Electrical Network Efficiency Improvement Phase 2: Support Scheme for PV Solar

Project Description

The objective of this project is to inform the policy consultation process concerning the design of a renewable energy support scheme for photovoltaic (PV) solar generators. As PV solar is a rapidly evolving technology incorporating the impact of future technology innovations is critical to the success of any support scheme. NovoGrid have developed a novel control system, called AVA, for PV solar generators that enables them to reduce energy lost as it's delivered via the electrical network. This would directly impact the PV solar generators net profit via an increase to its annual output. A detailed power flow analysis of AVA's impact was conducted on a typical PV solar generators of 5MW. An improvement of 0.6% increase in the generator's annual output was observed from the studies via a reduction in electrical network losses. A recent KPMG report projected that 800 MW of utility-scale PV solar generation could be built in Ireland by 2020. Scaling the results from the power flow analysis up to this level showed a potential 5,003 MWh per annum reduction in losses. Further economic analysis suggests that this increase has a potential value of €286,000 in terms of production cost savings. AVA has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions on the island of Ireland by 1.6kTons. The financial impact of three different support scheme types were analysed:; Feed-In-Tariffs / Feed-In-Premiums (FIT/FIP); All generators receive a fixed price per MWh, which is set by the government; Auction Mechanisms; Generators bid to build with the lowest priced bids receiving long-term government backed contracts; Investment Tax Credits (ITC); Generators receive a tax credit against capital expenditure; All three support schemes were assessed by their impact on the financial viability of a typical PV solar generator and by their net cost to the taxpayer. A comparison to a scenario in which AVA was installed on the PV solar generator and it received a 0.6% improvement to its annual output was conducted.