Large Scale Solar Resources and Stirling Engines in Southwestern U.S.
NREL develops and publishes maps of solar resource potential in the U.S. that estimate monthly average daily total solar insolation (kWh/m^2/day) falling on a device tracking the sun throughout the day. Basically this map is used to determine solar energy input available to a tracking solar dish concentrator with Stirling engine, a 2-axis tracking PV panel, or any other solar concentrator or panel that moves in sync with the sun to maximize solar insolation (i.e. solar radiation).
Stirling Energy Systems (SES) of Phoenix, AZ is currently developing two solar sites in California; SES has signed a pair of 20 year power purchasing agreements, one with Southern CA Edison (SCE), and one with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The large scale solar technology deployments – “Solar One” and “Solar Two” – will have a combined generating capacity of 1,750 MW when fully complete. As a comparison the total generating capacity at Hoover Dam is 2,079 MW.
Under perfect sunny conditions, the solar concentrator dish with Stirling engine converts solar radiation into AC electricity more efficiently than the typical PV system. The solar-to-grid efficiency of a solar dish concentrator with Stirling engine is roughly 30% efficient under perfect sunny conditions. The solar-to-grid efficiency of the typical crystalline silicon PV system is about 10% efficient. However, during cloudy conditions a typical PV system can still convert indirect solar radiation from the sky into useful electricity, whereas the solar dish concentrator with Stirling engine shuts down completely when the sun is obscured by clouds.
Related Links
Western Area Power Administration: Solar generation system ready for production
Stirling Energy Systems: Solar Dish Stirling Engine Projects
Sandia National Lab: Sandia, Stirling Energy Systems set new world record for solar-to-grid conversion efficiency
PVWATTS version 1: Performance Calculator for Grid-Connected PV Systems
NREL: Direct Normal Solar Radiation Map (Two-Axis Tracking Concentrator)
-
EIA: Retail Prices
-
-
