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
 |  November 2022

The high share of PV energy requires greater system flexibility to address the increased demand/supply imbalance...

IRENA SolarCity
+  |  November 2022

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
 |  November 2022

Grid-connected solar power generation, either dispersed or centralized, has developed and grown at the margin of a...

Firm PV Power generation for Switzerland
 |  June 2022

We investigate whether photovoltaics (PV) can effectively and economically contribute to a massively renewable energy...

Firm PV Power Generation in Switzerland
 |  June 2022

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
+  |  June 2022

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
 |  March 2022

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
 |  October 2021

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
 |  August 2021

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
+  |  July 2021

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
 |  July 2021

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
 |  January 2021

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
+  |  August 2020

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
+  |  August 2020

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
 |  February 2020

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
+  |  July 2019

This presentation demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated approach to electrification of existing and new...

Value of Solar+Storage in Guam
+  |  July 2019

This report presents the results of a distributed-solar valuation performed for the island of Guam. The study used...

Montana Solar Market Assessment
+  |  July 2019

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
 |  May 2019

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
 |  January 2019

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
 |  January 2018

 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
+  |  July 2016

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
 |  December 2015

Online software has already provided 10,000 residential customers with instant, personalized estimates to determine...

Maine Distributed Solar Valuation Study
+  |  August 2015

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
+  |  August 2015

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
 |  June 2015

Early adopters are cost-effectively engaging customers about solar options with WattPlan®’s interactive, online...

Minnesota Value of Solar: Methodology
 |  March 2014

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
 |  October 2013

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
 |  October 2013

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
+  |  March 2013

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
 |  November 2012

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?
+  |  March 2012

This article identifies the combined value that solar electric power plants deliver to utilities’ rate payers and...

Designing Austin Energy’s Solar Tariff Using a Distributed PV Calculator
 |  March 2011

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Valuing a Portfolio of PV Investments
+  |  October 2010

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
 |  May 2010

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
 |  April 2010

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
+  |  November 2008

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
 |  March 2006

Quantifies the comprehensive value of distributed PV to Austin Energy. Download PDF >>>

Maximizing the Value of Customer-Sited PV Systems Using Storage & Controls
 |  January 2005

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?
 |  January 2004

Examination of the value of PV to residential customers under Time-of-Use rates. Download PDF >>>

Distributed Photovoltaics in New Jersey
October 2003

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A Simple Method for Consumers to Address Uncertainty When Purchasing Photovoltaics
 |  September 2003

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
 |  August 2003

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
October 2002

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Reduce, Reuse, Renew: One Possible Approach to Cut Carbon Emissions
 |  July 2000

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The Potential Market for Photovoltaics & Other Distributed Resources in Rural Electric Cooperatives
July 2000

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Clean Distributed Resources in the U.S. Residential Market
 |  November 1999

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
+  |  June 1998

This article provides an evaluation of the economic potential of a micro-grid composed of PV, fuel cells and energy...

Using Distributed Resources to Manage Risks Caused by Demand Uncertainty
January 1998

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Distributed Generation & Micro-Grids
September 1997

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Credit Ratings & Photovoltaic Investments
September 1997

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Investments Under Uncertainty: State Prices in Incomplete Markets
August 1997

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Integrating Renewable Energy Technologies in the Electric Supply Industry: A Risk Management Approach
 |  June 1997

Identifies the renewable energy technology risks to utilities, and how to mitigate those risks Download PDF...

Managing Risk Using Renewable Energy Technologies
 |  January 1997

Explains how owning renewable energy technologies can mitigate risk faced by the electric utility industry Download...

Identifying Distributed Generation & Demand Side Management Investment Opportunities
September 1996

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The Value of Grid-Support Photovoltaics In Reducing Distribution System Losses
September 1995

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Blog

Investigating variation of soiling and snow loss models using SolarAnywhere® data
Jul 2, 2024
Investigating variation of soiling and snow loss models using SolarAnywhere® data

Soiling and snow on PV systems can lead to significant annual energy losses, reaching up to 50%1 and 40%2 in certain regions. Our study investigates common models for estimating soiling and snow-related energy impacts. By analyzing these soiling and snow loss models at a 1 km spatial resolution, incorporating typical PV system parameters and leveraging […]

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SolarAnywhere Data Version 3.8 includes new high latitude irradiance data
Jun 12, 2024
SolarAnywhere Data Version 3.8 includes new high latitude irradiance data

Clean Power Research® releases a new SolarAnywhere® data version annually. This year’s update addresses the changing needs of the solar industry as projects expand to more northern, snowy locations with appreciable wind risk by offering new high-latitude irradiance data. Consistent with years past, we also published our annual validation whitepaper to communicate the accuracy of […]

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SolarAnywhere Data Version 3.8 includes new high latitude irradiance data
Jun 12, 2024
SolarAnywhere Data Version 3.8 includes new high latitude irradiance data

1 Hicks, W. (2021, April 1). Scientists Studying Solar Try Solving a Dusty Problem. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Link2 Keith, J., & Ryberg, D. (2017). Integration, Validation, and Application of a PV Snow Coverage Model in SAM. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Technical Report No. NREL/TP-6A20-68705. Link3 Coello, M., & Boyle,L. (2019, June 12) Simple […]

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