A Market Assessment of Residential Grid-Tied PV Systems in Colorado: Executive Summary

Farhar, B. ; Coburn, T.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.)

关键词: Grid-Tied Photovoltaics;    14 Solar Energy;    Colorado;    Dispersed Storage And Generation;    29 Energy Planning, Policy And Economy;   

DOI  :  10.2172/765089
RP-ID  :  NREL/TP-550-28872
RP-ID  :  AC36-99GO10337
RP-ID  :  765089

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This is the Executive Summary of a report that presents research done in response to a decision by the Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Conservation and Management (OEC) and Colorado utility companies to consider making residential grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems available in Colorado. The idea was to locate homeowners willing to pay the costs of grid-tied PV (GPV) systems without batteries--$8,000 or $12,000 for a 2- or 3-kilowatt (kW) system, respectively, in 1996. These costs represented two-thirds of the actual installed cost of $6 per watt at that time and assumed the remainder would be subsidized. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and OEC partnered to conduct a market assessment for GPV technology in Colorado. The study encompassed both qualitative and quantitative phases. The market assessment concluded that a market for residential GPV systems exists in Colorado today. That market is substantial enough for companies to successfully market PV systems to Colorado homeowners. These homeowners appear ready to learn more, inform themselves, and actively purchase GPV systems. The present situation is highly advantageous to Colorado's institutions--primarily its state government and its utility companies, and also its homebuilders--if they are ready to move forward on GPV technology.