Technologies for the New Millennium: Photovoltaics as a Distributed Resource

As we enter the new millennium, photovoltaics (PV) is emerging as an important distributed resource. PV gives both the benefits of a distributed resource and a clean power source. Because PV can be located at both residential and commercial locations, it can be used to reduce peak demand when its output is properly matched with load usage. It can also improve asset utilization by requiring less large capital generation spending and delaying some equipment replacement. With the price of some grid-connected PV systems expected to reach $3/W in the next 5 years, PV will become an economical option for distributed power generation. One of the most important aspects of establishing PV as a distributed resource is standardizing the requirements for grid connection. IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee (SCC) 21 has recently published IEEE Std 929 "Recommend Practice for Utility Interface of Photovoltaic Systems." This recommended practice details power quality, safety, and protection requirements for connection to the utility grid. This paper describes what types of PV systems are available, what the benefits are for PV systems, and what the interconnection issues and solutions are for using PV as a distributed resource.