Implementation of Rooftop Solar in Qatar: Lessons Learnt from SolarCity Business and Finance Models in the U.S.

Energy from the sun has vast potential for powering modern society. The first decades of the 21st century saw a rapid increase in the deployment of solar power, with global solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity growing over 25-fold, from 23 GW to 627 GW, between 2009 and 2019. Growth in the solar PV market is supported by financial and regulatory incentives offered by many governments worldwide. These incentives include feed-in tariffs, rebates, and tax incentives, as well as market-support policies governing permitting and grid interconnection. Despite the rapid growth in solar PV capacity, solar electricity accounts for under 3% of global electricity generation, suggesting that there is huge potential for the solar PV market to expand and meet global energy demand. Foremost among the benefits of solar power is its potential to drastically cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sector. Solar electricity can also reduce local air pollution, and growth of the PV market can enhance energy security and contribute to the green economy. However, there are challenges to future expansion of the solar PV market. One of the key barriers is the cost of solar projects. Although as of 2020 the cost of utility-scale solar projects was beginning to be competitive with the cost of conventional energy sources, further reductions in costs are needed to achieve deeper penetration of solar electricity. Other challenges associated with solar electricity have to do with the predictable and unpredictable aspects of solar resource. On the one hand, solar resource varies predictably based on season and time of day. When solar electricity output coincides with peak electricity demand, solar electricity provides added value to the electrical grid. On the other hand, weather variation, air quality, and other factors can drastically alter predicted output from solar PV systems. The unpredictable aspect of solar electricity poses a major challenge for integrating solar electricity into the electrical grid, especially for high levels of penetration. Grid operators must either store electricity or rely on standby generators to maintain grid reliability, both of which are costly. Advances in storage technology and grid management will be needed if solar electricity is to be a major source of electricity supply. Residential adoption of rooftop solar PV systems has led to the growth of “prosumers” (households that consume and produce electricity) and has provided a novel setting to examine several aspects of consumer behavior related to adoption of new technology and energy-use behavior. Studies show that financial incentives, pro-environmental preferences, and social interactions affect adoption of solar PV technology. Prosumers are also likely to consume more electricity after they install solar PV systems. Decarbonization goals related to society’s response to climate change are expected to drive future growth in the solar PV market. In addition to technological advances, market mechanisms and policies are needed to ensure that the transition to an energy system dominated by solar and other renewables is accomplished in a way that is economically efficient and socially equitable.

Residential and commercial end users of electricity who want to generate electricity using on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) systems face challenging initial and O&M costs. The third-party ownership power purchase agreement (PPA) finance model addresses these and other challenges. It allows developers to build and own PV systems on customers? properties and sell power back to customers. However, third-party electricity sales commonly face five regulatory challenges. The first three challenges involve legislative or regulatory definitions of electric utilities, power generation equipment, and providers of electric services. These definitions may compel third-party owners of solar PV systems to comply with regulations that may be cost prohibitive. Third-party owners face an additional challenge if they may not net meter, a practice that provides significant financial incentive to owning solar PV systems. Finally, municipalities and cooperatives worry about the regulatory implications of allowing an entity to sell electricity within their service territories. This paper summarizes these challenges, when they occur, and how they have been addressed in five states. This paper also presents alternative to the third-party ownership PPA finance model, including solar leases, contractual intermediaries, standardized contract language, federal investment tax credits, clean renewable energy bonds, and waived monopoly powers.

A Hybrid Electric and Thermal Solar Receiver

SummaryFloating photovoltaic (FPV) plants present several benefits in comparison with ground-mounted photovoltaics (PVs) and could have major positive environmental and technical impacts globally. FPVs do not occupy habitable and productive areas and can be deployed in degraded environments and reduce land-use conflicts. Saving water through mitigating evaporation and improving water security in arid regions combined with the flexibility for deployment on different water bodies including drinking water reservoirs are other advantages of FPVs. They also have higher efficiency than ground-mounted PV solar and are compatible with the existing hydropower infrastructures, which supports diversifying the energy supply and its resilience. Despite the notable growth of FPVs on an international scale, lack of supporting policies and development roadmaps by the governments could hinder FPVs’ sustainable growth. Long-term reliability of the floating structures is also one of the existing concerns that if not answered could limit the expansion of this emerging technology.

Solar power industry in the country is growing rapidly. As of last month (September 2017), the country’s aggregate solar capacity is 16.20 GW. The country increased its solar power production capability to about fourfold from 2650 MW in the month of May 2014 to 12,289 MW in the month of March 2017. The paper aims to offer tools along with strategy so as to ascertain that solar PV power systems are correctly specified and installed, giving an efficient arrangement which works to its rated capacity. The paper addresses solar PV systems set up on rooftop that are interconnected to grid. Statistical data studies reveal that about 10–20% of recently set-up solar PV systems have major drawbacks in installation which has led to performance deterioration, significantly reducing output. Proper sizing and orientation of the solar PV panel to obtain maximum electrical power and energy output are important. Poor public opinions resulting from improperly installed solar PV system will adversely affect the whole solar industry. In this paper, a 5 kW mono-crystalline solar PV system design analysis is carried out. Hardware results of 5 kW mono-crystalline solar PV installation are also presented.

EFFECTS OF DUST ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PV PANELS

Review on hybrid geothermal and solar power systems

The focus of this report is the U.S. solar electricity market, including photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. The report is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of global and U.S. installation trends. Chapter 2 presents production and shipment data, material and supply chain issues, and solar industry employment trends. Chapter 3 presents cost, price, and performance trends. Chapter 4 discusses policy and market drivers such as recently passed federal legislation, state and local policies, and developments in project financing. Chapter 5 provides data on private investment trends and near-term market forecasts. Highlights of this report include: (1) The global PV industry has seen impressive growth rates in cell/module production during the past decade, with a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46% and a 5-year CAGR of 56% through 2008. (2) Thin-film PV technologies have grown faster than crystalline silicon over the past 5 years, with a 10-year CAGR of 47% and a 5-year CAGR of 87% for thin-film shipments through 2008. (3) Global installed PV capacity increased by 6.0 GW in 2008, a 152% increase over 2.4 GW installed in 2007. (4) The United States installed 0.34 GW of PV capacity in 2008, a 63% increase over 0.21 GW in 2007. (5) Global average PV module prices dropped 23% from $4.75/W in 1998 to $3.65/W in 2008. (6) Federal legislation, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA, October 2008) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, February 2009), is providing unprecedented levels of support for the U.S. solar industry. (7) In 2008, global private-sector investment in solar energy technology topped $16 billion, including almost $4 billion invested in the United States. (8) Solar PV market forecasts made in early 2009 anticipate global PV production and demand to increase fourfold between 2008 and 2012, reaching roughly 20 GW of production and demand by 2012. (9) Globally, about 13 GW of CSP was announced or proposed through 2015, based on forecasts made in mid-2009. Regional market shares for the 13 GW are about 51% in the United States, 33% in Spain, 8% in the Middle East and North Africa, and 8% in Australasia, Europe, and South Africa. Of the 6.5-GW project pipeline in the United States, 4.3 GW have power purchase agreements (PPAs). The PPAs comprise 41% parabolic trough, 40% power tower, and 19% dish-engine systems.

One of the goals of Oman vision 2040 is to attain a 30% of renewable energy mix, mainly from solar and wind energy projects for electricity generation by 2030, in alignment with the net zero emissions commitment by 2050. The adoption of residential rooftop solar PV installations supports achieving this target. This paper aims to assess the feasibility and performance of the rooftop solar PV projects at various locations in Oman and to suggest the strategies for promoting rooftop solar PV projects in Oman. In the Middle East countries like Oman, dust from sandstorms and temperature are significantly affects the performance of PV systems and is an important derating factor to consider when evaluating their performance as discussed in this paper. This paper starts by qualitatively assess the suitable regions in Oman for solar PV projects based on temperature levels, dust accumulation, humidity and population density and then proceeds to find the best locations in the selected region. A rooftop solar PV system is designed, analysed its performance, Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and environmental benefit were calculated for smart bus stop load located in the selected region's university of technology and applied sciences (UTAS) campus using analytical method. The results obtained through analytical method were compared with System Advisor Model (SAM) software. Key findings from the study: The northern part regions of Oman were identified as the most suitable region to install the solar PV systems. In the northern part regions, Ibri is the best location for rooftop solar PV projects compared to other locations. However, at other locations, the AC energy generation from 2.2kWp solar PV systems ranges from 4243.44kWh to 4841.34kWh annually, shows that these locations are also competitively suitable for solar PV projects. The LCOE and carbon emission cost of all UTAS branch locations ranges from 8.5 ¢/kWh to 9.7¢/kWh and 128.16 $ per year to 146.74 $ per year accordingly. After finding the most suitable locations and analysis, attractive rooftop policies in solar PV of successful countries are discussed, based on that few strong strategies are suggested to develop rooftop solar PV projects in Oman. The findings from this study will provide the useful guidelines for Oman's energy sector and policymakers to implement and promote roof top solar PV projects in Oman.

Synergistic Tandem Solar Electricity-Water Generators

Sweden aims to achieve near-zero non-renewable energy use in all the newly constructed buildings from 2020. One of the most promising methods of achieving these energy goals and reducing the net energy-use is using solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in buildings. Although some studies have demonstrated this method, the solar PV industry is growing rapidly. Therefore, the study aimed at using sources with the latest information to analyse the true potential of PV systems for the current initial cost of the PV system and tax benefits in Sweden. The study investigates the economic feasibility of a grid-connected solar PV system from a technical and economic perspective for a group of public buildings in Sweden. The hourly energy production and cost of purchasing deficit electricity was simulated for various tilts and ground coverage area to find the optimum tilt and ground coverage ratio of PV panels. The PV energy supply of four different systems – 26 kWp, 75 kWp, 80 kWp, 155 kWp – in different locations was simulated. The overproduction, own usage rate, solar fraction, investment cost, profit over its lifespan and the payback period of each system were compared for the existing as well as improved energy use. Honeybee 0.0.64 and SAM 2018.11.11 was used to simulate energy use and PV production. Results indicate that a system with a high own usage rate and specific yield was profitable when the selling price of electricity (excluding tax refund) was lower. However, a system with a higher production potential became more profitable when the selling price of electricity (including tax refund) was equal or higher than the purchasing price. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of the system if the price of electricity or interest rates changed in the future. The outcome of this research demonstrates the techno-economic feasibility of implementing a solar PV system in Sweden and provides a set of benchmarks for comparison of such systems around the world.

Solar generation is a prominent source of renewable energy, especially for countries with an abundance of solar irradiance. In Singapore, a rooftop solar system has been deployed in shipyard to generate electricity from the highest irradiance which is in Tuas, West Region of Singapore. Due to declining cost of battery energy storage system (BESS), this industrial research study on the rooftop system focuses on the steady state stability of grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) system with BESS. A return on investment (ROI) from rooftop PV system is calculated and compared with its end of life (EOL), which shows that the payback on capital for this system is approximately 6 years. This system is then modelled in MATLAB to study the charging and discharging characteristics of the BESS when connected at different voltage levels. In addition, the power quality in the grid-connected PV system with BESS at varying state of charge is studied using a load flow analysis. The results show that the charging and discharging characteristics, as well as the power quality vary at different voltage levels and BESS’s state of charge.

Economic and Policy Evaluation of Solar Energy for Indiana Business and Residential Applications

Alliance formation by intermediary ventures in the solar service industry: implications for product–service systems research

India's demand-supply imbalance electricity market results from the country's rapid population growth and extensive industrialization. Due to increased costs, many residential and commercial customers have difficulty paying their electric bills. Households with lower incomes are confronted with the most severe energy poverty in the entire country. A sustainable and alternative form of energy is required to solve these issues. Solar energy is a sustainable energy choice for India; however, the solar industry faces many issues. One of them is managing end-of-life cycle photovoltaic (PV) waste, as massive deployment of solar energy capacity has resulted in generating large amounts of PV waste, ultimately affecting environmental and human health. Therefore, this research employs "Porter's Five Forces Model" to analyze the factors that significantly impact the competitiveness of India's solar power industry. The inputs for this model consist of semi-structured interviews conducted with experts in the solar power industry on various solar energy-related issues and a critical analysis of the national policy framework using the relevant literature and official statistics. The impact of five significant stakeholders of the solar power industry on solar power generation in India is evaluated: buyers, suppliers, competitors, substitutes, and potential competitors. Research findings indicate the Indian solar power industry's current status, challenges, competition environment, and future estimates. This study will help the government and stakeholders to understand the intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting the competitiveness of the Indian solar power sector and suggest policy recommendations to formulate procurement strategies that promote sustainable development within the solar industry.