THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE

SEASA Linear Programming Model to Support Development and Maintenance of a Solar

Grand Plan Deployment Schedule

Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy Kick-Off Symposium

April 24, 2009

Presented by: Steven Burns

GW EngineeringRenewable energy’s role in the future energy supply

• Transmission capacity limits• Power grid stability• Load scheduling and energy

storage• Spinning reserve requirements• Project construction timelines• Material availability

The vision to bring power from remote resources to population centers…

…is being refined through accounting of the technological barriers

GW EngineeringTechnical limitations of large-scale solar deployment

• Timelines identified through optimization of annual electricity supply and demand

• Scenarios allow for introduction of hybrid vehicle energy demand (and associated infrastructure requirements)

• Model focused on technical as opposed to market limitations

• Intent is to identify limiting deployment factors on an annual basis

GW Engineering

The congested transmission system requires upgrades to incorporate large amounts of renewable energy capacity

Transmission upgrades to increase solar potential

• Organic transmission growth versus (inter-)regional planning

• Transmission needs with increased load but offset by better scheduling, demand response, and storage

• Timing and location of upgrades

Chronically congested power lines

GW Engineering

Over 100 balancing authorities are charged with maintaining grid stability

Planning necessary to maintain power grid stability

• Balancing authority demand profiles compared to available power output

• Load scheduling and the need to maintain spinning reserve

• Ability to transfer power to/from other regions

Authorities noted by color

GW EngineeringPlanned deployment to accelerate market penetration• Renewable energy development

requires a balance of market factors, regulation, and technology

• Model allows for market and regulatory limitations but focuses on technical barriers

• Model also steps beyond typical regional technical planning

• Identifying limiting deployment factors allows for the optimization of deployment timelines

• Ultimately, cost-effective clean energy will be available to the market earlier