possible.”
One 235-watt panel at maximum production is enough to energize three 75-watt lightbulbs, Elder said. Members will see the amount of electricity produced monthly noted on their utility bills, along with an average $3.60 credit per panel.
Residential customers can purchase up to a 10 kwh system, or about 40 panels. An average household needs about 20 panels for its entire electricity use, Elder said. A person can buy one panel per year if they want.
“They can build their system to their comfort level,” Elder said.
“If a person wanted to go up to 40, and consumed only 20, they'd receive a credit at the end of the year for the excess (energy).
People who install solar panels on their rooftops also receive credit for extra electricity produced.
“The advantage of the solar farm, we break it down panel by panel,” making it affordable for people, Elder said.
Once all 88 panels are leased, the co-op will use funds to build phase two. The site currently energizes 20 kwh.
“At this site we have the capacity to build up to 130 kwh,” Elder said. “If that fills up we'll take the same model and replicate the model on other property.”
Customers who move after they've purchased a panel are allowed to transfer that solar credit to a new address as long as it's a Grand Valley Power account. If the person moves outside of Grand Valley Power service area, the credit either stays with the property or can be transferred to another Grand Valley Power account.
Grand Valley Power serves outlying areas of Fruita and Grand Junction, from the Utah state line to the rural areas of DeBeque. The co-op includes 17,000 meters.
Atlasta Solar of Grand Junction installed the farm's solar panels.
“They did a good job and it looks nice as well,” Elder said.
A ribbon-cutting of the new solar farm takes place 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12, at 714 29 Road. Grand Valley Power is also celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house and annual meeting, 4-8 p.m. at 845 22 Road. Grand Valley Power was formed in 1936, by a group of rural people in the lower Grand Valley who had been unable to secure electric service from existing utilities, due to unavailability at the time, or high construction costs to the individual user.
The utility began Aug. 1, 2011, producing solar power at its solar farm at 714 29 Road. Eighty-eight solar panels were installed on two-thirds of an acre by Atlasta Solar Center.
Grand Valley Power customers can protect against future rising electricity rates by purchasing one or more of the farm's panels ($950/each). As electricity rates go up, customers will recoup their investment in solar sooner.
GO&DO
What: Grand Valley Power solar farm ribbon-cutting AND 75th anniversary open house and annual meeting
When: Fri., Aug. 12 — ribbon cutting at 10 a.m.; celebration, 4-8 p.m.; BBQ buffet meal served 5-7 p.m. with the meeting.
Where: Ribbon cutting - 714 29 Road
Open house and meeting - 845 22 Road
Info: 242-0040, www.GVP.org
Two years ago the rural electric cooperative Grand Valley Power began looking into how it could promote solar energy to its customers.
The utility broke ground in May for the 88-solar panel farm at 714 29 Road.
Rooftop solar arrays on private homes usually cost $15,000 to $20,000 — a hurdle for many of its members, GVP energy service administrator Derek Elder said.
For a $950 one-time upfront leasing fee of the 235-watt panel, a co-op member can receive electricity for 25 years. At current electricity rates that means a person would recoup his investment in 22 years.
“The reality is rates will go up,” Elder said. “As rates go up, the (rate of) return will come down.
“A lot of our solar grid-tie customers (who install solar arrays on their homes) are retired or getting ready to retire and are on a fixed income and are looking to control their expenses (against future rate increases) as much as possible.”
One 235-watt panel at maximum production is enough to energize three 75-watt lightbulbs, Elder said. Members will see the amount of electricity produced monthly noted on their utility bills, along with an average $3.60 credit per panel.
Residential customers can purchase up to a 10 kwh system, or about 40 panels. An average household needs about 20 panels for its entire electricity use, Elder said. A person can buy one panel per year if they want.
“They can build their system to their comfort level,” Elder said.
“If a person wanted to go up to 40, and consumed only 20, they'd receive a credit at the end of the year for the excess (energy).
People who install solar panels on their rooftops also receive credit for extra electricity produced.
“The advantage of the solar farm, we break it down panel by panel,” making it affordable for people, Elder said.
Once all 88 panels are leased, the co-op will use funds to build phase two. The site currently energizes 20 kwh.
“At this site we have the capacity to build up to 130 kwh,” Elder said. “If that fills up we'll take the same model and replicate the model on other property.”
Customers who move after they've purchased a panel are allowed to transfer that solar credit to a new address as long as it's a Grand Valley Power account. If the person moves outside of Grand Valley Power service area, the credit either stays with the property or can be transferred to another Grand Valley Power account.
Grand Valley Power serves outlying areas of Fruita and Grand Junction, from the Utah state line to the rural areas of DeBeque. The co-op includes 17,000 meters.
Atlasta Solar of Grand Junction installed the farm's solar panels.
“They did a good job and it looks nice as well,” Elder said.
A ribbon-cutting of the new solar farm takes place 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 12, at 714 29 Road. Grand Valley Power is also celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house and annual meeting, 4-8 p.m. at 845 22 Road. Grand Valley Power was formed in 1936, by a group of rural people in the lower Grand Valley who had been unable to secure electric service from existing utilities, due to unavailability at the time, or high construction costs to the individual user.
The utility began Aug. 1, 2011, producing solar power at its solar farm at 714 29 Road. Eighty-eight solar panels were installed on two-thirds of an acre by Atlasta Solar Center.
Grand Valley Power customers can protect against future rising electricity rates by purchasing one or more of the farm's panels ($950/each). As electricity rates go up, customers will recoup their investment in solar sooner.
GO&DO
What: Grand Valley Power solar farm ribbon-cutting AND 75th anniversary open house and annual meeting
When: Fri., Aug. 12 — ribbon cutting at 10 a.m.; celebration, 4-8 p.m.; BBQ buffet meal served 5-7 p.m. with the meeting.
Where: Ribbon cutting - 714 29 Road
Open house and meeting - 845 22 Road
Info: 242-0040, www.GVP.org
New Solar Farm Open For BusinessOffers Low-Cost Solar Energy
New Solar Farm Open For BusinessOffers Low-Cost Solar Energy
Dann Cianca dcianca@kjct8.com
POSTED: 6:46 pm MDT August 12, 2011
Embed this VideoxEmailFacebookDiggTwitterRedditDelicious Link
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- A Grand Valley company is offering to lease you a little piece of sunshine. And they guarantee you'll make your money back over time.
Grand Valley Power held a ribbon cutting at their new solar farm on 29 Road today. The farm is unique because it allows people to lease a solar panel for $950. That is much less than the $20,000 that it costs to install a solar system at your home.
Derek Elder of Grand Valley Power says that it's a good opportunity for more people to become involved in solar power.
"It opens it up for renters to participate in solar. It opens it up for people who don't have their houses oriented properly. People who might have shade trees around their houses."
This is the first solar farm of its kind in the Grand Valley and the fourth in Colorado. It will be expanded based on interest and builders hope that usage will be high enough to warrant future farms.
Dann Cianca dcianca@kjct8.com
POSTED: 6:46 pm MDT August 12, 2011
Embed this VideoxEmailFacebookDiggTwitterRedditDelicious Link
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- A Grand Valley company is offering to lease you a little piece of sunshine. And they guarantee you'll make your money back over time.
Grand Valley Power held a ribbon cutting at their new solar farm on 29 Road today. The farm is unique because it allows people to lease a solar panel for $950. That is much less than the $20,000 that it costs to install a solar system at your home.
Derek Elder of Grand Valley Power says that it's a good opportunity for more people to become involved in solar power.
"It opens it up for renters to participate in solar. It opens it up for people who don't have their houses oriented properly. People who might have shade trees around their houses."
This is the first solar farm of its kind in the Grand Valley and the fourth in Colorado. It will be expanded based on interest and builders hope that usage will be high enough to warrant future farms.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Hidden Cost Savings: The Top 9 Public Benefits Of Installing Solar Power
Hidden Cost Savings: The Top 9 Public Benefits Of Installing Solar Power
Jessica Lillian, Monday 01 August 2011 - 21:59:43
Even as the costs of solar power continue to decline, a widespread perception from the public and many policymakers that solar is "too expensive" remains stubbornly in place - much to the frustration of advocates and industry professionals.
A new study challenges this assumption by delving into the numbers to compare the actual costs and benefits of solar power projects. The results confirm several key widespread public benefits of solar power and could provide the industry with a valuable weapon in the public-perception fight - a battle that remains crucial for long-term viability and growth.
The report, authored by Richard Perez at the University of Albany, Ken Zweibel at the GW Solar Institute and Thomas E. Hoff of Clean Power Research, focuses on tangible benefits that solar power generation delivers to utilities, ratepayers and taxpayers.
"It is clear that some possibly large value of solar energy is missed by traditional analysis," the report says.
Notably, these advantages apply to a wide population, thus providing a rebuttal to the "what's in it for me?" argument. Many other well-known recent studies on solar power's benefits focus on real - but not public - benefits. For instance, the average taxpayer may not care that his neighbor's rooftop PV array has raised that home's value or that the solar sector has created jobs for other people.
The new study, titled "Solar Power Generation in the U.S.: Too expensive or a bargain?," finds that, in all, solar PV installations deliver $0.15/kWh to $0.40/kWh to ratepayers and taxpayers.
Although incentives have proven to be a vital driver of solar power growth, the report's authors argue that the gulf between "inexpensive" conventional energy and "expensive" solar is smaller than often portrayed, especially when solar's public benefits are taken into account.
"This large apparent 'grid-parity gap' can hinder constructive dialogue with key decision makers and constitutes a powerful argument to weaken political support for solar incentives, especially during tight budgetary times," the authors wrote.
Instead, according to the report, incentives can be viewed as a logical means of transferring value from the public - which is enjoying solar's $0.15/kWh to $0.40/kWh benefits - to those who invested in the solar plants creating those benefits.
Where did the public-benefit dollar figure come from? What are these benefits, exactly? The report breaks down solar power's public value into the following nine accrued benefits (based on an analysis of relatively non-sunny New York City):
1. Savings on wholesale energy ($0.06-$0.11/kWh, of the total $0.15/kWh-$0.40/kWh). Locally generated electricity from solar installations reduces the amount of power utilities must purchase at higher prices on the wholesale market.
2. Reduction of demand-response expenses ($0.00-$0.05/kWh). "PV installations can deliver the equivalent of capacity, displacing the need to purchase this capacity elsewhere, e.g., via demand response," the report explains.
3. Savings on energy losses within the distribution system ($0.00-$0.01/kWh). Electrical losses typically incurred when energy is moved from large power plants to local loads can be avoided with distributed solar plants sited close to the load.
4. Reduced need for feeder equipment upgrades ($0.00-$0.03/kWh). Because distributed PV can deliver capacity at the feeder level, it can reduce the wear and tear on transformers and other feeder equipment.
5. Hedge against fuel-price spikes ($0.02-$0.03/kWh). "Solar energy does not depend on commodities whose prices fluctuate on short-term scales and will likely escalate substantially over the long term," the report says.
6. Grid security aid ($0.03-$0.06/kWh). Solar power's ability to closely mirror peak power demand can help reduce the chances of blackouts that can occur when the existing power system is overly stressed. Power outages currently cost the U.S. economy approximately $100 billion annually, according to the report.
7. Health-related and environmental gains ($0.03-$0.06/kWh). The deployment of solar power displaces the greenhouse gas emissions, mining-related consequences, water contamination, and other environmental- and health-related damages associated with fossil fuels. The $0.03-$0.06/kWh figure cited is "certainly a conservative range," the report adds.
8. Long-term taxpayer benefits from reduced fuel-price volatility ($0.03-$0.04/kWh). Using an estimate of a 150% rise in fuel-based generation costs by 2036 (deemed a conservative estimate), the report found that the "insurance hedge" of solar generation contributes a significant long-term value (in addition to the short-term fuel-price hedge value mentioned earlier).
9. Economic boost. The job-creation benefits of solar power have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Moreover, "Job creation implies value to society in many ways, including increased tax revenues, reduced unemployment and an increase in general confidence conducive to business development," the report explains.
Photo credit: U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Copyright © 2000-2011 SolarIndustryMag.com
( http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8418 )
Jessica Lillian, Monday 01 August 2011 - 21:59:43
Even as the costs of solar power continue to decline, a widespread perception from the public and many policymakers that solar is "too expensive" remains stubbornly in place - much to the frustration of advocates and industry professionals.
A new study challenges this assumption by delving into the numbers to compare the actual costs and benefits of solar power projects. The results confirm several key widespread public benefits of solar power and could provide the industry with a valuable weapon in the public-perception fight - a battle that remains crucial for long-term viability and growth.
The report, authored by Richard Perez at the University of Albany, Ken Zweibel at the GW Solar Institute and Thomas E. Hoff of Clean Power Research, focuses on tangible benefits that solar power generation delivers to utilities, ratepayers and taxpayers.
"It is clear that some possibly large value of solar energy is missed by traditional analysis," the report says.
Notably, these advantages apply to a wide population, thus providing a rebuttal to the "what's in it for me?" argument. Many other well-known recent studies on solar power's benefits focus on real - but not public - benefits. For instance, the average taxpayer may not care that his neighbor's rooftop PV array has raised that home's value or that the solar sector has created jobs for other people.
The new study, titled "Solar Power Generation in the U.S.: Too expensive or a bargain?," finds that, in all, solar PV installations deliver $0.15/kWh to $0.40/kWh to ratepayers and taxpayers.
Although incentives have proven to be a vital driver of solar power growth, the report's authors argue that the gulf between "inexpensive" conventional energy and "expensive" solar is smaller than often portrayed, especially when solar's public benefits are taken into account.
"This large apparent 'grid-parity gap' can hinder constructive dialogue with key decision makers and constitutes a powerful argument to weaken political support for solar incentives, especially during tight budgetary times," the authors wrote.
Instead, according to the report, incentives can be viewed as a logical means of transferring value from the public - which is enjoying solar's $0.15/kWh to $0.40/kWh benefits - to those who invested in the solar plants creating those benefits.
Where did the public-benefit dollar figure come from? What are these benefits, exactly? The report breaks down solar power's public value into the following nine accrued benefits (based on an analysis of relatively non-sunny New York City):
1. Savings on wholesale energy ($0.06-$0.11/kWh, of the total $0.15/kWh-$0.40/kWh). Locally generated electricity from solar installations reduces the amount of power utilities must purchase at higher prices on the wholesale market.
2. Reduction of demand-response expenses ($0.00-$0.05/kWh). "PV installations can deliver the equivalent of capacity, displacing the need to purchase this capacity elsewhere, e.g., via demand response," the report explains.
3. Savings on energy losses within the distribution system ($0.00-$0.01/kWh). Electrical losses typically incurred when energy is moved from large power plants to local loads can be avoided with distributed solar plants sited close to the load.
4. Reduced need for feeder equipment upgrades ($0.00-$0.03/kWh). Because distributed PV can deliver capacity at the feeder level, it can reduce the wear and tear on transformers and other feeder equipment.
5. Hedge against fuel-price spikes ($0.02-$0.03/kWh). "Solar energy does not depend on commodities whose prices fluctuate on short-term scales and will likely escalate substantially over the long term," the report says.
6. Grid security aid ($0.03-$0.06/kWh). Solar power's ability to closely mirror peak power demand can help reduce the chances of blackouts that can occur when the existing power system is overly stressed. Power outages currently cost the U.S. economy approximately $100 billion annually, according to the report.
7. Health-related and environmental gains ($0.03-$0.06/kWh). The deployment of solar power displaces the greenhouse gas emissions, mining-related consequences, water contamination, and other environmental- and health-related damages associated with fossil fuels. The $0.03-$0.06/kWh figure cited is "certainly a conservative range," the report adds.
8. Long-term taxpayer benefits from reduced fuel-price volatility ($0.03-$0.04/kWh). Using an estimate of a 150% rise in fuel-based generation costs by 2036 (deemed a conservative estimate), the report found that the "insurance hedge" of solar generation contributes a significant long-term value (in addition to the short-term fuel-price hedge value mentioned earlier).
9. Economic boost. The job-creation benefits of solar power have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Moreover, "Job creation implies value to society in many ways, including increased tax revenues, reduced unemployment and an increase in general confidence conducive to business development," the report explains.
Photo credit: U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Copyright © 2000-2011 SolarIndustryMag.com
( http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8418 )
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