Distributed photovoltaic demand-side generation: An economic evaluation for electric utilities

This thesis presents an evaluation of the economic benefits of photovoltaic power systems that are located at the electric utility customer site. The energy and capacity value of the photovoltaic demand-side generation (PV-DSG) systems are the two utility benefits evaluated. The analysis focuses on one utility, New England Electric System (NEES). Actual utility hourly system load data for 1991 and corresponding PV output data from a PV-DSG system installed as part of the NEES Gardner project is used for this study. A new graphic model (The Utility Target Market Model) is developed and presented as a way for utilities and the PV industry to better understand the market for PV-DSG systems in the utility sector. The dollar value of the economic benefits (...