Renewable Electricity: Future Technology Challenges

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1 Renewable Electricity: Future Technology Challenges Robert J. Noun Executive Director Communications & External Affairs March 5, 2009 Energy, LLC 1

2 Getting to Speed and Scale Key Challenges Implementing Renewable Gigawatts at Scale BARRIERS Cost Reliability Infrastructure Dispatchability Displacement of Petroleum-Based Fuels BARRIERS Cost Life cycle sustainability Fuels infrastructure Demand and utilization Reducing Energy Demand of Buildings, Vehicles, and Industry BARRIERS Coordinated implementation Valuing efficiency Cost Performance and reliability 2

3 President Obama on Renewable Energy Invest $150B in alternative energy over 10 years Double production of alternative energy in three years Upgrade the efficiency of more than 75% of federal buildings and two million private homes Create Jobs with Clean, Efficient, American Energy Transforming Our Economy with Science and Technology 3

4 Harvesting Past Investments First Generation Technology U.S. Renewable Electricity Installed Nameplate Capacity Source: EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2009 Early Release 4

5 Technology Innovation Challenges Remain The Next Generation Wind Turbines Improve energy capture by 30% Decrease costs by 25% Biofuels New feedstocks Integrated biorefineries Solar Systems Improved performance through, new materials, lower cost manufacturing processes, concentration Nanostructures Zero Energy Buildings Building systems integration Computerized building energy optimization tools 5

6 Achieving the Potential Requires A Balanced Portfolio 6

7 Managing the Lab-to-Market Interface Partner with industry, universities, other federal agencies, international community and state/local governments to deploy clean energy solutions NREL storefronts, DuPont CRADA, Xcel/SolarTAC Contribute timely and definitive analyses on technology, policy, and market issues that impact commercialization Provide investment community with credible information (industry growth forums) 7

8 NREL R&D Portfolio Technology Development Programs Efficient Energy Use Vehicle Technologies Building Technologies Industrial Technologies Renewable Resources Wind and water Solar Biomass Geothermal Energy Delivery and Storage Electricity Transmission and Distribution Alternative Fuels Hydrogen Delivery and Storage Foundational Science and Advanced Analytics 8

9 NREL FY2008 Program Portfolio Actual $328.3 Million Weatherization $3.4M Facilities and Infrastructure $76.2M Solar $72.4M WFO $18.7M Other DOE $7.6M Geothermal $1.9M Basic Sciences $13.5M Bioenergy $35.4M Wind $33.9M Transmission and Distribution $1.9M FEMP $4.6M Updated October 2008 Buildings $11.1M Hydrogen $28.4M Vehicle Technologies $19.3M 9

10 Wind Today s Status in U.S. 22,820 MW installed capacity Cost 6-9 /kwh at good wind sites* DOE Cost Goals 3.6 /kwh, onshore at low wind sites by /kwh, offshore in shallow water by 2014 Long Term Potential 20% of the nation s electricity supply * With no Production Tax Credit Updated December 8, 2008 Source: U.S. Department of Energy, American Wind Energy Association 10

11 NREL Research Thrusts Improved performance and reliability Advanced rotor development Utility grid integration Wind Source: Megavind Report Denmark s future as leading centre of competence within the field of wind power 11

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13 Solar Photovoltaics and CSP Status in U.S. PV 1,000 MW installed capacity Cost /kwh CSP 419 MW installed capacity Cost 12 /kwh Potential: PV /kwh by /kwh by 2015 CSP 8.5 /kwh by /kwh by 2015 Source: U.S. Department of Energy, IEA Updated January 5,

14 NREL Research Thrusts PV Higher performance cells/modules New nanomaterials applications Advanced manufacturing techniques CSP Low cost high performance storage for baseload markets Advanced absorbers, reflectors, and heat transfer fluids Next generation solar concentrators NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy 8.22-megawatt Efficiency and Renewable Alamosa, Energy operated Colo., by PV the Alliance solar for plant Sustainable 14

15 Geothermal Today s Status in U.S. 2,800 MWe installed, 500 MWe new contracts, 3000 MWe under development Cost 5-8 /kwh with no PTC Capacity factor typically > 90%, base load power DOE Cost Goals: <5 /kwh, for typical hydrothermal sites 5 /kwh, for enhanced geothermal systems with mature technology Long Term Potential: Recent MIT Analysis shows potential for 100,000 MW installed Enhanced Geothermal Power systems by 2050, cost-competitive with coalpowered generation April 10, 2008 NREL Research Thrusts: Analysis to define the technology path to commercialization of Enhanced Geothermal Systems Low temperature conversion cycles Better performing, lower cost components Innovative materials 15

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17 Buildings Status U.S. Buildings: 39% of primary energy 71% of electricity 38% of carbon emissions DOE Goal: Cost effective, marketable zero energy buildings by 2025 Value of energy savings exceeds cost of energy features on a cash flow basis NREL Research Thrusts Whole building systems integration of efficiency and renewable features Computerized building energy optimization tools Building integrated PV April 10,

18 An Integrated Approach is Required 18

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20 Distributed Energy Systems Integration Systems Integration PV Grid Integration Smart Grids DE System Modeling and Simulation Distributed Power Codes and Standards Development Interconnection Equipment Testing Regulatory and Policy Microgrids testing and standards Advanced Power Electronics Advanced Functionality Modular/Scaleable PE Renewable Electrolysis Wind/PV to Hydrogen Testing and Characterization of Electrolyzers 20

21 Grid Integration Program Addressing High-Penetration PV Challenges Issues Associated with High Penetration Affected by utilities' existing generation mix regulating capabilities, load characteristics, resource availability, and market structure Additional systems costs may go up with increasing penetration due to variability and uncertainty Solution Pathways Spatial diversity of the resource Flexible conventional generation Grid operations and control Load management Energy storage 21

22 PV Grid Integration Working with SMUD and Xcel Energy to evaluate PV grid impacts Currently installing data acquisition and monitoring on distribution feeder at the Anatolia Sub-development in Rancho Cordova, CA Over 600 homes will have 2kW of PV Monitoring on Distribution Transformer Alamosa 22

23 Wind2H2 Project Excess AC Power DC BUS Utility Grid DC-DC Converters DC-DC Converter 100kW Wind Turbine ASCO Transfer Switch AC Power AC Power Proton Energy (PEM) 5kW Electrolyzer Proton Energy (PEM) 5kW Electrolyzer Teledyne (Alkaline) 50kW Electrolyzer 10kW Wind Turbine AC-DC Converter Hydrogen Output Hydrogen IC Engine/ Genset 60kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell 5kW (Future) H2 Filling Station 10kW PV DC-DC Converters Hydrogen Compression 150psi - 3,500psi Hydrogen Storage 85kg 23

24 Visit us online at NREL Operated is a national for the U.S. laboratory Department of the U.S. of Energy Department Office of Energy of Energy Office Efficiency of Energy and Efficiency Renewable and Renewable Energy by Energy the Alliance operated for by Sustainable the Alliance for Energy, Sustainable LLC 24