The high share of PV energy requires greater system flexibility to address the increased demand/supply imbalance...
Energy Valuation
Energy Valuation
Clean Power Research pioneered many of the methods currently used to quantify the value of distributed PV generation from the perspective of utilities and PV system owners. The company’s energy valuation research examines a range of topics such as the value of solar power generation in the U.S., capturing capacity-related benefits of variable energy resources, and the use of distributed generation to reduce transmission and distribution costs.
Impact of PV/Wind Forecast Accuracy and National Transmission Grid Reinforcement on the Italian Electric System
The high share of PV energy requires greater system flexibility to address the increased demand/supply imbalance...
IRENA SolarCity
This project combines ultra-high-resolution (0.5 meter or 1 meter) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and 3D vector...
IEA Task 16-3.5 Report: Firm Power Generation
Grid-connected solar power generation, either dispersed or centralized, has developed and grown at the margin of a...
Firm PV Power generation for Switzerland
We investigate whether photovoltaics (PV) can effectively and economically contribute to a massively renewable energy...
Firm PV Power Generation in Switzerland
We investigate whether PV can effectively and economically contribute to a massively renewable energy (RE) power...
Enhancing Temporal Variability of 5-minute Satellite-Derived Solar Irradiance Data
Satellite-derived solar irradiance data are known to underestimate temporal variability compared to point measurements...
Update 2022 – A Fundamental Look at Supply Side Energy Reserves for the Planet
Energy on our planet is central to the functioning of our ecosystem and modern human society. This work attempts to...
IMPLICIT STORAGE – Optimally Achieving Lowest-Cost 100% Renewable Power generation
Implicit storage – aka overbuilt and operationally curtailed variable renewable energy (RE) resources – is a...
Least-Cost Firm PV Power Generation: Dynamic Curtailment vs. Inverter-Limited Curtailment
Overbuilding and dynamic curtailment are increasingly acknowledged as central to cost-optimally transforming...
Residual Load Imbalance Mitigation Strategy via Flexible PV Ancillary Services: The Italian Case Study
Large share of solar energy imposes a higher system flexibility to resolve the increased demand/supply imbalance due...
Ultra-High Photovoltaic Penetration: Where to Deploy
While it is widely known that the solar resource is sufficient to meet the world’s energy demand many times over, the...
Italian Protocol for Massive Solar Integration: From Solar Imbalance Regulation to Firm 24/365 Solar Generation
This article describes a progressive strategy to achieve 100% penetration of intermittent renewables at minimal cost....
From Firm Solar Power Forecasts to Firm Solar Power Generation an Effective Path to Ultra-High Renewable Penetration a New York Case Study
We introduce firm solar forecasts as a strategy to operate optimally overbuilt solar power plants in conjunction with...
The Value of PV Power Forecast and the Paradox of the “Single Pricing” Scheme: The Italian Case Study
One of the major problem of photovoltaic grid integration is limiting the solar-induced imbalances since these can...
Italian Protocol for Massive Solar Integration: Imbalance Mitigation Strategies
This article proposes two strategies for the mitigation of power imbalances and related costs resulting from...
Solar+ Homes: If an Integrated Approach Works in a Retrofit Application, New Homes Will Be Even Better
This presentation demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated approach to electrification of existing and new...
Value of Solar+Storage in Guam
This report presents the results of a distributed-solar valuation performed for the island of Guam. The study used...
Montana Solar Market Assessment
As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, the Montana Energy Office (MEO) of the Montana...
A Radical Idea to Get a High-Renewable Electric Grid: Build Way More Solar and Wind Than Needed
The famous inventor Edwin Land said, “It’s not that we need new ideas, but we need to stop having old ideas.” He...
Overbuilding & Curtailment: The Cost-Effective Enablers of Firm PV Generation
Current thinking considers that PV output curtailment is a last resort measure to be avoided. In this article, we...
New DER Planning Software from Clean Power Research and SMUD Enables Utilities to Predict Bottom-Line Impacts in a DER World
Product will benefit utilities of all sizes Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 17, 2018—Clean Power Research® and SMUD today...
Solar Energy Forecast Validation for Extended Areas & Economic Impact of Forecast Accuracy
This article evaluates the accuracy of solar forecast models, including SolarAnywhere®, as a function of geographic...
WattPlan® Revealing Savings of Electric Vehicles and Solar in California, New York, Arizona
Online software has already provided 10,000 residential customers with instant, personalized estimates to determine...
Maine Distributed Solar Valuation Study
In support of the Maine Public Utilities Commission's work in 2014-15 to determine the value of distributed solar...
Valuation of Solar + Storage in Hawaii: Methodology
Clean Power Research was engaged by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) to develop a methodology that...
New WattPlan® Software by Clean Power Research Sets Standard for Utilities to Deliver Highly Personalized Answers to Energy Questions
Early adopters are cost-effectively engaging customers about solar options with WattPlan®’s interactive, online...
Minnesota Value of Solar: Methodology
The Value of Solar methodology developed on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and approved by the...
2014 Value of Solar at Austin Energy
This report and presentation summarizes a Value of Solar® study conducted for Austin Energy in the fall of 2013....
Clean Power Research Takes on Solar Soft Costs and PV Fleet Integration with $1.5 million in SunShot Initiative Awards
New software services will help utilities cost-effectively manage interconnection, better engage solar customers, and...
The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to San Antonio
This Value of Solar® study was prepared for Solar San Antonio under a Department of Energy SunShot Initiative grant....
The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to New Jersey and Pennsylvania
This Value of Solar® study was prepared for the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) and the...
Solar Power Generation in the US: Too Expensive or a Bargain?
This article identifies the combined value that solar electric power plants deliver to utilities’ rate payers and...
Valuing a Portfolio of PV Investments
This presentation describes the importance of PV output variability as a factor in calculating the value of a fleet of...
Quantifying the Cost of High Photovoltaic Penetration
Calculating the cost of energy storage to provide firm capacity on a power grid with high PV penetration. Download PDF...
The CA Net Energy Metering Report: Approach, Results & Implications
The steps required to compute the costs and benefits of electric rates that use net energy metering. Download PDF...
Solar Sustained Vehicles: A Consumer’s Solution to Protection in an Age of Oil Dependence, Economic Uncertainty, & Global Warming
A consumer’s view of the fuel saving benefits of Solar Sustained Vehicles. Download PDF >>>
The Value of Distributed Photovoltaics to Austin Energy & the City of Austin
Quantifies the comprehensive value of distributed PV to Austin Energy. Download PDF >>>
Maximizing the Value of Customer-Sited PV Systems Using Storage & Controls
Enhancing the load management and outage protection attributes of PV to increase the value of customer-sited PV...
Are Photovoltaic Systems Worth More to Residential Consumers on Net Metered Time-of-Use Rates?
Examination of the value of PV to residential customers under Time-of-Use rates. Download PDF >>>
Distributed Photovoltaics in New Jersey
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A Simple Method for Consumers to Address Uncertainty When Purchasing Photovoltaics
Should consumers invest in PV now, or wait? Download PDF >>>
Maximizing PV peak shaving with solar load control: validation of a web-based economic evaluation tool
Calculating the value of solar load control for commercial applications using Clean Power Estimator. Download PDF...
Tax Revenue Protection Through Outage Risk Mitigation: The Value of Distributed PV to The Federal Government
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The Potential Market for Photovoltaics & Other Distributed Resources in Rural Electric Cooperatives
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Clean Distributed Resources in the U.S. Residential Market
Examines how PV combined with energy efficiency and cogeneration fuel cells can satisfy the energy needs of the U.S....
A Micro-Grid with PV, Fuel Cells and Energy Efficiency
This article provides an evaluation of the economic potential of a micro-grid composed of PV, fuel cells and energy...
Distributed Generation & Micro-Grids
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Credit Ratings & Photovoltaic Investments
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Integrating Renewable Energy Technologies in the Electric Supply Industry: A Risk Management Approach
Identifies the renewable energy technology risks to utilities, and how to mitigate those risks Download PDF...
Managing Risk Using Renewable Energy Technologies
Explains how owning renewable energy technologies can mitigate risk faced by the electric utility industry Download...
Blog
Case Study: Rappahannock Electric Cooperative streamlines solar program
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative's (REC) Energy Solutions and Clean Energy team struggled with high solar support call volumes and a labor-intensive interconnection process. To improve their residential and commercial solar programs, REC sought to automate customer...
Unpacking the Inflation Reduction Act part 2: Strategies for electric utilities to effectively scale DER adoption
This is part 2 of a 2-part blog. In Part 1, we discussed the challenges and impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on utilities and energy agencies. In Part 2, we’ll share utility best practices to meet increased DER program demands and demonstrate how Clean Power...