Solar Energy Utilization in the United States For the American Nuclear Society Nor Cal Ali Moharrer, P.E. February 21, 2013 Professional Experience • 20 years project engineer experience, including the overall engineering of: • Hydro electric power • Gas turbines • Steam turbines • CSP solar steam turbine • Photovoltaic power • Project Engineering experience with world’s largest hydrogen generation plant: 220 MMSCFD (million standard cubic feet per day ) • Power Projects: 50- 1000 MW • Mechanical design and fabrication background 2 Earth Climate: A global solar power plant Fuel source: ~ 240 W/m2 solar flux (average annual) CAISO (2/16/2013) CAISO (2/16/2013) CA Renewable Portfolio Standard 33% by 2020 • Established in 2002 and accelerated in 2006. • It is procurement program requiring utilities, and other electric service providers to increase their annual use of (eligible) renewable generation sources. California Solar Energy Potential • High direct normal incident solar radiation • Access/proximity to transmission lines • Large urban areas • Most populous State in the US. Electric Net Summer Capacity ( x1000 MW) Total (All Sectors), 2011 values (EIA, Annual Energy Review 2011) 1200 1000 800 Solar 600 NG Nuclear 400 Total 200 0 2011 Solar vs. Conventional Power Plant: similarities/differences Similarities Differences • Single/multiple generation • Costly (LCOE high) sources • Subject to solar irradiation • Fit for utility scale • Need sunlight, clear skies • Controllable output • Variable output (PV) • Dispatch-able • Low capacity factor (<2000 • Support the base load (CSP) hours/year) • Scalable (n x MW) • Zero cost of fuel, • Low O&M cost • Large footprints (~ 5 acres /1 MW) Existing Capacity by Energy Source (MW), EIA 2011 Generator Nameplate Energy Source Number of Generators Net Summer Capacity Net Winter Capacity Capacity Coal 1,400 343,757 317,640 320,185 Petroleum 3,738 57,537 51,208 55,179 Natural Gas 5,574 477,387 415,191 448,456 Other Gases 91 2,202 1,934 1,919 Nuclear 104 107,001 101,419 103,507 Hydroelectric Conventional 4,048 78,194 78,652 78,107 Wind 781 45,982 45,676 45,689 Solar Thermal and 326 1,564 1,524 1,411 Photovoltaic Wood and Wood-Derived Fuels 345 8,014 7,077 7,151 Geothermal 226 3,500 2,409 2,596 Other Biomass 1,660 5,192 4,536 4,600 Hydroelectric Pumped Storage 154 20,816 22,293 22,268 Other Energy Sources 81 1,697 1,420 1,424 Total 18,530 1,153,149 1,051,251 1,092,780