Browsing by Subject "Solar photovoltaic"

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    An Evaluation of the Solar Award in Taiwan
    (2008-04-24T20:30:04Z) Cheng, Muhan
    The Solar Award in Taiwan is an annual contest that encourages professionals and students to submit innovative design projects that utilize solar photovoltaic material. Entries range from architectural and construction projects to the design of products such as toys and racing cars. In this study, we collected the direct feedback from the contestants as part of a program evaluation project. A questionnaire was designed to capture the perceived benefits of the contestants' experience in the Solar Award. Further, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was used to estimate the economic value of those benefits. The web-based survey was completed by 135 previous contestants. Out analysis indicated that they expressed a mean willingness to pay of NTD 2511 (USD 85) as a registration fee. An aggregated value of NTD 3.3 million (US110, 000) was estimated to represent the use value of this event. We concluded that the Solar Award brought significant knowledge improvement and commercial opportunities to the contestants as well as positive effects on their perception of renewable energy. In addition, we found that there was an increase in the number of contestants that became practical users of solar PV following the contest. We also noticed that different occupational groups perceived and valued the contest experiences differently.
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    Assessing the Potential for Community Solar in Durham, North Carolina
    (2012-04-27) Iler, Stuart
    Several barriers work against the deployment of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems in Durham and across the country. These include high initial investments that can outweigh benefits, operation and maintenance responsibilities, potentially lengthy payback periods, and significant transaction costs. The community solar model – which encompasses a set of innovative ownership, financing, and other mechanisms – is one option for overcoming these obstacles. There are many potential benefits of community solar, with two primary objectives being reduced initial costs and increased access to renewable energy. Other potential benefits include better economies of scale, more flexibility in choosing an optimal solar site, greater public awareness and understanding of solar energy, the potential for local job creation, and the opportunity to test new ownership and financing structures. This project assesses the degree to which community solar might provide benefits in Durham as measured by two key metrics: reduced costs and increased access to renewable energy. A Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) analysis of three Durham study areas was conducted to estimate the size of possible rooftop solar systems and the amount of annual energy they would provide. A simple energy cost ratio – obtained by dividing total installed cost by annual energy output – was calculated for each parcel, and then averages were determined for each of three parcel categories: residential, commercial, and community service. Graphs were also created to illustrate the relationships between suitable solar rooftop areas, differences in energy cost ratios, and parcels of different types. The analysis provides evidence that the community solar approach has the ability to both reduce the costs of and increase access to renewable solar energy. Although some residential parcels have rooftops that could host cost-efficient systems, for many homeowners a financial advantage might be realized through investment in a community solar project. The study also found that approximately 10% of residential parcels are not suitable for solar systems, while an additional 18% are suitable only for systems smaller than 1 kW. For these people, as well as for those who live in apartment buildings, the opportunity to invest in community solar would be a tangible increase in access to the benefits of renewable energy. As such, the paper concludes by recommending that legislation extending the net metering concept to community energy be adopted at the North Carolina state level.
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    The Financial Viability of a 2 MW Solar Photovoltaic Installation in the Industrial Sector of New Jersey
    (2009-08-28T20:22:52Z) Burlage, Julie
    The state of New Jersey has one of the more progressive solar energy policies in the nation and is currently second in the United States for total installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. This paper examines the financial viability of a 2 megawatt solar photovoltaic installation in the industrial sector of New Jersey given current federal and state renewable energy incentives, solar market dynamics, and projected utility rates. The financial analysis compares the outcomes of a power purchase agreement and private investment to the finances of a business-as-usual approach to fulfill the energy demand of an industrial sector site. The analysis will measure the ability of a solar photovoltaic installation to leverage against rising and volatile energy costs while serving as a means of cost-reduction or investment opportunity. Finally, the results and inputs of the analysis will additionally give insight to the effectiveness of New Jersey solar policy.