advances in utility- scale pv plants: key lessons learned · 2017-11-07 · advances in...
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Advances in Utility-Scale PV Plants:
Key Lessons Learned
Mahesh Morjaria, Ph.D.VP, PV Systems
Enabling a world powered by reliable, affordable
solar electricity.
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Key Messages – Advances in Utility-Scale PV Plants
Sources: 1 Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis – Version 10; GTM Research Global Solar PV Demand Monitor Q2017. . 2. Beyond 33% Renewables: Grid Integration Policy for a Low-‐Carbon Future, CPUC White Paper
• Utility-scale solar electricity now costs less than conventional generation in many markets1
– Cheaper than rooftop PV by a factor of 2-3
• Need to address grid challenges to grow solar substantially2
— Maintain grid stability and reliability while integrating large-scale solar into electricity grid system
— Increase grid flexibility to increase solar penetration and reduce
curtailment
• Key cost reduction drivers include:– Module cost reduction & efficiency improvement
– BOS & Plant design innovations
– Improved Investment Climate
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Utility-Scale Solar Energy is Competitive Today … Eliminates Fuel Price Volatility
Source: Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis – Version 10;
$-
$0.05
$0.10
$0.15
$0.20
$0.25
$0.30
Coal Nuclear Gas CC Gas Peaking Diesel First Solar
LevelizedCost of Energy
($/kWh)
Unsubsidized
Eliminates FuelPrice Risk
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PV Module Experience Curve – Key Driver for Low-Cost Solar
“Terawatt-scale photovoltaics: Trajectories and challenges”, Haegel et al, , Science Mag, 14 APRIL 2017, VOL 356 ISSUE 6334
2016$0.35/w310 GW
~3 TW by ‘30
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BOS Has Been Critical As Well In Reducing Utility-Scale PV Plant Cost
Module Module
ModuleModule Module
BOS
BOS
BOS
BOSBOS
Other
Other
Other
OtherOther
2012 2014 2016 2018E 2020E
< $1/WSource: Data from GTM Research and SEIA Report
BOS: Balance of Systems
• Inverter
• Electrical BOS
• Structural BOS
• Labor
Other
• Design & Engineering
• Permitting & Interconnection
• Civil
• Supply Chain, Logistics & Misc
• Taxes
• Overhead & Margin
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PV Plant Schematic
Power Grid
•
•
•
Solar ArraysCombiner
Boxes
DC
•••
Solar ArraysCombiner
Boxes
DC
•••
Power Conversion Station
Switchgear
AC
Substation
Sunlight to DC Power DC Power to AC Power AC Power to Grid
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Lower Cost PV Plant Architecture … Moving from 1kV to 1.5kV DC Design
Cost savings from
Larger, more cost-effective inverters
Fewer PCS (Inverters, Transformers, DAS Panel)
DC & AC Wiring Impact
O&M
1000VDC 1500VDC
1.5kV 4 MVA INVERTERAC POWER BLOCK
34.5kVAC
1000VDC
PV Arrays
Power Conversion Stations
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Typical DC Wiring for S4 Modules
4 String Harness 4 String Harness
15 S4 Modules per 1500VDC String- +
Female MC4
Male MC4
MC4
Connectors
Sunny Side
S4 Module
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DC Wiring Improvement– Trunk Bus Solution
Combiner
Box
4 String Harnesses DC Trunk BusesIPC
Connection
Combiner
Box
4 String Harness WhipsJumpers
● ● ● ●
● ● ● ●
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3-Phase PV Inverter Price Have Continued to Fall …and Converge
Source: The Global PV Inverter and MLPE Landscape H1 2017, GTM Research
$0.00
$0.05
$0.10
$0.15
$0.20
$0.25
$0.30
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E 2021E 2022E
String vs Central Inverter Cost ($/Wac)
Three-Phase String Inverter
Central Inverter
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PV Plant Schematic – Central vs String Inverters
Power GridSolar ArraysCombiner
Boxes
DC
•••
Power Conversion Station
Switchgear
AC
Substation
Sunlight to DC Power DC Power to AC Power AC Power to Grid
Central Inverter Architecture
Solar ArraysString
Inverter
AC
•••
Power GridSubstation
DC
Switchgear
AC
PCS (Transformer)
String Inverter Architecture Cost savings from No Combiner Box Improved O&M
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COMBINER BOXES
POWER GRIDSUBSTATION
INVERTER TRANSFORMER
PCS1500V DC
INVERTER TRANSFORMER
1500V DC
34.5kV AC
DC/DC CONVERTER
POWER GRIDINVERTER
MVDC AC
1500V DC
TRANSFORMER SUBSTATION
Yet Another PV Architecture: Medium Voltage DC Plant (MVDC)
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DC/DC CONVERTER
POWER GRIDINVERTER
MVDC AC
1500V DC
TRANSFORMER SUBSTATION
Storage Ready
Medium Voltage DC Plant Architecture (MVDC) – BOS Simplification
Potential Benfits
Fewer Components/Reduced Wiring
Higher Plant Efficiency
Reduced O&M
Robust Grid Capability
Ready for Storage Architecture
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Reducing Energy Storage Costs … Opportunities for Fully Dispatchable Solar
Rack-level battery price
history and projections
($/kWh of storage)
Levelized Cost of Storage
(LCOS) ($/MWh)
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PV + Storage (PVS): Fully Dispatchable Clean Energy Plant
Increase the PV array size
Store excess energy in Energy Storage
ESS provides flexibility to generate desired profile
Amount of battery capacity is set by desired dispatch profile and solar irradiance
Shared Infrastructure costs (interconnect, development, O&M)
Interconnection limit
Charging
Game Changer: Clean energy plantMore cost-effective than conventional generation?
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Game Changer: Clean Energy PlantLess Costly than New Conventional Generation
Shifting Energy to Increase Output During Target Period (~10 MWdc PV)
Without Storage Will Get 48% Firm Capacity During Target Period (TPCF)
1 hr Storage Will Get 68% Firm
Capacity During Target Period
(TPCF)
2 hr Storage Will Get 87% Firm
Capacity During Target Period
(TPCF)
4 Hr Storage Will Get 98% Firm
Capacity During Target Period
(TPCF)
Storage (hrs) TPCF
0 48%
1 68%
2 87%
4 98%
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Introducing Larger Format Series 6 Module … reduces BOS Cost
Physical Dimensions for Equal Efficiency
c-Si
350 W
1m
2m S6
420 W
1.2m
2m
Large FormatMORE WATTS PER INSTALL OPERATION
FramedSIMPLIFIED MOUNTING TO COMMON INDUSTRY STRUCTURES
19
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Site: San Luis Obispo, CA USA
Owner: MidAmerican EnergyHoldings Company
Size 550MW
Const. Time: 2011—2015
Acres: ~7,500 site
Modules: ~9 million
TOPAZ SOLAR PLANT
One of the largest utility scale solar plant in the world
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Grid Stability & Reliability
Milliseconds to Minutes Years
Power Systems Planning & Design
Hours to Days
Load Balancing
Solar PV Impact on Power Grid – Key Topics
Two Key Conditions for Grid Stability
• Voltage is maintained within Normal Range
• Frequency is maintained within Normal Range
i.e., Generated Power = Loads ( + Grid Losses)
at every instant
Typical PV Plant Output
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Plant Control System Enables Grid Friendly Features
Patent No. 8,774,974. Real-time photovoltaic power plant control system
POWER GRIDSUBSTATION
DC
•••
Sunlight to DC Power DC Power to AC Power AC Power to Grid
SWITCHGEAR
AC
SOLAR ARRAYS COMBINERBOX
DC
POWER CONVERSION STATION
Typical DC Voltage 1kV or 1.5kV Typical AC Collection Voltage 34.5kV
(Alternatives 4.16kV to 27.6kV)
69 to 765kV
(AC)
• Checks grid’s actual conditions and required set points
• Sends individual instructions to each inverter based on location, losses, and performance
• Controls quality of power coming out of the PV plant
Closed-loop controls at 100 milliseconds!
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Passage of Clouds at a 290 MW PV Plant
~20 minutes
Large Plant Size Attenuates Impact of Cloud Passages on Power Output
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AGUA CALIENTE 290MW AC | CONNECTING ON 500 KV TRANSMISSION LINE
California
Arizona
Palo Verde Nuclear
Generating Station
North Gila
Substation
Hoodoo Wash
Substation
Agua Caliente
500kV Palo Verde-Hassayampa
Transmission Line
Hassayampa
Substation
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TYPICAL PLANT OPERATION (UNITY POWER FACTOR)
Plant Is Maintained At Constant Power Factor as Required
90%
95%
100%
105%
110%
-0.6
-0.3
0.0
0.3
0.6
0.9
1.2
4:00 8:00 12:00 16:00 20:00
Volt
age
(P
U)
an
d P
ow
er F
act
or
Po
we
r (P
U) a
nd
Rea
ctiv
e P
ow
er (
PU
)
Time of Day
Typical Operating Day
Reactive Power (PU)
Voltage (PU)
Power (PU)
Power Factor
Normalization ValuesActive Power: 300MWReactive Power: 20MVARVoltage: 530kV
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MARCH 21ST 2014 EVENT
Palo Verde Nuclear
Generating Station
North Gila
Substation
Hoodoo Wash
Substation
Agua Caliente
500kV Palo Verde-Hassayampa
Transmission Line
Hassayampa
SubstationO
Line Taken
Out of
Service
26Maintain Voltage Even Under Changing Power Conditions
Power (PU)
Reactive Power (PU)
Voltage (PU)
Voltage (PU)
Power (PU)
Voltage (PU)
VOLTAGE SUPPORT FROM PV PLANT
Grid Operator
Seeks Voltage
Support
Voltage Control
Started
Night
Shutdown
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Role of Utility-Scale PV Plants In Grid Stability & Reliability
• NERC identified essential reliability services to integrate higher levels of solar resources
• Utility-Scale PV Plants Provides
Grid Friendly Features Required by NERC Voltage regulation Real power control, ramping, and curtailment Primary frequency regulation Frequency droop response Short circuit duty control Fault ride through
Utility-Scale PV Plant Contributes to Grid Stability & Reliability Like Conventional Generation
Source: NERC: 2012 Special Assessment Interconnection Requirements for Variable Generation
Demonstration of Essential Reliability Services by a 300-MW Solar PV Power Plant
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TESTS SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED ON 300 MW SOLAR PV PLANT
• Power Ramping Ramp its real-power output at a specified ramp-rate Provide regulation up/down service
• Voltage Control Control a specified voltage schedule Operate at a constant power factor Produce a constant level of MVAR Provide controllable reactive support (droop setting) Provide reactive support at night
• Frequency Provide frequency response for low frequency &
high frequency events Control the speed of frequency response Provide fast frequency response to arrest frequency decline
Utility-Scale PV Plant Contributes to Grid Stability & Reliability Like Conventional Generation
Can variable energy resources provide essential reliability services
to operate the grid?
• NERC identified three essential reliability services (ERS) to integrate higher levels of
renewable resources1. Frequency Control
2. Voltage Control
3. Ramping capability or Flexible Capacity
• Test results demonstrated utility-scale PV plant has the capability to provide these
essential reliability services
• Advancement in smart controls technology allows these plants to provide services similar
to conventional resources
• VERs (Variable Energy Resources) with the right operating characteristics are necessary
to decarbonize the grid
Page 30
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• First Solar PV modules
• 4 MVA PV inverters
• 8 x 40 MVA blocks
• 34.5 kV collector system
• Two 170 MVA transformers
• Tie with 230 kV transmission line
• PMUs collecting data on 230 kV side
PV Power Plant Description
40 MVA Block
34.5 kV
Collection
170 MVA
Transformer
230 kV
Transmission
PMU4MVA Inverter
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170
180
190
200
210
220
230
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
RELATIVE TIME (sec)
Available MW Min allowed MW Commanded MW Measured MW
• 30MW headroom
• 4-sec AGC signal provided to Plant Controller
• Tests were conducted for
— Sunrise
— Middle of the day
— Sunset240
245
250
255
260
265
270
275
280
285
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
RELATIVE TIME (sec)
Avaliable MW Min Allowed MW Commanded MW Measured (MW)
AGC Participation Tests – 300 MW Utility-Scale PV PlantP
OW
ER
(M
W)
PO
WE
R (
MW
)
MORNING
MIDDAY
30MW Headroom
30MW Headroom
Available MW
Available MW
MinimumAllowed MW
MinimumAllowed MW
Measured MW
Measured MW
Commanded MW
Commanded MW
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SteamTurbine
PumpTurbine
Hydro CombinedCycle
LimitedEnergyStorage
GasTurbine
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
PV Plants Outperform Conventional Resources in Frequency Regulation
http://www.caiso.com/Documents/TestsShowRenewablePlantsCanBalanceLow-CarbonGrid.pdf
Blue bars taken from the ISO’s informational submittal to FERC on the performance ofresources providing regulation services between January 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016
Solar PV(Middle ofthe Day)
Solar PV(Sunset)
Solar PV(Sunrise
Regulation accuracy by PV Plant is about 24-30% points better than fast gas turbines
40%
63%
87-93%
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• 3% and 5% under and over-frequency tests
• 20% headroom
• ±36 mHz dead band
• Used actual frequency event time series measured in the U.S. Western Interconnection
Frequency Droop Tests
𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑝 =∆𝑃/𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑∆𝑓/60𝐻𝑧
Example of 3% droop
test (under-frequency)
PowerFrequency
35
“Grid Friendly Utility-Scale PV Plants are Essential for Large-Scale PV Integration”— CAISO
Reality: Utility-scale PV Solar is a Flexible Resource that can enhance grid reliability
http://www.caiso.com/Documents/TestsShowRenewablePlantsCanBalanceLow-CarbonGrid.pdf
Dispatchable PV Plant
• Solar can provide NERC-identified essential reliability
services to integrate higher levels of renewable resources,
including: — Frequency Control
— Voltage Control
— Ramping capability or flexible capacity
• Automated Generation Control regulation accuracy of 24-
30% points better than fast gas turbines
• Reduces need for services from conventional generation
— Goes beyond simple PV energy value
— Enables additional solar
— Reduces need for expensive storage
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Solar Curtailment is to be Expected with Higher Penetration
Perception of solar saturation/over-
generationTo get to the lowest cost/best fit option,
some saturation is to be expected
Perception
Reality
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• The “duck” chart elegantly captures oversupply misperception
• Two Concerns:
— Low Net Load: flexibility to reduce must-run generation resources is limited
— High Ramp Rates in Evening: flexibility of other generation to ramp up is limited
ramp need~13GWin three hours
TYPICAL SPRING DAY
2018
2012 (actual)
2013 (actual)
201420152016
20172019
2020over generation risk
The Perception of Solar Saturation
Actual 3-hour ramp
of 13GW on December
18, 2016
Net Load of 8.5GW on
May 14, 2017
Steeper Ramps
Deeper Belly
Not a Reliability Issue!
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0
10
20
30
40
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Pro
du
cti
on
(G
W)
Time of Day
Production By Resource Type
May 14, 2017
Solar
Hydro
Thermal
Imports
Imports
Other Renewables
Nuclear
Source: CAISO Data. BTM Solar: Behind the Meter Solar: Estimated Based on CEC Data
The Perception of Solar Saturation
LOW LOAD DAYTYPICAL SPRING DAY
“Solar Overgen” is an Economics Issue Not Reliability
Minimum Must Run Generation
8.5 GWNuclear, Imports Thermal & Hydro
LoadBTM Solar
Curtailment
Grid Solar BTM (Behind the Meter) Solar
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39Source: CAISO Data. BTM Solar: Behind the Meter Solar: Estimated Based on CEC Data
Comparing Generation Low Load and High Load Days
HIGH LOAD DAY
BTM Solar
Nuclear
Solar Generation During High Load Days (Summer) is More Valuable
LOW LOAD DAY
Load
Grid Solar BTM (Behind the Meter) Solar
0
10
20
30
40
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Pro
du
cti
on
(G
W)
Time of Day
Production By Resource Type
May 14, 2017
Solar
Hydro
Thermal
Imports
Imports
Other Renewables
Nuclear
Minimum Must Run Generation
8.5 GWNuclear, Imports Thermal & Hydro
LoadBTM Solar
Curtailment
Grid Solar BTM (Behind the Meter) Solar
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0
10
20
30
40
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Pro
du
cti
on
(G
W)
Time of Day
Production By Resource Type
May 14, 2017
Solar
Hydro
Thermal
Imports
Imports
Curtailment
Other Renewables
Nuclear
BTM Solar
Source: CAISO Data. BTM Solar: Behind the Meter Solar: Estimated Based on CEC Data
Increasing Solar While Maintaining Minimum Must Run Constraint (Hypothetical!)
HIGH LOAD DAY
0
10
20
30
40
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Pro
du
cti
on
(G
W)
Time of Day
Production By Resource Type
Summer Day
Add 10GW New Grid Solar
Hydro
Thermal
Imports
BTM Solar
Grid Solar BTM (Behind the Meter) Solar
Nuclear
Load
LOW LOAD DAY
Minimum Must Run Generation
8.5 GWNuclear, Imports, Thermal & Hydro
Load
It is Economical to Add Flexible & Controllable Solar
… Even If It Leads To More Curtailment During Low Load Days
Grid Solar BTM (Behind the Meter) Solar
42
Optimal portfolio balances solutions with overbuild (conceptual!)
All Overbuild All StorageMix of Overbuild and Storage
Some curtailment is necessary to achieve the least
cost/ best fit solution
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Solar is the New Hydro!
Source: E3 – Solar is the New Hydro
“Solar is the New Hydro”
Renewable
Clean
Affordable
Abundant
Occasional Spill is Routine
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Here Comes Solar … “Every One Else Make Way For It?”, Not a Sustainable Approach
• Solar today is like a privileged vehicle without any controls that all other vehicles have to make room for on the highway
• As solar penetration goes up … congestion increase, solar must be controllable and flexible to achieve sustainable growth
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Curtailment is Indeed Growing … In Frequency & Magnitude
Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) has
helped CAISO avoid renewable
curtailments this year, although avoided
curtailments are down from previous
years. | CAISO
Source: ”Spring Oversupply Lifts CAISO Curtailments”, April 2017, RTO Insider. https://www.rtoinsider.com/caiso-duck-curve-curtailments-42004/
Total solar output was reduced by about 1.6% due toreal-time economic dispatch instructions and curtailments in 2016
EIM Avoided Curtailment
Renewable Curtailment
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Increasing Grid Flexibility to Meet Challenges of High Renewable Penetration
Generation Storage
Demand Response
Dispatchable
Quick StartLoad Shift
Over
Generation
Mitigation
Peak Load Reduction
Off-Peak Load consumption
Dispatchable Solar/WindFast Ramping
Regulation
Frequency
Response
Fast & Flexible Generation
Transmission
Plus
Operational & Market
Flexibility• Faster electricity markets
• Larger balancing areas
• Control center decision support
tools
• Probabilistic & scenario
methods
• Look-ahead simulation
Sources: M. Ahlstrom, “Operations and Integrating Variable Generation”, UVIG A Short Course on the Integration and Interconnection of Variable Generation into Electric Power
Systems, June 2014. And Clyde Loutan, CAISO, “Demonstration of Essential Reliability Services by a 300-MW Photovoltaic Power Plant”
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Key Summary – Advances in Utility-Scale PV Plants
Sources: 1 Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis – Version 10; GTM Research Global Solar PV Demand Monitor Q2017. . 2. Beyond 33% Renewables: Grid Integration Policy for a Low-‐Carbon Future, CPUC White Paper
• Utility-scale solar electricity now costs less than conventional generation in many markets1
– Cheaper than rooftop PV by a factor of 2-3
• Need to address grid challenges to grow solar substantially2
— Maintain grid stability and reliability while integrating large-scale solar into electricity grid system
— Increase grid flexibility to increase solar penetration and reduce
curtailment
• Key cost reduction drivers include:– Module cost reduction & efficiency improvement
– BOS & Plant design innovations
– Improved Investment Climate
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