Archived Research
Economic Valuation: Using Storage and Renewable Energy Resources for Demand Side Management
Reducing demand for electricity during times of peak usage can enable utilities to defer system capacity upgrades. These papers examine how the use of PV systems and storage can be employed to reduce customer demand during times of peak load.
- Increasing the Value of Customer-Owned PV Systems Using Batteries (Nov. 2004)
- Using Product Portfolios to Increase the Value of Customer-Sited PV (Oct. 2001) – Paper + Presentation
- PV DSM: Policy Actions to Speed Commercialization (May 1993)
- Evaluating the Revenue Impacts of Customer-Sited Renewable Generation Using Load Research Data (Oct. 1992)
Economic Valuation: Cost Savings and Market Opportunities with Distributed PV
These papers examine how installing PV at or near the point of use can eliminate the need for utilities to invest in distribution infrastructure upgrades or new distribution facilities as customer loads increase, as well as the viability of micro-grids and their potential to create market opportunities for residential developers.
- Distributed Generation: An Alternative to Electric Utility Investments in System Capacity (Sep. 1996)
- The Market for Photovoltaics in New Homes Using Micro-Grids (Jun. 2000)
- The Market for Photovoltaics in New Homes Using Micro-Grids (Report) (Jan. 2000)
- Photovoltaic Economics & Markets: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District as a Case Study (Sep. 1996)
- A Preliminary Analysis of Block Island Power Company’s Use of Clean Distributed Resources to Provide Power to Its Customers (Aug. 1998)
- Performance & Value Analysis of the Kerman 500 kW Photovoltaic Power Plant (Apr. 1995)
- The Value of Grid-Support Photovoltaics to Substation Transformers (Aug. 1994)
- The Value of Grid-Support Photovoltaics in Providing Distribution System Voltage Support (Jun. 1994)
- Determination of Photovoltaic Effective Capacity for Nevada Power (Sep. 2003)
Economic Valuation: Energy Efficiency as a Demand Side Management Strategy
These papers explain why solar installers and utility system planners should consider implementing energy efficiency measures as an effective first step in demand side management and a valuable complement to PV systems.
- Distributed Resources: A Potentially Economically Attractive Option to Satisfy Increased Demand on Okanogan County Electric Cooperative’s Mazama Feeder Line (Oct. 1998)
- Keep the Door Open for Micro-Grids (Jul. 1998)
- Distributed Resources in Okanogan County Electric Co-op: Preliminary Feasibility Study Results (Oct. 1998)
Economic Valuation: Investing in Renewable Energy
These papers, of interest to solar developers and utilities investing in large solar projects, discuss risk management and how the determination of credit ratings is evolving for solar projects.
- Modular Green Generation: An Untapped Green Market (Jun. 1998)
- Green Futures: Managing Financial Risks & Protecting the Environment (Jun. 1998)
- Strategic Planning in Electric Utilities: Using Wind Technologies as Risk Management Tools (Jun. 1996)
- Strategic Planning in Electric Utilities: Using Renewable Energy Technologies as Risk Management Tools (Apr. 1996)
Economic Valuation: PV Value Analysis
PV value analysis research provides utilities, government agencies and developers information about the benefits PV offers various stakeholders.
- How to Incorporate Perspective When Performing a Solar Value Analysis (Oct. 2006)
- Potential Economic Benefits of Distributed Photovoltaics to the Nevada Power Company (Nov. 2003)
- Building Integrated Photovoltaics At the New York City Transit’s Corona Maintenance Shop & Car Wash Facility (Jul. 2000)
Economic Valuation: General Discussion
- Electricity Rate Structures Can Be Used to Promote Customer-Sited PV: A Lesson From California (Jun. 2002)
- Estimator Documentation (May 2003)
- A Tool To Market Customer-Sited Small Wind Systems (Jun. 2002)
- Using the Internet to Promote PV & Other Clean Technologies (Jun. 2001)
- Quick Review of Basic Economics (Jul. 2004)
Program Optimization
These program optimization papers provide utilities and energy agencies with guidelines on PV incentive design and the role of incentives in transforming markets.