Distributed Generation and Photovoltaic Systems Technology Overview, Market Opportunities, And Certification Todd Stafford National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry 1 Market Drivers for Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Increasing costs and dependence on imported energy from unfriendly countries Environmental impacts from fossil fuel use – pollution and global warming Electric utility restructuring and deregulation Net metering and interconnection rules Legislative mandates for new generation – renewable portfolio standards (RPS) Utility surcharges and public benefit funds Federal, state and other incentives – rebates, tax credits, production incentives and tradable renewable energy credits (RECs) Financing, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and energy services contracts Increasing public awareness and interest 2 Hydropower and other Renewable Electricity Generation 1990-2011 3 Nonhydropower expected growth 2010-2035 4 Conventional Central Power Generation Conventional thermal power plants convert only 30-40% of the energy content in the fuel source to electrical energy, with the remainder wasted as heat. Most power plants are located remote from population centers and thermal energy users, resulting in this excess heat going unutilized. CO2 + Pollution Waste Heat 67% 33% Fuel 100% Power Electricity Plant (Remote from thermal users) 5 Distributed Generation: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) When smaller, distributed power generation is located closer to end users and thermal loads, waste heat can be recovered and utilized. While many CHP technologies rely on fossil fuels, their value lies in utilizing the fuel more efficiently and providing power where and when it is needed. CO2 + Pollution Waste Heat 10% Electricity Fuel 100% CHP Plants 90% Steam Chilled Water (located close to thermal users) 6 Distributed Electrical Energy System Central Generating Station Step-Up Transformer Wind Farm Small Hydro Distribution Substation Gas Turbine Receiving Station Distribution Substation Recip Engine Distribution Substation Microturbine Photo voltaics Batteries Recip Engine Commercial Fuel cell Cogeneration Flywheel Residential Industrial Commercial 7 The Emerging Energy Supply Picture 8 U.S. Annual Average Wind Speed 9 Lower 48 Shale Gas 10 U.S. shale gas production increased 14fold over the last decade; reserves tripled over the last few years annual shale gas production trillion cubic feet per year 5.0 Eagle Ford (TX) Marcellus (PA and other Eastern states) Haynesville (LA and TX) Woodford (OK) Fayetteville (AR) Barnett (TX) Antrim (MI, IN, and OH) 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 2000 11 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Richard Newell, December 16, 2010 Source: Lippman Consulting (2010 estimated) 12 Solar Energy Technologies Active Solar Energy System Classifications: 1. Solar-Thermal Systems that heat fluids for domestic hot water, pools or space conditioning 2. Solar-Electric, or Photovoltaic (PV) Systems that generate electricity to supply dedicated loads or interface with other electrical systems 3. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Systems that focus sunlight onto receivers to heat a working fluid, which fuels a heat engine cycle to produce mechanical shaft power and drive a generator; typically for large-scale power generation Most solar energy systems are a field-assembly of electrical components and hardware subjected to building codes and construction practices, and should be installed by properly trained, qualified journeypersons and licensed contractors 13 Worldwide PV Markets are Booming! Source: www.solarbuzz.com 14 Show Me the Money United States Deal Tracker: http://www.solarbuzz.com/re ports/united-states-dealtracker. Upcoming projects needing partners or suppliers (including planned with and without RFPs) Recent projects for potential follow-up business Source: www.solarbuzz.com 15 Solar creates jobs: Every second of the work day, more than two solar panels are installed by a solar worker on American soil. Today, solar employs 119,000 workers in the U.S. Solar powers homes: There is now more than 7.7 gigawatts of cumulative solar electric capacity installed in the U.S., enough to power more than 1.2 million American households. Solar drives our economy: In 2012, new U.S. solar installations were valued at $11.5 billion – more than double the $5.5 billion value of installations in 2010. 16 Large Scale PV 17 The Emerging Energy Supply Picture 18 Electrical Energy Storage Applications Power Quality Demand is seconds or less Bridging Power Demand is seconds to minutes when switching sources of supply. Energy Management Demand is hours or days, for load leveling, peak shaving and back-up power. 19 Electrical Energy Storage Source: www.vrbpower.com 20 Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) National resource for PV project developers: www.dsireusa.org Includes financial incentives, grants, rules, regulations and policies for renewable energy and energy efficiency Also see SEIA Guide to Federal Tax Incentives for Solar Energy: www.seia.org www.dsireusa.org 21 Business Model- Then and Now Past: Single source for all elements of a PV Installation- marketing, site assessments, design ordering, and permitting. Present: Multiple sources for installation, designing, marketing, etc. 22 PV Project Development Customer marketing and sale Site survey Pursue financing and incentives System design Equipment specification and procurement Plan review, permitting and inspection Interconnection application and approval Contracting, installation and commissioning Operations, maintenance and performance monitoring 23 PV Industry Stakeholders Sales & Marketing Distributors & Suppliers Installers & Contractors PV Module & Component Manufacturers Building Officials & Inspectors Electric Utilities Regulators & Legislators Consumers & Operators Financiers & Investors Training & Educational Institutions Architect & Engineering Firms System Integrators 24 Certification Models: Covers all areas of a PV Installation, even those in which a Journeyman may never be exposed. Often referred to as “performance” oriented. Target Audience Qualified electricians Journeymen / apprentices Electrical contractors Builders / inspectors Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) 25 Product Standards, Installation and Code Enforcement 26 UL PV Installer Certification Construct a PV array Install DC wiring and equipment as it pertains to a PV installation Install AC wiring and equipment as it pertains to a PV installation Complete a PV system installation project Commission the PV system and close-out the project Comprehend and use common solar energy and PV system terms and concepts 27 Task Analysis for PV System Installers Working Safely with PV Systems ? ✔ Conducting a Site Assessment Selecting a System Design Adapting the Mechanical Design ✔ Adapting the Electrical Design ✔ Installing Components and Subsystems ✔ Performing System Checkout and Inspection ? ✔ Maintaining and Troubleshooting Systems ✔ 28 Examination Structure: • • • • • • • • • Mobilize PV Installation Physical construction of PV Array Install DC Wiring and Equipment Install AC Wiring and Equipment Complete PV System Construction Perform System Commissioning and Close out Solar Energy and Solar System Basics Safety and OSHA Professionalism 29 5% 15% 22% 22% 10% 10% 5% 10% 1% UL PV Certification Guidelines available on the NJATC Website: Certifications. “The administration Guidelines defined in this manual are intended to provide information for an NJATC affiliated facility to offer the Photovoltaic Installation certification credential as implemented by the NJATC and UL. The following guidelines optimize the quality and the effectiveness of the Photovoltaic Installation Certification program by providing a reference guide path for facilities to train Journeymen and Apprentices, and to offer and host the exams.” 30 UL PV Certification 1.5 Exam Fees 1.5.1 Exam Hosting Fees (10%) 1.5.2 Exam Proctor Fees ($0.00) 1.5.2 Individual Fees, sliding scale- (local determination). • • • • • 1-10 Journeymen = $300.00 per exam. 11-30 Journeymen = $240 per exam. 31-50 Journeymen = $ 210.00 per exam >50 Journeymen = $180.00 per exam Apprentice = $150.00 per exam 31 IBEW/ Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Local JATC to implement the training: For Apprentices and Journeymen Exam is to be offered at the JATC Certification is to be awarded Information via NJATC publications: Training may be condensed. Photos by author 32 Seize the Opportunity PV and other distributed power system installations are predominately electrical work. Markets are moving from the grassroots to the mainstream building trades. Unqualified installers, substandard and unsafe installations are perhaps the biggest threats. Training is key. 33 How to Become Involved Participate in local training and workforce development initiatives Support interconnection, licensing and inspection standards Develop industry partnerships Subscribe to trade journals; attend conferences Know what local incentives are available and the process to apply Direct market to existing customers 34 Contact Information Todd Stafford, NJATC Senior Director tstafford@njatc.org 35