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PSCAD Modules Representing PV Generator

Description: Photovoltaic power plants (PVPs) have been growing in size, and the installation time is very short. With the cost of photovoltaic (PV) panels dropping in recent years, it can be predicted that in the next 10 years the contribution of PVPs to the total number of renewable energy power plants will grow significantly. In this project, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a dynamic modeling of the modules to be used as building blocks to develop simulation models of single PV … more
Date: August 1, 2013
Creator: Muljadi, E.; Singh, M. & Gevorgian, V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Kerman Photovoltaic Power Plant R&D data collection computer system operations and maintenance

Description: The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system at the Kerman PV Plant monitors 52 analog, 44 status, 13 control, and 4 accumulator data points in real-time. A Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) polls 7 peripheral data acquisition units that are distributed throughout the plant once every second, and stores all analog, status, and accumulator points that have changed since the last scan. The R&D Computer, which is connected to the SCADA RTU via a RS-232 serial link, polls the RTU once every… more
Date: June 1, 1994
Creator: Rosen, P.B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Beyond AEEI: Technical change in integrated assessment. Final report: DOE 43-400-54 ER62296

Description: In order to address the issue of technological progress, most integrated assessment models have incorporated methods to account for autonomous energy efficiency improvement, the natural tendency of an economy to find more efficient ways to produce energy services. Although the treatment of technical changes as an autonomous event is a reasonable modeling convenience, it is not a statement of actual cause and effect. The purpose of this research project is to examine the responsiveness of a part… more
Date: July 1, 2002
Creator: Richards, Kenneth & Ashton, Brad
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Implications of Wide-Area Geographic Diversity for Short- Term Variability of Solar Power

Description: Worldwide interest in the deployment of photovoltaic generation (PV) is rapidly increasing. Operating experience with large PV plants, however, demonstrates that large, rapid changes in the output of PV plants are possible. Early studies of PV grid impacts suggested that short-term variability could be a potential limiting factor in deploying PV. Many of these early studies, however, lacked high-quality data from multiple sites to assess the costs and impacts of increasing PV penetration. As is… more
Date: August 23, 2010
Creator: Mills, Andrew & Wiser, Ryan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

PVUSA construction and safety: Experience, lessons learned and costs

Description: This report is the first of a series of PVUSA reports on PVUSA experiences and lessons learned at the demonstration sites in Davis and Kerman, California. During the course of approximately 6 years (1988--1993), nine PV systems have been installed ranging from 20 kW to 500 kW. Five 20-kW emerging module technology arrays were installed on universal project-provided structures, and four utility-scale systems (200 to 500 kW) were installed as turnkey (vendor designed and integrated) systems. The … more
Date: September 1, 1994
Creator: Shipman, D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Emerging photovoltaic module technologies at PVUSA: A five-year assessment

Description: The Photovoltaics for Utility Scale Applications (PVUSA) project tests two types of photovoltaic systems: new modules fielded as 20-kW Emerging Module Technology (EMT) arrays, and more mature technologies fielded as 20- to 500-kW turnkey Utility Scale (US) systems. This report summarizes experiences of the PVUSA project in operating the first six 20-kW EMT photovoltaic systems. Five systems are installed at Davis, California, and one at Kihei, Hawaii. Products selected for testing and demonstra… more
Date: April 1, 1995
Creator: Townsend, T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defining Requirements for Improved Photovoltaic System Reliability

Description: Reliable systems are an essential ingredient of any technology progressing toward commercial maturity and large-scale deployment. This paper defines reliability as meeting system fictional requirements, and then develops a framework to understand and quantify photovoltaic system reliability based on initial and ongoing costs and system value. The core elements necessary to achieve reliable PV systems are reviewed. These include appropriate system design, satisfactory component reliability, and … more
Date: December 21, 1998
Creator: Maish, A. B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Development of a low-cost integrated 20-kW ac solar tracking sub- array for grid-connected PV power system applications. Phase 1, Annual technical report, 11 July 1995--31 July 1996

Description: The overall goal of this effort is to reduce the installed cost of utility scale grid connected photovoltaic power systems. The focus of the effort is on ``BOS`` (Balance-Of-System) component manufacturing technology, which essentially involves all PV power system engineering, manufacturing, assembly and construction tasks from the receipt of a PV module to the deliver of grid connected electricity.
Date: June 1, 1997
Creator: Stern, M.; West, R.; Fourer, G.; Whalen, W.; Van Loo, M. & Duran, G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Large-Scale PV Integration Study

Description: This research effort evaluates the impact of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) and distributed generation (DG) output on NV Energy’s electric grid system in southern Nevada. It analyzes the ability of NV Energy’s generation to accommodate increasing amounts of utility-scale PV and DG, and the resulting cost of integrating variable renewable resources. The study was jointly funded by the United States Department of Energy and NV Energy, and conducted by a project team comprised of industry experts a… more
Date: July 29, 2011
Creator: Lu, Shuai; Etingov, Pavel V.; Diao, Ruisheng; Ma, Jian; Samaan, Nader A.; Makarov, Yuri V. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Characterizing (rating) the performance of large photovoltaic arrays for all operating conditions

Description: A new method has been developed for characterizing the electrical performance of photovoltaic arrays. The method provides both a ``rating`` at standard reporting conditions and a rigorous yet straightforward model for predicting array performance at all operating conditions. For the first time, the performance model handles the influences of irradiance, module temperature, solar spectrum, solar angle-of-incidence, and temperature coefficients, in a practical way. Validity of the procedure was c… more
Date: June 1, 1996
Creator: King, David L. & Eckert, Peter E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Introduction to Special Issue on PV Systems Performance and Reliability

Description: The papers in this special issue have been selected from the systems and balance-of- systems sessions at the 1998 Photovoltaic Performance and Reliability Workshop. The workshop was held November 3-5, 1998 and hosted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa Beach, Florida under sponsorship of the US National Center for Photovoltaics (National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories). The topics and issues addressed by these papers were identified in an invited review paper… more
Date: January 12, 1999
Creator: DeBlasio, R.; Post, H.N. & Thomas, M.G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

UPVG phase 2 report

Description: The Utility PhotoVoltaic Group (UPVG), supported by member dues and a grant from the US Department of Energy, has as its mission the acceleration of the use of cost-effective small-scale and emerging large-scale applications of photovoltaics for the benefit of electric utilities and their customers. Formed in October, 1992, with the support of the American Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the UPVG currently has 90 memb… more
Date: August 1, 1995
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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National electrical code changes for 1996 and USA participation in International Energy Agency activities related to photovoltaics safety and grid interconnection

Description: As photovoltaic (PV) systems gain more acceptance in utility-interactive applications throughout the world, many organizations are placing increasingly higher priorities on writing guidelines, codes and standards. These guidelines and codes are being written to improve safety, installation, acceptance, listing or certification of the PV components or systems. Sandia National Laboratories` PV System Applications Department is working closely with the PV industry to address issues that are associ… more
Date: January 1, 1995
Creator: Bower, W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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PVUSA procurement, acceptance, and rating practices for photovoltaic power plants

Description: This report is one in a series of PVUSA reports on PVUSA experiences and lessons learned at the demonstration sites in Davis and Kerman, California, and from participating utility host sites. During the course of approximately 7 years (1988--1994), 10 PV systems have been installed ranging from 20 kW to 500 kW. Six 20-kW emerging module technology arrays, five on universal project-provided structures and one turnkey concentrator, and four turnkey utility-scale systems (200 to 500 kW) were insta… more
Date: September 1, 1995
Creator: Dows, R. N. & Gough, E. J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Design and Performance of the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center Photovoltaic System. Final Report

Description: A building-integrated DC PV array has been constructed on the Georgia Tech campus. The array is mounted on the roof of the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (GTAC), site of the aquatic events during the 1996 Paralympic and Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the time of its construction, it was the world`s largest roof-mounted photovoltaic array, comprised of 2,856 modules and rates at 342 kW. This section describes the electrical and physical layout of the PV system, and the associated data acquisition sys… more
Date: December 31, 1996
Creator: Rohatgi, A.; Begovic, M.; Long, R.; Ropp, M. & Pregelj, A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Development of the SEA Corporation Powergrid{trademark} photovoltaic concentrator

Description: This report covers the three phase effort to bring the SEA Corporation`s Powergrid{trademark} from the concept stage to pilot production. The three phases of this contract covered component development, prototype module development, and pilot line production. The Powergrid is a photovoltaic concentrator that generates direct current electricity directly from sunlight using a linear Fresnel lens. Analysis has shown that the Powergrid has the potential to be very low cost in volume production. Be… more
Date: March 1998
Creator: Kaminar, N.; Curchod, D.; Daroczi, S.; Walpert, M.; Sahagian, J. & Pepper, J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

PVUSA model technical specification for a turnkey photovoltaic power system

Description: One of the five objectives of PVUSA is to offer U.S. utilities hands-on experience in designing, procuring, and operating PV systems. The procurement process included the development of a detailed set of technical requirements for a PV system. PVUSA embodied its requirements in a technical specification used as an attachment to its contracts for four utility-scale PV systems in the 200 kW to 500 kW range. The technical specification has also been adapted and used by several utilities. The PVUSA… more
Date: November 1, 1995
Creator: Dows, R. N. & Gough, E. J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Manufacturing improvements in the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) Project

Description: The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Project (PVMaT) is a government/industry research and development (R and D) partnership between the US federal government (through the US Department of Energy [DOE]) and members of the US PV industry. The goals of PVMaT are to help the US PV industry improve module manufacturing processes and equipment; accelerate manufacturing cost reductions for PV modules, balance-of-systems components, and integrated systems; increase commercial product performance … more
Date: August 1, 1998
Creator: Witt, Edwin C.; Mitchell, Richard L.; Thomas, H. P.; Symko, Martha I.; King, Richard & Ruby, Douglas S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Progress in photovoltaic system and component improvements

Description: The Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project is a partnership between the US government (through the US Department of Energy [DOE]) and the PV industry. Part of its purpose is to conduct manufacturing technology research and development to address the issues and opportunities identified by industry to advance photovoltaic (PV) systems and components. The project was initiated in 1990 and has been conducted in several phases to support the evolution of PV industrial manufacturing te… more
Date: August 1, 1998
Creator: Thomas, H.P.; Kroposki, B.; McNutt, P.; Witt, C.E.; Bower, W.; Bonn, R. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Financing investments in renewable energy: The role of policy design and restructuring

Description: The costs of electric power projects utilizing renewable energy technologies are highly sensitive to financing terms. Consequently, as the electricity industry is restructured and new renewables policies are created, it is important for policymakers to consider the impacts of renewables policy design on project financing. This report describes the power plant financing process and provides insights to policymakers on the important nexus between renewables policy design and finance. A cash-flow … more
Date: March 1, 1997
Creator: Wiser, R. & Pickle, S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Photovoltaic balance-of-system designs and costs at PVUSA

Description: This report is one in a series of 1994-1995 PVUSA reports that document PVUSA lessons learned at demonstration sites in California and Texas. During the last 7 years (1988 to 1994), 16 PV systems ranging from 20 kW to 500 kW have been installed. Six 20-kW emerging module technology (EMT) arrays and three turnkey (i.e., vendor designed and integrated) utility-scale systems were procured and installed at PVUSA`s main test site in Davis, California. PVUSA host utilities have installed a total of s… more
Date: May 1, 1995
Creator: Reyes, A.B. & Jennings, C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Summary results of an assessment of research projects in the National Photovoltaics Program

Description: The Office of Energy Research (OER) undertook an assessment of 115 research projects (listed in Appendix A) sponsored by the National Photovoltaics Program. The Program is located within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE). This report summarizes the results of that review. The Office of Solar Energy Conversion is responsible for the management of the National Photovoltaics Program. This program focuses on assisting US industry in development of fundamental technology to b… more
Date: July 1, 1995
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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1993 PVUSA progress report

Description: Photovoltaics for Utility Scale Applications (PVUSA) is a national public-private partnership that is assessing and demonstrating the viability of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) electric generation systems and recent developments in module technology. This report updates the progress of the PVUSA project, review the status and performance of all PV installations during 1993, and summarizes key accomplishments and conclusions for the year. The PVUSA project has five objectives designed to narro… more
Date: December 31, 1993
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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