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Solar Energy: Location Is Everything?

Solar Energy: Location Is Everything?. Scott Peterson Environmental Engineering Texas A&M. Increasing population and decreasing fossil fuel reserves require that we change our energy system from its current reliance on fossil fuels (80%)

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Solar Energy: Location Is Everything?

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  1. Solar Energy:Location Is Everything? Scott Peterson Environmental Engineering Texas A&M • Increasing population and decreasing fossil fuel reserves require that we change our energy system from its current reliance on fossil fuels (80%) • The successor chosen should be a sustainable energy source • Sustainable means • Renewable • Environmentally Friendly • Solar power has the possibility to meet these requirements

  2. Energy Sources Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2003

  3. Energy Consumption Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2003

  4. Increasing Population Source: Values for 1995-2050 for the low, medium, high and constant scenarios were obtained from World Population Prospects:The 1998 Revision, vol. I, Comprehensive Tables (United Nations, publication, Sales No. E.99.XIII.9). All other values are the result of the long-range projections.

  5. Worldwide Energy Demand • Based on 1.5 ton oil equivalent per capita, 1.5-1.36 (1970s), and 1.5-1 respectively

  6. CO2 Emissions

  7. Is Solar Power Feasible? • In 2003 Texas Consumed 322,685,955 MWhours • It would take roughly 11kmx11km in 7.66kWhm-2d-1 solar area

  8. What is CSP?

  9. Parabolic Troughs Currently Best • Sunlight is concentrated on pipe • 150 MW Plant

  10. Placement • Unfortunately it isn’t this simple • We need to Consider • Losses to Resistance • Stability (e.g. Volcanic Eruptions) • Existing Infrastructure • Where is the power needed?

  11. Goals • Automate Process to a Degree • Use Electricity Demand GIS Data • Allow Users to Input Timeframe • Output Desirability Map • Enable the Process for Multiple Uses (Solar, Wind, and so forth)

  12. Case Study: Dallas • Geographic Data of Demand is very difficult to achieve • Dallas Used to Test Different Concepts

  13. Initial Cost Allocation • Cost allocation via transmission lines and arbitrary estimate for costs of installing new High Voltage lines • Cities are also included as no new transmission line cost

  14. Resistance of a Wire • Resistance Depends on Length and Area • Power inversely proportional to Length • High Voltages increase power

  15. Resistivity Has Great Affect • Shows maps of ideal placement only focusing on different resistance/L • Vary the losses to resistance

  16. Time Cost Allocation • Must take into account the CSP efficiency • kW/m2/day/($/m2)*days=kW/$ @ source • Can be used to Calculate cost • Plant life estimates for trough around 30yrs

  17. Total Cost • Break Even: Initial + resistance losses=sales • This depends on the electricity sales value • The value of electricity is increasing • Market uncertainty makes prediction difficult

  18. Other Ideas • Use Electricity Demand and Solar Availability to create “Solar Shed” maps • Then data tools designed for watersheds can be used

  19. Electricity Demand Data • Can be calculated on a per meter basis by • Is this accurate? No. In 2003 Electricity Breakdown was • While these other distributions are not identical to population they are close

  20. Map of Electricity Demand

  21. Difference at 0.001% Coverage

  22. Conclusions • Our methods of providing power must change • Solar Power placement is important • Interesting: PV systems not economically feasible, CSP systems almost are, However PV systems gaining market acceptance faster.

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