Utility-scale PV
A few utilities in the United
States are building, operating and owning grid-connected photovoltaic
systems of up to hundreds of kilowatts in large central generation facilities.
Tucson Electric Power has a large central generation facility that is
currently more than 1 MW and is expected to double in size some time
in 2003. And Arizona Public Service has a photovoltaic system that is
more than 1 MW as well. But these are not often "cost-effective"
for the utility—that is, they cannot currently produce electricity
at a cost anywhere near that of traditional, fossil fuel–based
technologies. Instead, these utilities—armed with government, industry
and utility renewable energy funds or driven by green
energy programs—are responding to a different set of utility
priorities.
These projects are usually high-profile, demonstration projects constructed as a means to get experience in the installation, maintenance, and operation of PV; as part of the energy mix in a green energy product; to ensure compliance in Portfolio Standards in states that obligate specifically solar resources, such as Arizona and Nevada; to educate customers about PV; and to generate positive customer goodwill in utility areas where green energy is in high demand. Because they use a relatively large amount of PV equipment, they are also an integral part of a plan for the sustained orderly development and commercialization of PV.
An alternative for utilities interested in PV generation is to be involved in customer-sited and owned PV systems.
