DEMONSTRATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT BENEFITS OF GRID-CONNECTED PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER-SYSTEMS

This study investigated the pollutant emission reduction and demand-si de management potential of 16 photovoltaic (PV) systems installed acro ss the US during 1993 and 1994. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 11 electric power companies sponsored the project. This art icle presents results of analyses of each PV system's ability to offse t power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) , carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulates and to provide power during pe ak demand hours for the individual host buildings and peak load hours for tie utility. The analyses indicate a very broad range in the syste ms' abilities to offset pollutant emissions, due to variation in the s olar resource available and the emission rates of the participating ut ilities' load following generation plants. Each system's ability to re duce building peak demand was dependent on the correlation of that loa d to the available solar resource. Most systems operated in excess of 50% of their capacity during building peak load hours in the summer mo nths, but well below that level during winter peak hours. Similarly, m any systems operated above 50% of their capacity during utility peak l oad hours in the summer months, but at a very low level during winter peak hours. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.