EPRI’s Photovoltaic Research Needs

Travis ColemanProject ManagerProject ManagerTom KeyTechnical Executive

Planning Workshop for a New Northeast Solar Energy Research CenterJanuary 11-12, 2011

About EPRI EPRI’s FounderChauncey Starr

Mission: To conduct research on key issues facing the electricitysector on behalf of its members energ stakeholders and societ

Chauncey Starr

• The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI), founded in 1973, conducts research and development relating to the generation,

sector …on behalf of its members, energy stakeholders, and society.

p g g ,delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public.

• An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and g pindustry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment.

• EPRI's members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries.

• EPRI's principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, C lif Ch l tt N C K ill T d L M

2© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.

EPRI Member PV Research Priorities

• Capital costs

• Annual Performance

• Response to varying meteorological inputsResponse to varying meteorological inputs

• Grid integration characteristics

• Ongoing O&M costs

3© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Capital Costs

• Cost of goodsI t ll ti t• Installation costs

• Efficiency due to learning• Reduction in BOP• 600V DC vs 1000V DC

Courtesy of First Solar

EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:

4© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Document costs and installation

Annual Performance

• Annual performance compared to modeledcompared to modeled performance

• Year over year variability• Degradation rates• Forecasting output

EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:

• Data collection

• Modeling validation and verification

5© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Forecast error calculations

Response to Varying Meteorological Inputs

• Measured difference in output of same technology in

Birmingham, AL (May 14, 2010)1000

output of same technology in different climates

• Transient response of system to various types of clouds

400

600

800

er P

rodu

ctio

n (W

)

to various types of clouds• String/array layout relative to

predominate cloud direction0

200

8am 9am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pmLocal Time (h)

Pow

e

EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:

• Instrumentation, monitoring, and data analysis

6© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Reconfigurable array

Grid Integration Characteristics

• Impacts of high penetration on distribution & transmission systems 8

9

distribution & transmission systems• PV output data synthesis for

plants not yet built3

4

5

6

7

kW

Customer LoadCustomer PV (-)

• Disturbance data for dynamic model development/validation

• Reliability effects0

1

2

3

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22Houry

EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:

Hour

pp

• Detailed electrical event data on grid

• Smart inverters

7© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Storage

Ongoing O&M costs

• Staffing levels P ti ti• Proactive versus reactive maintenance

• Optimal level of spares onsite• Optimal frequency of

washing• BOP maintenanceBOP maintenance

EPRI/BNL collaboration opportunities:

• Document O&M activities

8© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Washing “trials”

Existing or proposed EPRI projects for 2011

• Central station PVC– Correlate transient responses to cloud passage

– Determine whether larger arrays and/or spatial distribution is effective in dampening fluctuationsdistribution is effective in dampening fluctuations

– Model cloud effects– PV dynamic model development/validation– System operating impacts of PV variability/uncertainty– PV degradation– O&M practices

• Participate in NREL PV database development

9© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Existing or proposed EPRI projects for 2011

• Distributed PV– Distribution PV project– Distribution PV project

• Characterize performance and variability• Multi-node single PV panel, rack and data collection systemsystem

– PV integration on distribution system• Analyze impacts of PV on specific distribution circuits

f f f• Identify economics and feasibility of high penetration rates

• Identify means for accommodating PV (e.g., advanced inverter control storage etc )advanced inverter control, storage, etc )

– O&M practices

10© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Together Shaping the Future of ElectricityTogether…Shaping the Future of Electricity

11© 2011 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.