DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program FY 2007 Annual Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program FY 2007 Annual Report DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Welcome to the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Annual Report for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Program (Solar Program). The Solar Program is responsible for carrying out the federal role of researching, developing, demonstrating, and deploying solar energy technologies. This document presents a detailed description of the activities funded by DOE during FY 2007. FY 2007 was a year of incredible importance for the Solar Program and its partners. Announced during President Bush’s 2006 State of the Union address, the Advanced Energy Initiative includes the Solar America Initiative (SAI), a presidential initiative with the goal of achieving grid parity for solar electricity, produced by photovoltaic (PV) systems, across the nation by 2015. FY 2007 was the first official year of SAI and represented a shift in Solar Program operations, budget, activities, and partnerships. As a 9-year initiative, SAI is dependent upon wise choices made during its early years. I am pleased to report that FY 2007 represented a successful start to this critically important effort. A few of the many highlights achieved in FY 2007 and discussed in greater detail within this report include: • Launch of the Technology Pathway Partnerships (TPPs), public-private partnerships with industry designed to create fully scalable PV systems that meet the SAI cost goals. The TPPs are characterized by rigorous review and down-selection processes, as well as ambitious timetables. • Establishment of the PV Incubator activity, which funds the development of PV-system components to shorten their timeline to commercialization. • Initiation of a groundbreaking market transformation effort to help commercialize solar technologies by eliminating market barriers and promoting deployment opportunities through outreach activities. • Resurgence of the Solar Program’s concentrating solar power (CSP) activities, including the first new solicitation in several years. • Opening of the Process Design and Integration Laboratory (PDIL) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for use by both laboratory and private industry researchers and designed to help standardize key aspects of PV-research processes. FY 2007 was truly a banner year for the Solar Program and its partners, and we are looking forward to even greater accomplishments in FY 2008 and beyond. We remain your publicly- funded, federal solar program and strive to conduct the most relevant, highly-valued activities to our stakeholders. Your input is always welcomed. Thomas P. Kimbis Program Manager Solar Energy Technologies Program Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy U.S. Department of Energy i ii DOE Solar Program FY 2007 Annual Report Table of Contents The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program......................................................................................... i Photovoltaic R&D Subprogram Overview ................................................................................................ 1 Fundamental Research.................................................................................................................. 3 University and Exploratory Research ........................................................................................ 4 Electronic Materials and Devices Concentrator Crystalline Cells .......................................................................................... 13 Polycrystalline Thin-Film Device Research ...................................................................... 20 Process Technology and Advanced Materials .................................................................. 25 Silicon Materials and Devices ........................................................................................... 30 Cell and Module Stability & Reliability ............................................................................... 34 Measurements and Characterization ...................................................................................... 37 Resource and Safety Research Environmental Health and Safety ..................................................................................... 58 Solar Resource Characterization ...................................................................................... 62 Advanced Materials and Devices ............................................................................................... 67 Systems Development Solar America Initiative Photovoltaic Incubator ................................................................ 69 Solar America Initiative Project Monitoring ....................................................................... 71 Technology Pathway Partnership ..................................................................................... 73 Component Development PV Manufacturing R&D ..................................................................................................... 83 Thin Film PV Partnership Program ................................................................................... 89 Systems Analysis PV Grid Integration ............................................................................................................ 97 Market, Value, and Policy Analysis ................................................................................. 100 Modeling .......................................................................................................................... 103 Systems Testing and Evaluation PV Inverter and Balance-of-System Testing ................................................................... 106 PV Module and Array Testing ......................................................................................... 111 PV Module Failure Analysis ............................................................................................ 115 Photovoltaic System Evaluation and Optimization ......................................................... 118 Regional Experiment Stations ......................................................................................... 121 Component Testing and Evaluation Solar Radiometry and Metrology .................................................................................... 125 PDIL Infrastructure, Engineering, and Integration ................................................................. 131 Market Transformation .............................................................................................................. 135 Codes and Standards ............................................................................................................ 137 Training and Certification ....................................................................................................... 143 Technology Acceptance ........................................................................................................ 149 Building Integration Solar Decathlon ............................................................................................................... 152 Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (Solar Building Benchmarking) ................................. 157 Finance and Insurance ................................................................................................... 160 Technical Partnerships Government Solar Installation Program .......................................................................... 162 Solar America Cities........................................................................................................ 165 Solar America Showcases .............................................................................................. 171 Technical Outreach State and Utility Outreach ............................................................................................... 174 iii Market Transformation Support Activities ....................................................................... 178 Solar Thermal R&D Subprogram Overview .......................................................................................... 181 Concentrating Solar Power ....................................................................................................... 183 CSP Applied Research .......................................................................................................... 184 CSP Laboratory Facilities ...................................................................................................... 190 CSP Technology Acceptance ................................................................................................ 191 CSP Testing and Evaluation: Systems Analysis ................................................................... 194 Dish Engine Research and Development ............................................................................. 197 Parabolic Trough Research and Development ..................................................................... 201 Solar Water Heating Systems Development ........................................................................... 209 Solar Thermal for Zero Energy Homes ................................................................................. 210 Hybrid Solar Lighting ............................................................................................................. 219 Systems Integration and Coordination ................................................................................................. 225 Communications and Outreach ..................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • 2015-SVTC-Solar-Scorecard.Pdf
    A PROJECT OF THE SILICON VALLEY TOXICS COALITION 2015 SOLAR SCORECARD ‘‘ www.solarscorecard.com ‘‘ SVTC’s Vision The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) believes that we still have time to ensure that the PV sector is safe The PV industry’s rapid growth makes for the environment, workers, and communities. SVTC it critical that all solar companies envisions a safe and sustainable solar PV industry that: maintain the highest sustainability standards. 1) Takes responsibility for the environmental and health impacts of its products throughout their life- cycles, including adherence to a mandatory policy for ‘‘The Purpose responsible recycling. The Scorecard is a resource for consumers, institutional purchasers, investors, installers, and anyone who wants 2) Implements and monitors equitable environmental to purchase PV modules from responsible product and labor standards throughout product supply chains. stewards. The Scorecard reveals how companies perform on SVTC’s sustainability and social justice benchmarks 3) Pursues innovative approaches to reducing and to ensure that the PV manufacturers protect workers, work towards eliminating toxic chemicals in PV mod- communities, and the environment. The PV industry’s ule manufacturing. continued growth makes it critical to take action now to reduce the use of toxic chemicals, develop responsible For over three decades, SVTC has been a leader in recycling systems, and protect workers throughout glob- encouraging electronics manufacturers to take lifecycle al PV supply chains. Many PV companies want to pro- responsibility for their products. This includes protecting duce truly clean and green energy systems and are taking workers from toxic exposure and preventing hazardous steps to implement more sustainable practices.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond Solyndra: Examining the Department of Energy's Loan Guarantee Program Hilary Kao
    William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Volume 37 | Issue 2 Article 4 Beyond Solyndra: Examining the Department of Energy's Loan Guarantee Program Hilary Kao Repository Citation Hilary Kao, Beyond Solyndra: Examining the Department of Energy's Loan Guarantee Program, 37 Wm. & Mary Envtl. L. & Pol'y Rev. 425 (2013), http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr/vol37/iss2/4 Copyright c 2013 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr BEYOND SOLYNDRA: EXAMINING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM HILARY KAO* ABSTRACT In the year following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, the renewable and clean energy industries faced significant turmoil— from natural disasters, to political maelstroms, from the Great Recession, to U.S. debt ceiling debates. The Department of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Program (“DOE LGP”), often a target since before it ever received a dollar of appropriations, has been both blamed and defended in the wake of the bankruptcy filing of Solyndra, a California-based solar panel manufac- turer, in September 2011, because of the $535 million loan guarantee made to it by the Department of Energy (“DOE”) in 2009.1 Critics have suggested political favoritism in loan guarantee awards and have questioned the government’s proper role in supporting renewable energy companies and the renewable energy industry generally.2 This Article looks beyond the Solyndra controversy to examine the origin, structure and purpose of the DOE LGP. It asserts that loan guaran- tees can serve as viable policy tools, but require careful crafting to have the potential to be effective programs.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Twin Modeling of a Solar Car Based on the Hybrid Model Method with Data-Driven and Mechanistic
    applied sciences Article Digital Twin Modeling of a Solar Car Based on the Hybrid Model Method with Data-Driven and Mechanistic Luchang Bai, Youtong Zhang *, Hongqian Wei , Junbo Dong and Wei Tian Laboratory of Low Emission Vehicle, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; [email protected] (L.B.); [email protected] (H.W.); [email protected] (J.D.); [email protected] (W.T.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Featured Application: This technology is expected to be used in energy management of new energy vehicles. Abstract: Solar cars are energy-sensitive and affected by many factors. In order to achieve optimal energy management of solar cars, it is necessary to comprehensively characterize the energy flow of vehicular components. To model these components which are hard to formulate, this study stimulates a solar car with the digital twin (DT) technology to accurately characterize energy. Based on the hybrid modeling approach combining mechanistic and data-driven technologies, the DT model of a solar car is established with a designed cloud platform server based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to realize data interaction between physical and virtual entities. The DT model is further modified by the offline optimization data of drive motors, and the energy consumption is evaluated with the DT system in the real-world experiment. Specifically, the energy consumption Citation: Bai, L.; Zhang, Y.; Wei, H.; error between the experiment and simulation is less than 5.17%, which suggests that the established Dong, J.; Tian, W. Digital Twin DT model can accurately stimulate energy consumption. Generally, this study lays the foundation Modeling of a Solar Car Based on the for subsequent performance optimization research.
    [Show full text]
  • Motivators for Adoption of Photovoltaic Systems at Grid Parity: a Case Study from Southern Germany
    Motivators for adoption of photovoltaic systems at grid parity: A case study from Southern Germany Emrah Karakaya, Antonio Hidalgo, Cali Nuur a b s t r a c t In some countries, photovoltaic (PV) technology is at a stage of development at which it can compete with conventional electricity sources in terms of electricity generation costs, i.e., grid parity. A case in point is Germany, where the PV market has reached a mature stage, the policy support has scaled down and the diffusion rate of PV systems has declined. This development raises a fundamental question: what are the motives to adopt PV systems at grid parity? The point of departure for the relevant literature has been on the impact of policy support, adopters and, recently, local solar companies. However, less attention has been paid to the motivators for adoption at grid parity. This paper presents an in depth analysis of the diffusion of PV systems, explaining the impact of policy measures, adopters and system suppliers. Anchored in an extensive and exploratory case study in Germany, we provide a context specific explanation to the motivations to adopt PV systems at grid parity. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Analytical framework 2.1. Policy measures 2.2. Adopters 2.3. Local solar companies 3. Methodology 4. The context of the case 4.1. Grid parity 4.2. Hartmann Energietechnik GmbH 5. Results and discussion 5.1. Policy measures 5.2. Adopters 5.3. Local solar companies 6. Conclusions Acknowledgments References 1. Introduction Concerns about climate change and limited resources of fossil fuels have prompted governments to support the emergence and diffusion of renewable energy systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Balance Neto 37
    UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID ESCUELA POLITECNICA SUPERIOR DEPARTAMENTO DE INGENIERÍA ELÉCTRICA ANALISIS DE LAS ALTERNATIVAS DE GESTIÓN DE LA ENERGÍA EN INSTALACIONES FOTOVOLTAICAS SOBRE CUBIERTA CONECTADAS A RED EN ESPAÑA AUTORA: Patricia Fernández Rodríguez. TITULACIÓN: Grado en Ingeniería Eléctrica. TUTORA: Mónica Chinchilla Sánchez. FECHA: Julio del 2013. INDICE 1 Introducción 11 1.1 Situación actual de la energía 11 1.1.1 20/20/20 14 1.1.1.1 Reducir un 20% las emisiones de los gases del efecto invernadero 14 1.1.1.2 Ahorrar un 20% en el consumo de energía aumentando la eficiencia energética 15 1.1.1.3 El 20% del consumo de energía primaria debe de provenir de fuentes renovables 17 1.1.1.3.1 Generación distribuida 17 1.1.1.3.2 Régimen especial 18 1.2 Situación actual de las energías renovables en España 21 1.2.1 Autoconsumo 21 1.2.2 Antecedentes del autoconsumo 22 1.2.3 Real Decreto 1699/2011 25 1.2.4 Paridad de Red 32 1.3 Objetivos del Trabajo Fin de Grado 34 2 Legislación de referencia sobre autoconsumo mediante balance neto 37 2.1 Legislación a nivel nacional 37 2.2 Legislación a nivel internacional 39 2.2.1 Directiva Europea relativa al fomento de la cogeneración (2004/8/CE) 39 2.2.1.1 Cogeneración 39 2.2.2 Directiva europea de Energías Renovables (2009/28/CE) 40 2 2.2.3 Directiva europea de Eficiencia Energética de los Edificios (2010/31/CE) 44 2.2.4 Directiva europea de eficiencia Energética (2012/27/UE) 47 3 Experiencias internacionales de Balance Neto 49 3.1 Capacidad actual y potencia del sector fotovoltaico 50 3.2 Experiencias
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Incentives for Clean Energy After Solyndra: a Post-Recovery Act Precipice
    North Dakota Law Review Volume 87 Number 4 Article 7 1-1-2011 Federal Incentives for Clean Energy After Solyndra: A Post- Recovery Act Precipice John A. Herrick Cara S. Elias Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/ndlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Herrick, John A. and Elias, Cara S. (2011) "Federal Incentives for Clean Energy After Solyndra: A Post- Recovery Act Precipice," North Dakota Law Review: Vol. 87 : No. 4 , Article 7. Available at: https://commons.und.edu/ndlr/vol87/iss4/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in North Dakota Law Review by an authorized editor of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HERRICK 10-15-10 MFE (DO NOT DELETE) 10/15/2012 10:13 AM FEDERAL INCENTIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY AFTER SOLYNDRA: A POST–RECOVERY ACT PRECIPICE JOHN A. HERRICK* & CARA S. ELIAS** I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 628 II. FEDERAL NON-TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMS .................. 630 A. TYPES OF FEDERAL INCENTIVES FOR CLEAN ENERGY ........ 630 1. PURPA Renewable Power Purchase Requirements ...... 630 2. Federal Financial Assistance Programs for Clean Energy ............................................................................ 632 3. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Cooperative Agreements ..................................................................... 635 4. DOE Technology Investment Agreements ...................... 637 5. Federal Loan Guarantees .............................................. 638 6. Rights to Intellectual Property Under Federal Incentive Programs ........................................................................ 640 * John A. Herrick is Senior Counsel in the Denver office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP where he specializes in the clean technology practice area.
    [Show full text]
  • The Water-Energy Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities Overview
    U.S. Department of Energy The Water-Energy Nexus: Challenges and Opportunities JUNE 2014 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK Table of Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................. iii Executive Summary.............................................................................................................................................. v Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 DOE’s Motivation and Role .................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 The DOE Approach ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Opportunities ............................................................................................................................................. 4 References ..........................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Solar Racking Installation for ATN Final Report Fall 2016
    1 Solar Racking Installation for an Automated Public Transportation System Solar Engineering Team San Jose State University Mechanical Engineering Department August, 2016 Advisor: Dr. Burford Furman Ron Swenson Eric Hagstrom Eric Rosenfeld Author: 2 Abstract The Sustainable Mobility System for Silicon Valley (SMSSV), also known as the Spartan Superway, is a project to develop a grid-tied solar powered Automated Transit Network (ATN) system. The ATN system will be elevated allowing for traffic and infrastructure below. The ATN system is designed for the vehicles or pods to be hanging from the track, giving the system opportunities for a solar module system on the top of the ATN. Recent work has focused on analyzing the power requirements and designing the solar power system for a potential implementation of ATN in the city of San José. The System Advisor Model (SAM) software from the National Renewable Laboratory (NREL) estimates the POA (plane-of-array) energy available for the ATN network and how much can be used for other applications. Results show to power 88 vehicles over a 14km guideway 24 hours a day requires 19,600 monocrystalline solar panels with an area of 38,000m2. 24/7 and be zero net-metered (on average) over a calendar year. Extensive research determining the boundary condition required for our solar racking system is underway. A design for a racking system utilizing bolts was analyzed showing more 3 difficult maintenance & installation, however cheaper infrastructure. Another design for a semi- automated design was analyzed essentially showing cheaper maintenance & installation, however more expensive infrastructure. Four different designs for semi-automated locking mechanism were created.
    [Show full text]
  • Designing a Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) System in Adjunct with a Silicon Photovoltaic Panel for a Solar Competition Car
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Repositorio Institucional Universidad EAFIT Designing a Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) system in adjunct with a silicon photovoltaic panel for a solar competition car Andrés Arias-Rosalesa, Jorge Barrera-Velásqueza, Gilberto Osorio-Gómez*a, Ricardo Mejía- Gutiérreza a Design Engineering Research Group (GRID), Universidad EAFIT, Medellin, Colombia * Corresponding author: [email protected], Other authors’ e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT Solar competition cars are a very interesting research laboratory for the development of new technologies heading to their further implementation in either commercial passenger vehicles or related applications. Besides, worldwide competitions allow the spreading of such ideas where the best and experienced teams bet on innovation and leading edge technologies, in order to develop more efficient vehicles. In these vehicles, some aspects generally make the difference such as aerodynamics, shape, weight, wheels and the main solar panels. Therefore, seeking to innovate in a competitive advantage, the first Colombian solar vehicle “Primavera”, competitor at the World Solar Challenge (WSC)-2013, has implemented the usage of a Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) system as a complementary solar energy module to the common silicon photovoltaic panel. By harvesting sunlight with concentrating optical devices, CPVs are capable of maximizing the allowable photovoltaic area. However, the entire CPV system weight must be less harmful than the benefit of the extra electric energy generated, which in adjunct with added manufacture and design complexity, has intervened in the fact that CPVs had never been implemented in a solar car in such a scale as the one described in this work.
    [Show full text]
  • Grid Parity Renewable Energy
    Grid Parity Renewable Energy Ammoniated Irvine illiberalizes, his batter wizens argues hazily. Dismayed Gonzales straddle unbelievingly or hoodwinks proverbially when Allen is quirky. Whorish and muciferous Jean-Francois tear-gassed some goliards so derisively! Grid parity occurs when a source of energy can generate power at a cost less than or equal to the price of power from the electricity grid. Thanks to this and other innovations, CSS is attracting a lot of attention from developers with its promise of becoming the new growth engine for the solar industry. In addition, lessons learned from countries at the vanguard of the transition, renewables are pacing toward grid parity. Merchant risk remains a hurdle, IEEJ has expanded its scope of research activities to include such topics as environmental problems and international cooperation closely related to energy. We explore for, simply does not exist for most of the world. Sensitivity analysis on the levelized cost of energy for fl oating o ff shore wind farms. There is also a range in customer expectations of an acceptable rate of return that would entice them. The authors illustrate this approach by examining various power photovoltaic capacities in locations such as Marseille, biomass generates power at a much lower economic and environmental cost. Most interactive and grid parity renewable energy storage are coal and for technical depth and special unbounce signup thing for any such as a spike in. Down To Earth is a product of our commitment to make changes in the way we manage our environment, Africa, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.
    [Show full text]
  • DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program FY 2005 Annual
    DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Cover Photos (clockwise from lower right): On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush visited the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories as part of his signing of the Energy Bill. R.J. Montoya Photo National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers use a computer-controlled data acquisition system at the laboratory’s Outdoor Test Facility to characterize the performance and reliability of PV cells and modules. Jim Yost, PIX14094 A Cornell University student cleans the solar-powered rooftop of his team’s entry in preparation for the 2005 Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C. Stefano Paltera/Solar Decathlon Global Solar Energy, a member of the Thin Film PV Partnership, produces PV material by depositing CIGS (copper indium gallium diselenide) on a lightweight, flexible polymide substrate in roll form. Global Solar Energy, PIX13419 The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Raymond A. Sutula, Manager, DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program The Solar Energy Technologies Program, within the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), is responsible for developing solar energy technologies that can convert sunlight to useful energy and make that energy available to satisfy a significant portion of our nation's energy needs in a cost-effective way. The Solar Program supports research and development that addresses a wide range of applications, including on- site electricity generation, thermal energy for space heating and hot water, and large-scale power production. This is a great time to be involved with solar energy. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are being installed in the United States and around the world in unprecedented quantities.
    [Show full text]
  • Solar Energy Perspectives
    Solar Energy TECHNOLOGIES Perspectives Please note that this PDF is subject to specific restrictions that limit its use and distribution. The terms and conditions are available online at www.iea.org/about/copyright.asp Renewable Energy Renewable Solar Energy Renewable Energy Perspectives In 90 minutes, enough sunlight strikes the earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year. While solar energy is abundant, it represents a tiny Technologies fraction of the world’s current energy mix. But this is changing rapidly and is being driven by global action to improve energy access and supply security, and to mitigate climate change. Technologies Solar Around the world, countries and companies are investing in solar generation capacity on an unprecedented scale, and, as a consequence, costs continue to fall and technologies improve. This publication gives an authoritative view of these technologies and market trends, in both advanced and developing Energy economies, while providing examples of the best and most advanced practices. It also provides a unique guide for policy makers, industry representatives and concerned stakeholders on how best to use, combine and successfully promote the major categories of solar energy: solar heating and cooling, photovoltaic Technologies Solar Energy Perspectives Solar Energy Perspectives and solar thermal electricity, as well as solar fuels. Finally, in analysing the likely evolution of electricity and energy-consuming sectors – buildings, industry and transport – it explores the leading role solar energy could play in the long-term future of our energy system. Renewable Energy (61 2011 25 1P1) 978-92-64-12457-8 €100 -:HSTCQE=VWYZ\]: Renewable Energy Renewable Renewable Energy Technologies Energy Perspectives Solar Renewable Energy Renewable 2011 OECD/IEA, © INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY The International Energy Agency (IEA), an autonomous agency, was established in November 1974.
    [Show full text]