Geoffrey Taylor Klise

Potential Impacts of Electric Power Production Utilizing Natural Gas, Renewables and Carbon Capture and Sequestration on U.S. Freshwater Resources

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) has important implications relative to future thermoelectric water use. A bounding analysis is performed using past greenhouse gas emission policy proposals and assumes either all effected capacity retires (lower water use bound) or is retrofitted (upper bound). The analysis is performed in the context of recent trends in electric power generation expansion, namely high penetration of natural gas and renewables along with constrained cooling system options. Results indicate thermoelectric freshwater withdrawals nationwide could increase by roughly 1% or decrease by up to 60% relative to 2009 levels, while consumption could increase as much as 21% or decrease as much as 28%. To identify where changes in freshwater use might be problematic at a regional level, electric power production has been mapped onto watersheds with limited water availability (where consumption exceeds 70% of gauged streamflow). Results suggest that between 0.44 and 0.96 Mm(3)/d of new thermoelectric freshwater consumption could occur in watersheds with limited water availability, while power plant retirements in these watersheds could yield 0.90 to 1.0 Mm(3)/d of water savings.

A LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK FOR GEOLOGIC STORAGE OF HYDROGEN: A USER'S TOOL

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has an interest in large scale hydrogen geostorage, which could offer substantial buffer capacity to meet possible disruptions in supply or changing seasonal demands. The geostorage site options being considered are salt caverns, depleted oil/gas reservoirs, aquifers and hard rock caverns. The DOE has an interest in assessing the geological, geomechanical and economic viability for these types of geologic hydrogen storage options. This study has developed an economic analysis methodology and subsequent spreadsheet analysis to address costs entailed in developing and operating an underground geologic storage facility. This year the tool was updated specifically to (1) incorporate more site-specific model input assumptions for the wells and storage site modules, (2) develop a version that matches the general format of the HDSAM model developed and maintained by Argonne National Laboratory, and (3) incorporate specific demand scenarios illustrating the models capability. Four general types of underground storage were analyzed: salt caverns, depleted oil/gas reservoirs, aquifers, and hard rock caverns/other custom sites. Due to the substantial lessons learned from the geological storage of natural gas already employed, these options present a potentially sizable storage option. Understanding and including these various geologic storage types in the analysis physical and economic framework will help identify what geologic option would be best suited for the storage of hydrogen. It is important to note, however, that existing natural gas options may not translate to a hydrogen system where substantial engineering obstacles may be encountered. There are only three locations worldwide that currently store hydrogen underground and they are all in salt caverns. Two locations are in the U.S. (Texas), and are managed by ConocoPhillips and Praxair (Leighty, 2007). The third is in Teeside, U.K., managed by Sabic Petrochemicals (Crotogino et al., 2008; Panfilov et al., 2006). These existing H{sub 2} facilities are quite small by natural gas storage standards. The second stage of the analysis involved providing ANL with estimated geostorage costs of hydrogen within salt caverns for various market penetrations for four representative cities (Houston, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles). Using these demand levels, the scale and cost of hydrogen storage necessary to meet 10%, 25% and 100% of vehicle summer demands was calculated.

Decision Support for Integrated Water-Energy Planning.

Currently, electrical power generation uses about 140 billion gallons of water per day accounting for over 39% of all freshwater withdrawals thus competing with irrigated agriculture as the leading user of water. Coupled to this water use is the required pumping, conveyance, treatment, storage and distribution of the water which requires on average 3% of all electric power generated. While water and energy use are tightly coupled, planning and management of these fundamental resources are rarely treated in an integrated fashion. Toward this need, a decision support framework has been developed that targets the shared needs of energy and water producers, resource managers, regulators, and decision makers at the federal, state and local levels. The framework integrates analysis and optimization capabilities to identify trade-offs, and “best” alternatives among a broad list of energy/water options and objectives. The decision support framework is formulated in a modular architecture, facilitating tailored analyses over different geographical regions and scales (e.g., national, state, county, watershed, NERC region). An interactive interface allows direct control of the model and access to real-time results displayed as charts, graphs and maps. Ultimately, this open and interactive modeling framework provides a tool for evaluating competing policy and technical options relevant to the energywater nexus.

A study of algal biomass potential in selected Canadian regions.

A dynamic assessment model has been developed for evaluating the potential algal biomass and extracted biocrude productivity and costs, using nutrient and water resources available from waste streams in four regions of Canada (western British Columbia, Alberta oil fields, southern Ontario, and Nova Scotia). The purpose of this model is to help identify optimal locations in Canada for algae cultivation and biofuel production. The model uses spatially referenced data across the four regions for nitrogen and phosphorous loads in municipal wastewaters, and CO{sub 2} in exhaust streams from a variety of large industrial sources. Other data inputs include land cover, and solar insolation. Model users can develop estimates of resource potential by manipulating model assumptions in a graphic user interface, and updated results are viewed in real time. Resource potential by location can be viewed in terms of biomass production potential, potential CO{sub 2} fixed, biocrude production potential, and area required. The cost of producing algal biomass can be estimated using an approximation of the distance to move CO{sub 2} and water to the desired land parcel and an estimation of capital and operating costs for a theoretical open pond facility. Preliminary results suggest that in most cases, the CO{sub 2} resource is plentiful compared to other necessary nutrients (especially nitrogen), and that siting and prospects for successful large-scale algae cultivation efforts in Canada will be driven by availability of those other nutrients and the efficiency with which they can be used and re-used. Cost curves based on optimal possible siting of an open pond system are shown. The cost of energy for maintaining optimal growth temperatures is not considered in this effort, and additional research in this area, which has not been well studied at these latitudes, will be important in refining the costs of algal biomass production. The model will be used by NRC-IMB Canada to identify promising locations for both demonstration and pilot-scale algal cultivation projects, including the production potential of using wastewater, and potential land use considerations.

Selling Into the Sun: Price Premium Analysis of a Multi-State Dataset of Solar Homes

Author(s): Adomatis, Sandra; Jackson, Thomas; Graff-Zivin, Joshua; Thayer, Mark; Klise, Geoffrey; Wiser, Ryan

Precursor Report of Data Needs and Recommended Practices for PV Plant Availability Operations and Maintenance Reporting.

Characterizing the factors that affect reliability of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant is an important aspect of optimal asset management. This document describes the many factors that affect operation and maintenance (O&M) of a PV plant, identifies the data necessary to quantify those factors, and describes how data might be used by O&M service providers and others in the PV industry. This document lays out data needs from perspectives of reliability, availability, and key performance indicators and is intended to be a precursor for standardizing terminology and data reporting, which will improve data sharing, analysis, and ultimately PV plant performance.

Standardizing appraisals for PV installations

As PV installations increase across the U.S., there will be a point when an appraiser will have the opportunity to value the PV system as part of a property sale or re-finance. Proper valuation techniques as applied to solar PV are necessary to reflect the increase in market demand for solar PV systems. Appraisers must follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP) when valuing solar PV systems, which means that appraisers must gain competency to 1) accurately recognize the value proposition of a PV system, and 2) develop the PV systems market value as it contributes to the property. The challenges currently faced by property owners with installed PV are whether the PV system adds market value to the property, and finding an appraiser with competency. Not all markets are the same, and PV market values will vary considerably based on many factors that include, but are not limited to the adoption rate in the particular market, the utility rate paid by the customer, the PV systems condition, aesthetics, and obsolescence. This paper will discuss how past challenges with respect to proper PV system valuation are being addressed in a standard fashion, along with the far-reaching benefits that may be available to future PV adopters as valuation concepts are ultimately recognized and adopted by valuation professionals, real estate agents, mortgage lenders and underwriters.

How PV system ownership can impact the market value of residential homes

There are multiple ways for a homeowner to obtain the electricity generating and savings benefits offered by a photovoltaic (PV) system. These include purchasing a PV system through various financing mechanisms, or by leasing the PV system from a third party with multiple options that may include purchase, lease renewal or PV system removal. The different ownership options available to homeowners presents a challenge to appraisal and real estate professionals during a home sale or refinance in terms of how to develop a value that is reflective of the PV system’s operational characteristics, local market conditions, and lender and underwriter requirements. This paper presents these many PV system ownership options with a discussion of what considerations an appraiser must make when developing the contributory value of a PV system to a residential property.

PV System Component Fault and Failure Compilation and Analysis.

This report describes data collection and analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment events, which consist of faults and failures that occur during the normal operation of a distributed PV system or PV power plant. We present summary statistics from locations where maintenance data is being collected at various intervals, as well as reliability statistics gathered from that data, consisting of fault/failure distributions and repair distributions for a wide range of PV equipment types.

Commercial PV Property Appraiser Survey: Summary of Results

Author(s): Hoen, B; Klise, G; Ambrosini, A; Garber, B; Thatcher, J | Abstract: Solar photovoltaic systems can be a valuable asset when attached to a property. Therefore, providing market participants with information and tools to credibly assess the value that PV adds to property is important. To that end, LBNL, SNL and AI conducted a survey of commercial appraisers to assess methods of valuing commercial properties with existing PV systems, current trends, and factors that help or hurt market adoption. The survey elicited 44 responses. Although an overwhelming majority of the respondents had conducted appraisals of properties with solar, how such systems are valued varied widely. Less than half of the respondents reported utilizing AI-endorsed tools such as PV Value ® or Ei Value ® for assignments, which may indicate a lack of awareness that such tools exist. A number of appraisers have taken the AI Residential a Commercial Valuation of Solar course and/or pursued a number of self-study avenues to increase their knowledge of PV systems. A majority indicated that they would be interested in taking an online course if it was offered. Overall, preliminary results point to a need for standardization of valuation metrics and a method of disseminating (e.g. classes) and utilizing (e.g. assessment tools) such metrics in order for appraisers to consistently evaluate and increase demand of properties with PV systems.