EPRI’s Photovoltaic Research Needs
Travis ColemanProject ManagerProject ManagerTom KeyTechnical Executive
Planning Workshop for a New Northeast Solar Energy Research CenterJanuary 11-12, 2011
About EPRI EPRI’s FounderChauncey Starr
Mission: To conduct research on key issues facing the electricitysector on behalf of its members energ stakeholders and societ
Chauncey Starr
• The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), founded in 1973, conducts research and development relating to the generation,
sector …on behalf of its members, energy stakeholders, and society.
p g g ,delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public.
• An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and g pindustry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment.
• EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries.
• EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, C lif Ch l tt N C K ill T d L M
2© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.
EPRI Member PV Research Priorities
• Capital costs
• Annual Performance
• Response to varying meteorological inputsResponse to varying meteorological inputs
• Grid integration characteristics
• Ongoing O&M costs
3© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Capital Costs
• Cost of goodsI t ll ti t• Installation costs
• Efficiency due to learning• Reduction in BOP• 600V DC vs 1000V DC
Courtesy of First Solar
EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:
4© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Document costs and installation
Annual Performance
• Annual performance compared to modeledcompared to modeled performance
• Year over year variability• Degradation rates• Forecasting output
EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:
• Data collection
• Modeling validation and verification
5© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Forecast error calculations
Response to Varying Meteorological Inputs
• Measured difference in output of same technology in
Birmingham, AL (May 14, 2010)1000
output of same technology in different climates
• Transient response of system to various types of clouds
400
600
800
er P
rodu
ctio
n (W
)
to various types of clouds• String/array layout relative to
predominate cloud direction0
200
8am 9am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pmLocal Time (h)
Pow
e
EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:
• Instrumentation, monitoring, and data analysis
6© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Reconfigurable array
Grid Integration Characteristics
• Impacts of high penetration on distribution & transmission systems 8
9
distribution & transmission systems• PV output data synthesis for
plants not yet built3
4
5
6
7
kW
Customer LoadCustomer PV (-)
• Disturbance data for dynamic model development/validation
• Reliability effects0
1
2
3
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22Houry
EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:
Hour
pp
• Detailed electrical event data on grid
• Smart inverters
7© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Storage
Ongoing O&M costs
• Staffing levels P ti ti• Proactive versus reactive maintenance
• Optimal level of spares onsite• Optimal frequency of
washing• BOP maintenanceBOP maintenance
EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:
• Document O&M activities
8© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Washing “trials”
Existing or proposed EPRI projects for 2011
• Central station PVC– Correlate transient responses to cloud passage
– Determine whether larger arrays and/or spatial distribution is effective in dampening fluctuationsdistribution is effective in dampening fluctuations
– Model cloud effects– PV dynamic model development/validation– System operating impacts of PV variability/uncertainty– PV degradation– O&M practices
• Participate in NREL PV database development
9© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Existing or proposed EPRI projects for 2011
• Distributed PV– Distribution PV project– Distribution PV project
• Characterize performance and variability• Multi-node single PV panel, rack and data collection systemsystem
– PV integration on distribution system• Analyze impacts of PV on specific distribution circuits
f f f• Identify economics and feasibility of high penetration rates
• Identify means for accommodating PV (e.g., advanced inverter control storage etc )advanced inverter control, storage, etc )
– O&M practices
10© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Together Shaping the Future of ElectricityTogether…Shaping the Future of Electricity
11© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
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