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September 2011

Recent Publications

Texas Wind Energy

Cover of Economic Development Impact of 1,000 MW of Wind Energy in Texas report.

Texas has approximately 9,727 MW of wind energy capacity installed, making it a global leader in installed wind energy. This report analyzes the jobs and economic impacts of 1,000 MW of wind power generation in the state. The findings are scalable and can be used to inform policy and planning in Texas and other states.

According to this analysis, 1,000 MW of wind power development:

  • Generates more than 2,100 full-time-equivalent jobs and nearly $260 million in economic activity in Texas during construction periods
  • Supports approximately 240 permanent Texas jobs
  • Generates nearly $35 million in annual Texas economic activity during operating periods, including more than $7 million in annual property taxes and nearly $5 million annually in income for Texas landowners who lease their land for wind energy projects.

Title: "Economic Development Impact of 1,000 MW of Wind Energy in Texas" (PDF 795 KB)
Authors: Sandra Reategui and Stephen Hendrickson, NREL

PV in Colorado Irrigation Fields

Cover of the Potential for Photovoltaic Solar Installation in Non-Irrigated Corners of Center Pivot Irrigation Fields in the State of Colorado report.

The State of Colorado expressed an interest in assessing the potential for photovoltaic (PV) solar installations on non-irrigated corners of center pivot irrigation (CPI) fields throughout the state. Using aerial imagery and irrigated land data available from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, NREL assessed potentially suitable sites and found potential for 56,821 GWH in annual electricity production from 223,418 acres of land across the state.

Title: "Potential for Photovoltaic Solar Installation in Non-Irrigated Corners of Center Pivot Irrigation Fields in the State of Colorado" (PDF 874 KB)
Authors: Billy Roberts, NREL

Compressed Air Energy Storage Value

NREL developed a co-optimized Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) dispatch model to characterize the value of providing operating reserves in addition to energy arbitrage in several U.S. markets. The study finds that conventional CAES systems could earn an additional $23 ± 10/kW-yr by providing operating reserves, and adiabatic CAES systems could earn an additional $28 ± 13/kW-yr. The study finds that arbitrage-only revenues are unlikely to support a CAES investment in most market locations, but the addition of reserve revenues could support a conventional CAES investment in several markets. Adiabatic CAES revenues are not likely to support an investment in most regions studied.

Title: "The Value of Compressed Air Energy Storage in Energy and Reserve Markets"
Source: Energy. Vol. 36(8) August 2011
Author: Easan Drury and Paul Denholm, NREL; Ramteen Sioshansi, Ohio State University

U.S. Residential Solar Water Heating

U.S. consumers use more than 120 billion kWh per year of electricity for heating water. This paper examines the regional, technical, and economic performance of residential rooftop solar water heating (SWH) technology in the United States. For a typical residential consumer, a SWH system will reduce water heating energy demand by 50%–85%, which corresponds to an annual electric bill savings of about $100 to more than $300, reflecting the large range in residential electricity prices. This paper also examines the relationship between collector area and technical performance, the relationship between SWH price and solar fraction, and the key drivers behind break-even costs.

Title: "Technical and Economic Performance of Residential Solar Water Heating in the United States"
Source: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Vol. 15(8) October 2011
Author: Hannah Cassard, Paul Denholm, and Sean Ong, NREL

PV at Refuse Hideaway Landfill

Cover of the Feasibility Study of Economics and Performance of Solar Photovoltaics at the Refuse Hideaway Landfill in Middleton, Wisconsin. A Study Prepared in Partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency for the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Land and Mine Sites report.

NREL released a report from a series that highlights studies conducted for the Environmental Protection Agency under the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative, which looks at opportunities for siting renewable energy on current and formerly contaminated land and mine sites. The analysis project, led by Strategic Energy Analysis Center (SEAC) analyst Gail Mosey, assessed the technical and economic feasibility of expanding the PV system in place at the Refuse Hideaway Landfill in Middleton, Wisconsin, using a crystalline silicon (fixed tilt or single axis) or thin-film fixed-tilt system. The economics of the potential systems were analyzed using an electric rate of $0.13/kWh and incentives offered by the State of Wisconsin and by the serving utility, Madison Gas and Electric. The Refuse Hideaway Landfill was determined a feasible location to expand their solar PV system.

Title: "Feasibility Study of Economics and Performance of Solar Photovoltaics at the Refuse Hideaway Landfill in Middleton, Wisconsin. A Study Prepared in Partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency for the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Land and Mine Sites" (PDF 1.1 MB)
Authors: James Salasovich and Gail Mosey, NREL

PV on Landfills in Puerto Rico

Cover of the Feasibility Study of Solar Photovoltaics on Landfills in Puerto Rico [Second Study]. A Study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program Technical Assistance Program on behalf of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board report.

NREL released a report sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program (WIP) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) assessing the potential for solar on landfills in Puerto Rico. The analysis project was led by SEAC analyst Gail Mosey. NREL assessed the technical and economic feasibility of deploying a solar PV system on landfill sites in Puerto Rico and estimated the cost, performance, and site impacts of three different PV options: crystalline silicon (fixed tilt), crystalline silicon (single-axis tracking), and thin film (fixed tilt). The landfills and sites considered in this report were all determined feasible areas in which to implement solar PV systems.

Title: "Feasibility Study of Solar Photovoltaics on Landfills in Puerto Rico [Second Study]. A Study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program Technical Assistance Program on behalf of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board" (PDF 5.6 MB)
Authors: James Salasovich and Gail Mosey, NREL

Announcements

UN Secretary General: "I Fully Support Your Work"

SEAC capabilities and staff were front and center when the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited NREL on August 24 to learn more about how the laboratory and international community could work together on energy issues. Ron Benioff, manager of International Programs at NREL, told Ban that NREL is working with 50 countries, ranging from biofuels partnerships with Brazil, to solar work in China and Europe, to helping island nations integrate solar and wind power into their electric grids. The Secretary heard presentations about SEAC's analysis capabilities and international projects, and Jaquelin Cochran presented NREL's work to support country low emission development strategies, the Clean Energy Solutions Center, and related initiatives. Other SEAC staff who played key roles in planning for and during the Secretary's visit include Dan Bilello, Sadie Cox, David Kline, Andrew Martinez, Anelia Milbrandt, Mackay Miller, Sandra Reategui, Walter Short, and Bill Wallace.


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