Solar Power--The Future is Now An In depth look at Solar PV... So Far March 4, 2015 Presented by: Jim Duncan, Founder & President North Texas Renewable Energy Inc. 1
Something new under the sun indeed. Post war technology led to many discoveries but none as big as the transistor. Semiconductor: Varies the amount of electricity conducted Allows control of the direction of the flow of electricity 2
In 1958 Vanguard was the US answer to Sputnik. Communication was lost in 1964 but the craft is still in orbit. http://1bog.org/ http://hubblesite.org The Hubble orbiting telescope had 2 solar arrays totaling almost 60 M². Power density: 47 W/M² 3
We ve come a long way in a short time 2012 Vs. 1982 Power Power Density Price/W 35 Watts Vs. 230 Watts 94 W/M² Vs. 153 W/M² $6.50/W Vs. $1.00/W 4
Mono-crystalline silicon ingots Cell Production 99.9999% pure silicon is used for PV cells. Poly-crystalline silicon ingots SOLARWORLD Efficiency of silicon: Photons to electrons is about 18-20% for production PV cells. ~25% of the Earths crust is silicon. 2 nd hardest mineral in nature www.pvcrystalox.com In China, poly-silicon production fell significantly in Q3 2012 to 7,631 Metric Tons, down from 12,998 MT in 2Q, 41% 5
Finished cells are 150 mm diameter 150 μm thick MONO-SILICON CELL 3/4" 150 Microns X 120 Cells =.70 PV Grade Silicon 2006 - $390.00/kilo 2013 - $22.00/kilo 6
Silicon is ~33% of cost of a mono-crystalline Si PV module Automation has reduced manufacturing cost by 80% www.renewableenergyworld.com 7
Depending on the type of PV system and the location of the installation, the Energy Payback Time [Embodied Energy] is between 0.5 and 1.4 years. PV manufacturing: 506 gco²/kwh electricity used PV produces electricity with only 16 to 32 gco²/kwh. (Grams CO² equivalent per kilowatt hour produced) Life Cycle Analysis takes the following actors into consideration: Material sourcing Manufacturing Installation Operation Decommission and recycling. Methodology Guidelines on Life Cycle Assessment of Photovoltaic Electricity, Report IEA-PVPS T12-01:2009 8
Thin Film CIS Copper indium selenide 9-12 % asi Amorphous silicon 5-9 % CdTe Cadmium telluride 10-12 % CIGS Copper indium gallium selenide 10-14 % http://www.solyndra.com +Lower production cost +Less sensitive to heat +Better low and diffuse light performance -Lower Power Density http://www.uni-solar.com/ Triple junction shingles are in high demand. 9
The adoption of Grid-Tied inverters created huge growth in the residential PV market. Residential Solar will offset some or all of a homes electric bill. 10
COMMERCIAL SCALE SOLAR INSTALLATION An entire industry has developed around flat roof buildings using a ballast mounting system. CMU (concrete masonry unit) ballast blocks allow a nonpenetrating mounting structure designed and engineered for flat roofs 11
UTILITY SCALE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS Blue Wing Solar Project COMPLETED IN 2011 14.4 Megawatt AC thin film fixed array Largest in Texas 10th largest in US CPS Energy San Antonio municipal electric utility 215,400 panels 30 year PPA [power purchase agreement] 12
Weberville Solar Power Plant 35 mw capacity Covers 380 acres 127,278 PV modules 25 year PPA Austin Energy Built at a cost of $250 million 13
206 MW Mount Signal Solar Over three million thin-film modules World s largest single-axis tracking solar PV plants Covers 1980 acres Built by Spanish multinational Abengoa 25 year PPA for SDG&E 14
*Dual-Axis PV trackers are capable of increasing annual power output by almost 40%. Utility scale trackers are typically single-axis, E-W design which will significantly increase output at a much lower cost per Watt. *Alternative Energy Institute long-term study 15
Whiteout Concentrating Solar Power Concentrating Solar Power [CSP], not photovoltaic, instead uses the suns heat to generate power with a traditional steam turbine generator. Whiteout The 200 megawatt parabolic trough generating plant in Gila Bend Arizona 16
Gemasolar CSP Thermosolar Plant Gemasolar in Spain 20 mw capacity, molten salt heated to 565 C [1049 F] is the thermal transfer fluid. 2650 2-Axis tracking mirrors [heliostats] heat the 140 m power tower collector. Steam turbine generator provides electric power. 17
Other low-tech innovations have evolved from the PV technology. GameChange Pour-in-Place Covered parking also benefits air quality, lower VOC emissions from heated fossil-fuel storage tanks. Poured-in-place concrete ballast used at EPA Superfund sites or closed landfills. Allows large installations in areas where drilling concrete piers is impossible.. 18
A partial list of solar projects under way around the world. 19
Installing ground-mount piers uses existing technologies to save huge amounts of time. Pier driving or helical piers. 20
So, how are we doing: DOMESTIC Texas is ranked 13 th. 2014 Solar Energy Industries Association 21
So, how are we doing: GLOBAL 75 Megawatts of new PV capacity in Texas in 2013, a 41% increase in over 2012 Nationally, solar PV was the second largest source of new electric generating capacity behind natural gas and accounted for 29% of all new electric capacity in 2013, 10% in 2012 Germany, in January 2014, installed 193 megawatts at ~6,000 sites. Of the Top 10, which is the fastest growing nation for newly commissioned utility scale PV thru June 2014? 22
So, how are we doing? 75 Megawatts of new PV capacity in Texas in 2013, a 41% increase in over 2012 Nationally, solar PV was the second largest source of new electric generating capacity behind natural gas and accounted for 29% of all new electric capacity in 2013, 10% in 2012 Germany, in January 2014, installed 193 megawatts at ~6,000 sites. 32kw avg. Of the Top 10, which is the fastest growing nation for newly commissioned utility scale PV thru June 2014? 500 mw of utility-scale solar power projects were commissioned in South Africa by May this year. WikiSolar 23
So now what? Solar power is growing at an ever accelerating rate and on a global scale. But so is opposition from traditional fossil fuel providers, electric utilities and much of the political sector. And like so many other aspects of our consumer/corporate society, there will be compromises. And if history is a precedent the consumer will be shortchanged. Your attendance here this weekend at the Energy Summit shows your commitment to increasing your knowledge of this precious resource we call energy. And you don t need to be reminded of the growing need for a secure energy future for everyone. The US needs be a leader in the transition to renewable energy in the 21 st Century, and solar PV needs to be leading that growth. Thank you for your attention and for your questions. 24