Utility-scale Solar PV Research Articles

Security-constrained optimal utility-scale solar PV investment planning for weak grids: Short reviews and techno-economic analysis

Energy sector of developing nations is faced with myriads of problems ranging from insufficient generation to poor grid infrastructure. Introducing variable renewable energy sources (VREs) has been identified as a way to meeting the rapidly increasing energy demand of these nations. Intermittency is one of the major shortfalls of VREs which has a direct influence on the voltage stability and the overall power system security. Hence, a cost-effective investment plan which considers the effect of PV output intermittency on the overall grid security at different level of PV power penetration is essential. In this study, a review of the approach for large-scale solar PV injection into weak grids and its effects on voltage stability is presented. A multi-objective optimal techno-economic assessment, for three different levels of PV power penetration on the Nigerian 28 bus grid, was investigated using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The net present cost per hour of system components and the loss of supply probability are the two objectives considered. Cost of PV intermittency and grid enhancement is introduced as a function of the average power injection by the PV system using the site’s capacity factor approach. PV penetration level of about 35% of the total load demand is considered safe for the investigated Nigerian power system. The designed approach can be adequately adopted for power systems of other developing nations.

Alternatives for small, medium and micro scale enterprises participation in the renewable energy industry – small scale embedded generation review

Over the past decade South Africa has seen an increase in the uptake of solar energy as a result of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme, which led to a sharp increase in procurement of utility-scale solar PV projects. On the other hand, the load shedding which was implemented by the national power utility in response to electricity supply and demand challenges resulted in the rise in procurement of small-scale embedded generation solar PV systems. While the REIPPPP has had minimal impact in terms of incorporating small, medium and micro scale enterprises (SMMEs) in the renewable energy value chain, there is a significant opportunity for SMMEs in the small scale embedded generation (SSEG) market segment. This study investigated the challenges and opportunities for SMMEs in SSEG.

Multiobjective mix generation planning considering utility-scale solar PV system and voltage stability: Nigerian case study

The quest for economic growth has led to increase in world's energy consumption and to meet this continuously widening energy gap, high penetration of variable energy resources (VER) into the energy mix of countries all over the world is being encouraged. However, there is a limitation on the capacity of existing transmission facilities and the power system is more susceptible to voltage instability issues and the number of outages caused by voltage collapse has increased greatly. In this paper, a capacity factor based approach for optimal penetration of utility-scale PV solar power into the Nigerian power system considering voltage stability is discussed and compared with the line loss minimization approach. Multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm on MATLAB® is used to compute sufficient capacity of solar PV that the power system can accommodate while maintaining the stability of the system. An additional constraint based on voltage stability margin is included to keep the system within the stability margin. The proposed approach with the added constraint is found to perform better for both line loss reduction and voltage stability improvement than the line loss minimization approach. Two optimization algorithms are used to verify the accuracy of the approach for techno-economic planning.

Applied levelized cost of electricity for energy technologies in a small island developing state: A case study in Mauritius

Abstract As climate change accelerates, many countries most vulnerable to its effects are leading by example by transitioning to renewable energy economies. One example is in Mauritius, a small island developing state with admirable goals of increasing renewable generation but struggling to achieve them cost-effectively. This research assists Mauritius by identifying local renewable resource potential and island specific costs to determine the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of various technologies. Solar and offshore wind are determined to yield above average energy potential, wave, sugar cane trash, and municipal solid waste-to-energy average potential, onshore wind below average potential, and hydropower and geothermal unfeasible potential. Each renewable energy system's energy potential is directly tied to its capacity factor, which was determined to be the most impactful levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) variable in Mauritius. The LCOE for bagasse generation, landfill gas-to-energy, and utility-scale solar PV are below coal's LCOE, fuel oil's operating costs, and the average consumer cost of electricity. Therefore, even without considering fossil fuels' indirect environmental and health costs, multiple renewable energy technologies are shown to be more cost-competitive than fossil fuels in Mauritius. Policy makers in Mauritius can utilize this direct LCOE analysis to confidently prioritize cost-effective solutions.

The price of solar energy: Comparing competitive auctions for utility-scale solar PV in developing countries

This paper examines the viability of low PV prices in developing countries from recent competitive auctions and discusses the sustainability of these low prices for further market expansion. Our analysis of utility-scale PV projects procured through major auctions in developing countries between 2013 and 2016 reveals that low PV prices are viable. PV prices of $0.06–0.08/kWh are consistent with market fundamentals and prices lower than $0.03/kWh are viable under exceptional conditions in some countries. Maintaining low prices while ensuring deployment of quality projects requires a combination of high capacity factors, low equipment prices, low cost of capital, de-risked investment environments, e.g., through the presence of guarantees, and other factors such as particular project developer strategies. Overall, developing countries with abundant local solar resources are well-positioned to drive the global expansion of PV capacity. Well-designed auctions offer a unique opportunity to expand solar PV capacity to many markets in a cost-effective manner.

Getting on the ground: Exploring the determinants of utility-scale solar PV in Rwanda

Solar PV is gaining ground in low and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where a change from donor to more market-driven investments has been observed. This article contributes to energy transition research in low-income countries, taking Rwanda as a case study and focusing on the factors that determined the implementation of what was the largest on-grid solar project, upon completion in 2014. The multi-level perspective (MLP) is used to structure our analysis of the various socio-technical levels, and their interaction, to better understand the conditions that are enabling this transition. Our analysis reveals the central importance of bureaucratic and regulatory support for investment in low-carbon energy technologies, within a political economy influenced by processes of neo-liberalisation, while creating significant space for private contract negotiation. In particular, the provision of legal and financial guarantees was crucial to reduce risk for foreign capital investment, revealing contradictory forces that both promoted market rule, while limiting private capital’s exposure to competitive pressures. We also focus our analysis on the aspect of control and driving forces, in particular the role of development partners and private sector project champions.

Investor focused placement and sizing of photovoltaic grid-connected systems in Pakistan

Abstract The world is moving toward renewable rich electricity generation systems. Pakistan being the sixth most populous country in the world and having median age of 21 years requires extensive resources for the next couple of decades to fulfill its energy requirements. Punjab is the largest province of Pakistan with 60% of total population and consumes about 80% of the electricity. The province does not have a lot of hydro and wind potential, but it has tremendous opportunity to utilize solar energy to fulfill its energy needs. In this paper, we explore the solar energy production possibilities in the province. Our objective in this paper is to find the best locations to install utility-scale solar power plants to fulfill 30% of energy needs by 2030. In addition to the technical feasibility of solar PV power plants, we also look at the economic aspects of such plants. To this end, we look at the complete life cycle of a solar PV power plant. Using data from an existing solar PV power plant we derive Profitability Index (PI) of various possible locations. According to our results, the transmission line losses range between 0.7% and 12.2% depending on the load and length of the transmission lines. Using data from transmission line losses the PI of potential utility-scale solar PV sites ranges between −9.11% and 69.65% based on various economic factors. These results provides detailed information on the best places to establish utility-scale power plants from technical as well as economic perspective.

Solar PV power plant site selection using a GIS-AHP based approach with application in Saudi Arabia

Site selection for solar power plants is a critical issue for utility-size projects due to the significance of weather factors, proximity to facilities, and the presence of environmental protected areas. The primary goal of this research is to evaluate and select the best location for utility-scale solar PV projects using geographical information systems (GIS) and a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique. The model considers different aspects, such as economic and technical factors, with the goal of assuring maximum power achievement while minimizing project cost. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to weigh the criteria and compute a land suitability index (LSI) to evaluate potential sites. The LSI model groups sites into five categories: “least suitable,” “marginally suitable,” “moderately suitable,” “highly suitable” and “most suitable.” A case study for Saudi Arabia is provided. Real climatology and legislation data, such as roads, mountains, and protected areas, are utilized in the model. The solar analyst tool in ArcGIS software is employed to calculate the solar insolation across the entire study area using actual atmospheric parameters. The air temperature map was created from real dispersed monitoring sensors across Saudi Arabia using interpolation. The overlaid result map showed that 16% (300,000 km2) of the study area is promising and suitable for deploying utility-size PV power plants while the most suitable areas to be in the north and northwest of the Saudi Arabia. It has been found that suitable lands are following the pattern of the approximate range of the proximity to main roads, transmission lines, and urban cities. More than 80% of the suitable areas had a moderate to high LSI. The integration of the GIS with MCDM methods has emerged as a highly useful technique to systematically deal with rich geographical information data and vast area as well as manipulate criteria importance towards introducing the best sites for solar power plants.

Fully solar powered Raja Bhoj International Airport: A feasibility study

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has been increasing and it remained above 400 ppm throughout the year 2016 for the first time. The aviation industry is a main contributor to- wards green house gas emission. In this regard, aviation industry as a whole and airports in particular are trying to limit their carbon foot print. A feasible solution is to substitute the conventional electricity energy consumption of airport with clean energy sources. Solar PV route is considered as non polluting source of electricity but MW scale plant requires more land area. Since vast areas are mandatory in air- port as buffer zones, this land can be effectively used for utility scale solar PV plant. A 2 MWp onsite solar PV power plant is proposed for Raj Bhoj International Airport (RBIA), India. An online PV simulation tool SISIFO, developed by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), has been used to analyse the performance of the proposed plant. The PV module rating, inverter and transformer specifications etc. are provided as per manufacturer’s datasheet. The plant is capable of generating 2733.122 MWh of electrical energy an- nually. The monthly averaged energy yield and performance ratio (PR) are 113.88 kWh/kWp and 85.54% respectively, which are best when compared to similar utility scale PV power plants. The economic and environmental benefits of the proposed plant are also discussed. The PV plant generation capacity can surpass the daily electrical energy consumption of airport. This paves way for RBIA to become second airport in the world to be energy self sufficient through solar power.

To buy the system or to buy the service: the emergence of a solar service model in Thailand

Thailand has experienced a rapid increase in utility-scale solar PV investment (>1 MWp), while the growth of investment in smaller-sized rooftop PV systems is far behind. Due to the continuous decline in PV module costs and the discontinued support in the form of feed-in tariffs, the market is gradually transitioning to installations for the purpose of self-consumption. The main barrier for market expansion is the high upfront costs of solar PV systems. Rather than buying the system, new business models are offering customers to buy the service from solar PV systems instead. The Solar PPA model is an emerging solar service business model in Thailand. This model eliminates the investment cost and operating risks for the customer. This paper takes on the view of a commercial-sized customer to compare the options between the Buying Model and the Solar PPA model. From the customer's viewpoint, the cost of electricity generation, or the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), under the Solar PPA model is more attractive. The results show an LCOE of 4.82 THB/kWh (0.14 USD/kWh) for the Solar PPA model, 9.56% less than buying the system at 5.28 THB/kWh (0.16 USD/kWh). The Solar PPA model also proves to be a more attractive option in most sensitivity cases. This paper discusses conditions under which the model is feasible and recommends that the design of future support schemes for solar PV self-consumption should enable the expansion of innovative business models, including the Solar PPA model and other third-party ownership models.

Fully solar powered airport: A case study of Cochin International airport

The contribution of aviation industry towards green house gas emission is getting attention all over the world. The carbon footprint of airport can be reduced by substituting the conventional source of energy with solar PV based power generation. The mandatory vast and free space areas around runways can be utilised for utility scale solar PV power plants. The present research aims to analyze the operational performance of 12 MWp solar powered airport commissioned by Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), India based on first year operational data. The performance of the plant is also simulated using most popular PV simulation softwares – PVSyst and SolarGis, by accurately giving the plant specification. The average performance ratio (PR) of the plant is 86.56% and corresponding capacity utilisation factor (CUF) is 20.12% with final yield of 1984.1 h. The performance parameters obtained through the software was found to be in close match with the measured values. The economic and environmental analyses of the solar powered Cochin airports confirms its effectiveness in reducing the carbon footprint, leading to virtually zero emission, clean and green sustainable airport.

A case study identifying and mitigating the environmental and community impacts from construction of a utility-scale solar photovoltaic power plant in eastern Australia

A case study on the construction of a utility scale solar PV plant is described highlighting how a range of environmental and community risks identified (i.e. predicted) at the planning stage, were not experienced in the field during construction, and those risks that did eventuate, were managed effectively. Logistics, fauna and biodiversity, noise, infrastructure and camp establishment issues, and the construction and operational environmental management plans, have the most planning approval requirements. Key learnings from the project are highlighted for each major impact area.

Fully solar powered Raja Bhoj International Airport: A feasibility study

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has been increasing and it remained above 400 ppm throughout the year 2016 for the first time. The aviation industry is a main contributor towards green house gas emission. In this regard, aviation industry as a whole and airports in particular are trying to limit their carbon foot print. A feasible solution is to substitute the conventional electricity energy consumption of airport with clean energy sources. Solar PV route is considered as non polluting source of electricity but MW scale plant requires more land area. Since vast areas are mandatory in airport as buffer zones, this land can be effectively used for utility scale solar PV plant. A 2 MWp onsite solar PV power plant is proposed for Raj Bhoj International Airport (RBIA), India. An online PV simulation tool SISIFO, developed by Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), has been used to analyse the performance of the proposed plant. The PV module rating, inverter and transformer specifications etc. are provided as per manufacturer's datasheet. The plant is capable of generating 2733.122 MWh of electrical energy annually. The monthly averaged energy yield and performance ratio (PR) are 113.88 kWh/kWp and 85.54% respectively, which are best when compared to similar utility scale PV power plants. The economic and environmental benefits of the proposed plant are also discussed. The PV plant generation capacity can surpass the daily electrical energy consumption of airport. This paves way for RBIA to become second airport in the world to be energy self sufficient through solar power.

Financial analysis of utility scale photovoltaic plants with battery energy storage

Battery energy storage is a flexible and responsive form of storing electrical energy from Renewable generation. The need for energy storage mainly stems from the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy sources. System integrators are investigating ways to design plants that can provide more stable output power without compromising the financial performance that is vital for investors. Network operators on the other side set stringent requirements for the commissioning of new generation, including preferential terms for energy providers with a well-defined generation profile. The aim of this work is to highlight the market and technology drivers that impact the feasibility of battery energy storage in a Utility-scale solar PV project. A simulation tool combines a battery cycling and lifetime model with a solar generation profile and electricity market prices. The business cases of the present market conditions and a projected future scenario are analyzed.

Addressing Solar-PV Power Generation: Commercialization Assessment for the US Energy Market

Solar-Photovoltaic (PV) utility power is more expensive to producecompared with conventional sources. Current utility power purchaseagreement policies discourage private investment because far futurecash flow does not add to asset value. This article presents an overviewof a study that assesses the commercialization of PV power generationin the US energy market. Data analysis substantiates that for PV powerto be competitive with conventional power plants, much lower discountrates are required during the first half of the PV utility lifecycle, afterwhich solar PV will have a much lower cost due to a drastic reductionin the cost of capital. Additionally, the levelized cost of energy analysisfor a longer lifecycle indicates that the utility scale solar PV cost gap canbe bridged. Therefore, this article aims to influence policy makers to in-troduce long-term power purchase agreements, taking into account theavoided costs due to the unevaluated quality of long life at anticipatedlow operating costs. Furthermore, simulations reveal that the proposedsolar PV self-financing program may be a viable alternative to the cur-rent government subsidy that lacks an inflow of cash to offset the out-flow of subsidy payments. Finally, we present selective strategies thatcan help drive the commercialization of PV power generation in the USenergy market.

Addressing Solar-PV Power Generation: Commercialization Assessment for the US Energy Market

ABSTRACT Solar-Photovoltaic (PV) utility power is more expensive to produce compared with conventional sources. Current utility power purchase agreement policies discourage private investment because far future cash flow does not add to asset value. This article presents an overview of a study that assesses the commercialization of PV power generation in the US energy market. Data analysis substantiates that for PV power to be competitive with conventional power plants, much lower discount rates are required during the first half of the PV utility lifecycle, after which solar PV will have a much lower cost due to a drastic reduction in the cost of capital. Additionally, the levelized cost of energy analysis for a longer lifecycle indicates that the utility scale solar PV cost gap can be bridged. Therefore, this article aims to influence policy makers to introduce long-term power purchase agreements, taking into account the avoided costs due to the unevaluated quality of long life at anticipated low operat...