Justification for Expanded Use of Photovoltaic Power Generation
Title
Justification for Expanded Use of Photovoltaic Power Generation
Date
2003
Publisher
New York Institute of Technology
Subject
Photovoltaic power generation
Photovoltaic power systems
Solar cells
Photovoltaic power systems
Solar cells
Language
English.
Format
PDF
Type
Thesis (M.S.)--New York Institute of Technology
School
School of Engineering and Computing Sciences
Major
Department of Environmental Technology
Advisor
Stanley M. Greenwald P.E.
Abstract
The next logical market I believe is commercial buildings located in utility territories with high peak rates and with air-conditioning loads. The installation of rooftop solar panel arrays offers the unique feature of providing shade to the roof surface while the sun is generating electrical energy from the photovoltaic effect of the panel.
The implication of this shading factor is a reduced air-conditioning load, smaller air-conditioning equipment installed, and avoided utility power purchased in excess of the power generated from the panels equal to the air-conditioning power reduction.
The analysis in this study was completed for both northern ( 40° north latitude) and southern (30° north latitude) locations in the U.S. The results show that the southern location benefited by an additional 9% in avoided electrical purchases and had the effect of reducing the price of the solar power by 10% when the AC reduction was included in the analysis. The resulting 19.24 cents/kilowatt-hour is competitive in some utility markets when compared to peak energy cost.
PV solar electricity has the unique property of providing power when traditional peaks occur, as the sun causes peak air-conditioning loads. There is an additional benefit in that the panels provide power to the customer without consuming valuable transmission and distribution capacity. The social benefit of using solar in a grid connected arrangement is that the daily peaks are reduced, requiring less generation from peaking generators, Amongst the dirtiest of all emissions from electric generation. The overall benefits of solar generation are documented throughout the report. The quantification of the air-conditioning benefit will be a useful tool in justifying PV solar in some applications and should help expand their use.
The implication of this shading factor is a reduced air-conditioning load, smaller air-conditioning equipment installed, and avoided utility power purchased in excess of the power generated from the panels equal to the air-conditioning power reduction.
The analysis in this study was completed for both northern ( 40° north latitude) and southern (30° north latitude) locations in the U.S. The results show that the southern location benefited by an additional 9% in avoided electrical purchases and had the effect of reducing the price of the solar power by 10% when the AC reduction was included in the analysis. The resulting 19.24 cents/kilowatt-hour is competitive in some utility markets when compared to peak energy cost.
PV solar electricity has the unique property of providing power when traditional peaks occur, as the sun causes peak air-conditioning loads. There is an additional benefit in that the panels provide power to the customer without consuming valuable transmission and distribution capacity. The social benefit of using solar in a grid connected arrangement is that the daily peaks are reduced, requiring less generation from peaking generators, Amongst the dirtiest of all emissions from electric generation. The overall benefits of solar generation are documented throughout the report. The quantification of the air-conditioning benefit will be a useful tool in justifying PV solar in some applications and should help expand their use.
Files
Citation
Peterson, Arnold W., Justification for Expanded Use of Photovoltaic Power Generation. New York Tech Institutional Repository, accessed April 26, 2024, https://repository.nyitlibrary.org/items/show/2766
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