Showing papers on "Grid parity published in 1994"
TL;DR: The potential of various renewable or solar energy technologies to supply the United States with its future energy needs is analyzed and a projection of the amount of energy that could be supplied by solar energy is made.
Abstract: This article analyzes the potential of various renewable or solar energy technologies to supply the United States with its future energy needs. Diverse renewable technologies are assessed in terms of their land requirements, environmental benefits and risks, economic costs, and a comparison of their advantages. In addition a projection of the amount of energy that could be supplied by solar energy is made. Topics covered include: assessment of renewable energy technologies; biomass energy systems; liquid fuels; ethanol; methanol; hydrogen; hydroelectric systems; wind power; photovoltaics; solar thermal conversion systems; passive heating and cooling of buildings; comparing solar power to coal and nuclear power; transition to solar energy and other alternatives. 84 refs.
128 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented a project undertaken in Mexico to electrify the remote village of San Antonio Agua Bendita (SAAB) using a custom designed hybrid power system.
Abstract: This paper presents a project undertaken in Mexico to electrify the remote village of San Antonio Agua Bendita (SAAB) using a custom designed hybrid power system. The hybrid power system will provide grid quality electricity to this community which would otherwise not have been electrified via traditional distribution lines. The hybrid power system was designed to electrify the entire community, incorporate multiple sources of renewable power with on-demand power, operate autonomously, and be cost effective in dollars per watt of electricity generated over the system's usable life. A major factor in the success of this project is the use of renewable energy for economic development and community partnership. Many rural electrification projects have provided power for domestic use but few have successfully provided power to improve the economic condition of the people served by the system. The SAAB hybrid avoids this pitfall by providing 120 VAC power at 60 Hz to anticipated industrial loads in the village, as well as providing grid quality power for domestic use. The system consists of the following modules: a controller, battery storage, a PV array, two 1O kW wind turbines, a diesel generator, a micro-hydro generater, power output control. >
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on solar thermal electricity generation and such promising technologies as trough collectors, tower plants, solar chimneys and Dish/Stirling systems, and showed that the de...
Abstract: This paper concentrates on solar thermal electricity generation and such promising technologies as trough collectors, tower plants, solar chimneys and Dish/Stirling systems. It is shown that the de...
16 citations
30 Apr 1994
TL;DR: In this article, the authors look at the economics of this thriving market and show that more rural households get their electricity from solar energy than through the Government's rural electrification program.
Abstract: In Kenya, more rural households get their electricity from solar energy than through the Government's rural electrification program. The spread of the photovoltaic systems has been recent, rapid and market driven. The author looks at the economics of this thriving market.
13 citations
05 Dec 1994
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that the importance of solar electricity is not measured by megawatts alone, but rather by high reliability of power systems, no or little maintenance, a high degree of acceptance on the customer's side and a local service structure, requirements that are met by PV power systems installed by Siemens Solar within the CILSS Project described in this paper.
Abstract: Today, a hundred million African people live far away from the electric grid in small villages with only a very small chance to get access to centralised power within the next 20-30 years. With a high cost of about 130,000 DM/km for a 66 kVA power line in sparsely populated areas inside Niger, it becomes apparent that under these circumstances conventional power generation with an extensive grid is not affordable and uneconomical. To bring electricity into these areas requires high reliability of power systems, no or little maintenance, a high degree of acceptance on the customer's side and a local service structure, requirements that are met by PV power systems installed by Siemens Solar within the CILSS Project described in this paper. Although the total power installed in the project is only about 1.2 MW/sub p/, PV power provides essential services such as water, light, etc. to nearly one million people, showing again that the importance of solar electricity is not measured by megawatts alone.
5 citations
01 Jun 1994
TL;DR: The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Thermal Electric Program is managed by the Solar thermal and biomass Power division, which is part of the Office of utility technologies.
Abstract: The Department of Energy`s Solar Thermal Electric Program is managed by the Solar thermal and biomass Power division which is part of the Office of utility Technologies. The focus of the Program is to commercialize solar electric technologies. In this regard, three major projects are currently being pursued in trough, central receiver, and dish/Stirling electric power generation. This paper describes these three projects and the activities at the National laboratories that support them.
4 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the power conditioning for two forms of renewable energy, wind and photovoltaics (PV), links electric power generation to the consumer with requirements that provide the main control inputs for the power flow.
Abstract: The power conditioning for two forms of renewable energy, wind and photovoltaics (PV) links electric power generation to the consumer with requirements that provide the main control inputs for the power flow. In addition to the coupling of PV and wind energy plants to existing grids, stand-alone systems are described. The latter offer early potential for market introduction of renewable energies at a premium price, since remote supply of electricity is currently linked with higher cost. In order to reduce the cost and to improve availability, the scalability to any nominal power and the suitability to central and decentral applications is discussed on the system level. The basic variants of converter technology in conjunction with current concentration are explained and assessed in regard to PV application. For wind energy conversion, the interaction between mechano-electrical transformation, grid connection, and control concept are analysed. Grid- and consumer-specific measures for power conditioning are displayed and analyzed with regard to voltage variation and harmonics. Concepts that are successfully used in practice are presented, main causes of disturbances of operating plants are listed, and new trends are outlined. For stand-alone systems, a combination of synchronous machines and battery-coupled inverter is suitable for grid formation. Withmore » advanced control methods, the standard permissable tolerances of voltage, frequency and harmonics can be achieved. Modular unit-kit construction allows high reliability and simple installation, operation and low maintenance, and the expansion of the supply system according to increasing needs. 35 refs., 61 figs., 1 tab.« less
4 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, two new variants for solar hybrid power stations: the solar extraction-steam saving and the solar economiser were proposed, and they were demonstrated how these variants can achieve also under Central European radiation conditions on electricity generation price of below 1 DM/kWh.
Abstract: Solar hybrid power stations with a higher fossil proportion of power feed are the most likely variant for large-scale technical solar electricity production. Their application considerations, however, have been restricted so far to areas in the Sun-Belt of the Earth. The following contribution presents ― after analysing the fossil and solar power feed ― two new variants for solar hybrid power stations: the solar extraction-steam saving and the solar economiser. It is demonstrated how these variants can achieve also under Central European radiation conditions on electricity generation price of below 1 DM/kWh
2 citations
TL;DR: The suitability of such grid connected solar PV power plants are being studied for meeting all the electrical energy need of the unelectrified villages and for the potential of feeding the additional power available from such photovoltaic power plant to a nearby utility grid as discussed by the authors.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the use of solar energy to run steam turbines for electricity production is examined in the Australian context, using new low-concentration technology possibilities, and preliminary estimates show that suggested design improvements could result in busbar solar thermal electricity for US$0.05-0.07/kWh over most of Australia.
1 citations