Public Power - July/August 2008 - (Page 24)

Solar Energy Rising buquerque. In February, the project set a conversion efficiency record of 31.25 percent. Stirling Energy Systems, which recently received a $100 million investment from NTR plc, has announced plans for two utility-scale plants in California, a 900-MW plant in Imperial County and an 850-MW facility in the Mojave Desert. Linear fresnel systems, which can potentially lower capital costs, have, to date, produced only steam and, like dishes, are considered experimental. Nevertheless, power purchase agreements for about 500 MW are in place in the United States. Photovoltaic systems are said to have a life of 20 to 30 years, although some say they can last much longer. The cell accounts for about 45 percent of the cost of a silicon photovoltaic module. Modules, in turn, represent a little under half the cost of an installed residential photovoltaic system and a bit more than half the cost of a com- 15,000 ATTENDEES • 400 EXHIBITORS • 200 SPEAKERS Exhibits, Workshops, Tours, New Products, Special Evening Events, Leading Experts, Latest Policy and Market Developments, and lots of Fun! Presented by: GigaWatt Sponsors: TeraWatt Sponsor: R E GISTE R O N L IN E T OD AY ! mercial system. The balance includes the cost of the inverter (for on-grid systems) or controller (off-grid), wiring, mounting equipment and installation. Photovoltaic quotes, which are given for both cost and price, come in various units and are given for modules, complete systems and energy. Experts like National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Margolis say the most meaningful measure is the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), which takes into account both installed system costs as well as financing and performance. Photovoltaic systems now cost between 20 and 30 cents/kW, says National Renewable Energy Laboratory. American Solar Energy Society puts current installed photovoltaic system costs at $6 to $9 per peak watt. Solarbuzz, which publishes a monthly price summary, said photovoltaic modules cost $4.81 per peak watt for a 125kW system in May 2008. EPRI said typical photovoltaic system prices in 2007 ranged from about $6,000/kW to $10,000/kW of installed peak DC nameplate capacity, “depending inversely on size.” Navigant projects that in 2009, U.S.-installed photovoltaic system costs will be $6,620/kW for residential systems, $6,150/kW commercial and $12,000/kW for remote systems. Solar Energy Industries Association’s Hanis concedes estimates are “widely variable. They depend on what kind of solar technology you are using, where you are located and what incentives are in place.” Nationally, a typical residential photovoltaic system costs $10 to $12 per watt without incentives, she said. In California, which has an active market, the range is $8 to $10 per watt. Looking ahead, National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s approach starts with the country’s 1,000 largest utilities and considers the difference in existing residential rates and the levelized cost of energy of photovoltaic systems. With today’s rates and solar incentives, photovoltaic energy is attractive only in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Long Island and a small portion of Colorado. In 2015, assuming there are no government incentives, photovoltaic system prices PUBLIC POWER 24 JULY-AUGUST 2008 http://www.solarpowerconference.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - July/August 2008

Public Power- July/August 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Solar Energy Rising Sacramento's Solar Shares Gainesville Crowns a Conservation Idol By the Numbers Curbing Costs of Outages Reliability Green Energy Hometown Connections Customer Service Parting Shot

Public Power - July/August 2008

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