Keiichi Komoto

North-East Asian Super Grid: Renewable energy mix and economics

Further development of the North-East Asian energy system is at a crossroads due to severe limitations of the current conventional energy based system. For North-East Asia it is proposed that the excellent solar and wind resources of the Gobi desert could enable the transformation towards a 100% renewable energy system. An hourly resolved model describes an energy system for North-East Asia, subdivided into 14 regions interconnected by high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission grids. Simulations are made for highly centralized, decentralized and countrywide grids scenarios. The results for total system levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) are 0.065 and 0.081€/(kW&h) for the centralized and decentralized approaches for 2030 assumptions. The presented results for 100% renewable resources-based energy systems are lower in LCOE by about 30–40% than recent findings in Europe for conventional alternatives. This research clearly indicates that a 100% renewable resourcesbased energy system is THE real policy option.

A cost analysis of very large scale PV (VLS-PV) system on the world deserts

To preserve the Earth, a 100 MW very large-scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) system is estimated assuming that it is installed on the world deserts, which are Sahara, Negev, Thar, Sonora, Great Sandy and Gobi desert. These deserts are good for installing the system because of large solar irradiation and large land area. A PV array is dimensioned in detail in terms of array layout, support, foundation, wiring and so on. Then generation cost of the system is estimated based on the methodology of life-cycle cost (LCC). As a result of the estimation, the generation cost is calculated as 5.3 cent/kWh on Sahara desert, 6.4 cent/kWh on Gobi desert assuming PV module price of

A comparative LCA study on potential of very-large scale PV systems in Gobi desert

1.0/W, system lifetime of 30 years and interest rate of 3%. These results suggest that VLS-PV systems are economically feasible on sufficient irradiation site even if existing PV system technologies are applied, when PV module price will decrease to a level of

A Sensitivity Analysis of Very Large-Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation (VLS-PV) Systems in Deserts

1.0/W.

IEA PVPS Task8: Study on Very Large Scale Photovoltaic (VLS-PV) Systems

The Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) including decommission stage of the VLS-PV system with six types of PV modules was studied in this paper. They were assumed to be installed in Gobi desert in China, where there are abundant sunshine and land area. Output electricity of the system is consumed in city by 100 km transmission line.

Analysis of transmission losses of very large-scale photovoltaic power generation systems (VLS-PV) in world desert

A preliminary study on potential of very large scale photovoltaic power generation systems (VLS-PV) in deserts from economical and environmental view points has been studied. However, the data in the studies depend on site, country, price and so on. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis of the studies should be obtained. In this paper, five case studies of sensitivity analysis of VLS-PV systems were evaluated from economical and environmental view points. Case studies were set five cases; (1) PV module efficiency, (2) PV module degradation, (3) interest ratio and depreciation period, (4) labor cost and (5) cable. In summary, generation cost was affected by degradation, interest ratio, depreciation period and labor cost. Required energy and CO2 emission were affected by PV module efficiency and degradation ratio

IEA PVPS Task 8: Project Proposals on Very Large Scale Photovoltaic Power Generation (VLS-PV) Systems in Deserts

The purpose of IEA PVPS Task8, Study on Very Large Scale Photovoltaic (VLS-PV) Systems, is to examine and evaluate the potential and feasibility of VLS-PV systems, which have capacities ranging from several megawatts to gigawatts, and to develop strategies for implementation of the VLS-PV systems in the future. Our study has comprehensively analyzed the major issues involved in such large scale applications, based on the latest scientific and technological developments and by means of close international co-operation with experts from different countries. Solar power plants in desert regions increasingly count as a realistic energy option. Very Large Scale solar power plants start to appear around the world. In order to accelerate the current transition towards renewable energy, development of VLS-PV power generation systems that can be deployed on a massive scale is one of the ways for this transformation. This paper will present an overview of relevant issues and the potential of VLS-PV, guidelines for VLS-PV systems, and technical as well as strategic options for implementing VLS-PV.

Very Large-Scale Photovoltaic Systems

VLS-PV systems in desert area are promising in view of rich irradiation and huge land area. But its desert situation, transmission loss may be barrier to realize. This paper is described about estimation of transmission loss without detail irradiation data. Based on power current is in proportion to irradiance, transmission loss is calculated considering change in day, month and year. And rise in temperature is also considered because desert situation. 100 km transmission loss is 8.2 % in Sahara and 5.8 % in Gobi desert. Transmission loss is not so big if it is compared with corrector loss. This result helps preliminary survey of VLS-PV systems in desert areas.

A comparative study on cost and life-cycle analysis for 100 MW very large-scale PV (VLS-PV) systems in deserts using m-Si, a-Si, CdTe, and CIS modules

The scope of IEA PVPS Task8 is to examine and evaluate the potential of very large scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) systems on deserts, which have capacities ranging from several megawatts to gigawatts, and to develop practical project proposals for demonstrative research toward realizing VLS-PV systems in the future. For this purpose, we developed proposals of practical projects suitable for selected regions, e.g. the Mediterranean region, the Middle East region, Asian region (China and Mongolia) and Oceania region. It is demonstrated that VLS-PV could directly compete with fossil fuel as the principal source of electricity and with existing technology for any country that has desert areas. This could be accomplished by finding an investment scheme and by getting institutional and organizational support for its implementation

A life-cycle analysis on thin-film CdS/CdTe PV modules

Very large-scale photovoltaic (VLS-PV) is a very unique idea originally presented in 1999 by the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) Task 8 group. The concept is to generate electricity in a desert region where solar irradiation is abundant. It also aims to achieve socioeconomic development in the region. This chapter reviews a wide range of feasibility studies of the VLS-PV concept implemented in the past 12 years. The studies include not only technical perspectives but also economic and environmental point of views.