Comments on: On-site Solar Poised for 22% Annual Growth http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/10/on-site-solar-poised-for-22-annual-growth/ Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 22:05:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ron Dickerson http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/10/on-site-solar-poised-for-22-annual-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-146716 Ron Dickerson Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:23:52 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20906#comment-146716 I would point out that developing distributed renewable energy on a scale comparable to "planned" centralized, location constrained renewable development would decrease the need for associated transmission and ancillary infrastructure development. The weaknesses that are pointed out in your table apply to centralized RE sources as well. The obvious differences of centralized v distributed is how the benefits are "distributed. Certainly comparing PV to Wind based on $/W of capacity is a very grey area, for all the reasons pointed out by the previous commenter.Additionally regional forecasting difficulties are more likely to apply to wind. I would suggest a review of your footprint data on PV. I own a 2KW STC rated array on 150 sq.ft. Perhaps you are using thin film figures? Ron Dickerson I would point out that developing distributed renewable energy on a scale comparable to “planned” centralized, location constrained renewable development would decrease the need for associated transmission and ancillary infrastructure development. The weaknesses that are pointed out in your table apply to centralized RE sources as well. The obvious differences of centralized v distributed is how the benefits are “distributed.

Certainly comparing PV to Wind based on $/W of capacity is a very grey area,
for all the reasons pointed out by the previous commenter.Additionally regional forecasting difficulties are more likely to apply to wind.

I would suggest a review of your footprint data on PV. I own a 2KW STC rated array on 150 sq.ft. Perhaps you are using thin film figures?

Ron Dickerson

]]> By: David Beavers http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/10/on-site-solar-poised-for-22-annual-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-146696 David Beavers Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:26:49 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20906#comment-146696 Suggestion: When comparing PV and small wind using a $/W meteric can be misleading in residential / small comercial cases because of the energy generation per rated power (kWh/kW) - akin to capapcity factor. PV capacity factors are readily predictable and won't vary much by scale. Wind capapcity factors however are harder to predict and generally the larger systems (100 kW) do better than smaller systems (10kW or less). We have seen wind systems in the 10 kW or less range with capapcity factors lower than the PV average. Also the installed $/W for a small systems (10 kW or less) are roughly in order with PV costs. The larger wind systems scale better and are generally more cost effective. Suggestion: When comparing PV and small wind using a $/W meteric can be misleading in residential / small comercial cases because of the energy generation per rated power (kWh/kW) – akin to capapcity factor. PV capacity factors are readily predictable and won’t vary much by scale. Wind capapcity factors however are harder to predict and generally the larger systems (100 kW) do better than smaller systems (10kW or less). We have seen wind systems in the 10 kW or less range with capapcity factors lower than the PV average. Also the installed $/W for a small systems (10 kW or less) are roughly in order with PV costs. The larger wind systems scale better and are generally more cost effective.

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