Photovoltaics Can Add Capacity to the Utility Grid

This brochure explains how photovoltaics (PV) can contribute to a utility's capacity as well as serve as an energy source. Effective load-carrying capacity (ELCC) is the ability of a power generator to effectively contribute to a utility's capacity, or system output, to meet its load. Until recently, little information has been available on the distribution of PV's ELCC. The method developed todetermine how closely the utility load requiremetns match PV's ability to generate power when needed is explained, as well as what the information tells us.