Achieving grid parity for large scale photovoltaic systems in New Jersey

With photovoltaic (PV) power systems becoming ever more prevalent in today's world, it is an inevitability that this renewable energy technology becomes more competitive from a price standpoint. Explored in this thesis are several engineering optimization and cost reduction methods that will enable large scale PV system costs to achieve grid parity in the next few years without requiring government subsidies or market support techniques. This research included actual data from numerous real world, large scale photovoltaic projects the author engineered in the northeastern United States and is informed by those design optimizations, best practice guidelines for proper photovoltaic system installation and parameter selection, as well as performance analyses of differing technologies. Incorporating historical data, a model is presented to help predict future photovoltaic system price-points and subsequently their associated electricity costs. Finally, an in-depth walk through of the engineering improvements required and their associated financial impacts requisite for the realization of grid parity for large scale photovoltaic systems in New Jersey brings clarity to an oft misrepresented and confounded topic.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Schwabe, Ulrich

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jansson, Peter

• Photovoltaic power systems; Engineering economy
• Electrical and Computer Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/306

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1305