Premium
Coupling PV and CAES power plants to transform intermittent PV electricity into a dispatchable electricity source
Author(s) -
Mason James,
Fthenakis Vasilis,
Zweibel Ken,
Hansen Tom,
Nikolakakis Thomas
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.858
Subject(s) - dispatchable generation , electricity generation , electricity , photovoltaic system , environmental science , stand alone power system , compressed air energy storage , energy storage , fossil fuel , pumped storage hydroelectricity , peaking power plant , power station , electrical engineering , power (physics) , distributed generation , waste management , engineering , renewable energy , physics , quantum mechanics
This study investigates the transformation of photovoltaic (PV) electricity production from an intermittent into a dispatchable source of electricity by coupling PV plants to compressed air energy storage (CAES) gas turbine power plants. Based on historical solar irradiation data for the United States' south western states and actual PV and CAES performance data, we show that the large‐scale adoption of coupled PV–CAES power plants will likely enable peak electricity generation in 2020 at costs equal to or lower than those from natural gas power plants with or without carbon capture and storage systems. Our findings also suggest that given the societal value of reducing carbon dioxide and the sensitivity of conventional generation to rising fossil fuel prices, this competitive crossover point may occur much sooner. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.