Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities

Paul Denholm; Robert M. Margolis

Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

4 Scopus Citations

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) to be deployed on a very large scale and provide a large fraction of a system's electricity. We explicitly examine how the hourly availability of PV interacts with the limited flexibility of traditional electricity generation plants. We find that under high penetration levels and existing grid-operation procedures and rules, the system will have excess PV generation during certain periods of the year. This excess PV generation results in increased costs, which can increase dramatically when PV provides on the order of 10%-15% of total electricity demand in systems that are heavily dependent on inflexible baseload steam plants. Measures to increase penetration of PV are also discussed, including increased system flexibility, increased dispatchable load, and energy storage.

Original language	American English
Pages	302-306
Number of pages	5
State	Published - 2006
Event	Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference - Denver, CO, United States Duration: 9 Jul 2006 → 13 Jul 2006

Conference

Conference	Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference
Country/Territory	United States
City	Denver, CO
Period	9/07/06 → 13/07/06

Bibliographical note

For preprint version see NREL/CP-620-39683

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-620-40521

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

Denholm, P., & Margolis, R. M. (2006). Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities. 302-306. Paper presented at Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Denholm, Paul ; Margolis, Robert M. / Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities. Paper presented at Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference, Denver, CO, United States.5 p.

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abstract = "In this paper, we analyze the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) to be deployed on a very large scale and provide a large fraction of a system's electricity. We explicitly examine how the hourly availability of PV interacts with the limited flexibility of traditional electricity generation plants. We find that under high penetration levels and existing grid-operation procedures and rules, the system will have excess PV generation during certain periods of the year. This excess PV generation results in increased costs, which can increase dramatically when PV provides on the order of 10%-15% of total electricity demand in systems that are heavily dependent on inflexible baseload steam plants. Measures to increase penetration of PV are also discussed, including increased system flexibility, increased dispatchable load, and energy storage.",

author = "Paul Denholm and Margolis, {Robert M.}",

note = "For preprint version see NREL/CP-620-39683; Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference ; Conference date: 09-07-2006 Through 13-07-2006",

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Denholm, P & Margolis, RM 2006, 'Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities', Paper presented at Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference, Denver, CO, United States, 9/07/06 - 13/07/06 pp. 302-306.

Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities. / Denholm, Paul ; Margolis, Robert M.
2006. 302-306 Paper presented at Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

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AB - In this paper, we analyze the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) to be deployed on a very large scale and provide a large fraction of a system's electricity. We explicitly examine how the hourly availability of PV interacts with the limited flexibility of traditional electricity generation plants. We find that under high penetration levels and existing grid-operation procedures and rules, the system will have excess PV generation during certain periods of the year. This excess PV generation results in increased costs, which can increase dramatically when PV provides on the order of 10%-15% of total electricity demand in systems that are heavily dependent on inflexible baseload steam plants. Measures to increase penetration of PV are also discussed, including increased system flexibility, increased dispatchable load, and energy storage.

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ER -

Denholm P , Margolis RM. Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities. 2006. Paper presented at Solar 2006: Renewable Energy - Key to Climate Recovery, Including 35th ASES Annual Conference, 31st ASES National Passive Solar Conference, 1st ASES Policy and Marketing Conference and ASME Solar Energy Division International Solar Energy Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Very Large-Scale Deployment of Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

UN SDGs

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Cite this