Solar Advisor Model General Introduction

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Contents
Background and users Development team Downloading SAM and getting help Block diagram

This presentation is intended as an introductory presentation and can be viewed before viewing either the photovoltaic or concentrating solar power presentations. Note that each of the following slides is annotated with presenter notes.. 2
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Background
Developed by the Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories Vision
Combine PV, CSP, thermal solar technologies into a single model Make high-quality performance models developed by NREL, Sandia, and other partners available to a wider audience Facilitate comparison by handling performance, costs and financing consistently across technologies Facilitate calculating the impact of R&D on LCOE, NPV, etc. in various markets. Sensitivity analysis and graphing capabilities
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Version History
Pre-release Solar America Initiative (SAI) Version
Used by DOE, labs, and SAI Technology Pathway Partnership applicants

Version 1.1, August 2007

First release, models PV, CSP and CSP parabolic trough systems

Version 1.3.0.9, October 2007

Read EPW weather files, October 2007

Version 2.0.0.2, June 2008

New empirical inverter model from Sandia New PV model from California Energy Commission Add generic fossil-fuel system

Each version also includes feature improvements and bug fixes based on user feedback.

Version 2.5.0.2, December 2008

Add CSP dish-Stirling Time-of-use utility rates for residential and commercial projects Online help system Automated optimization of utility financing parameters PVWatts model integration Interface to Navigant Consulting cost model
Innovation for Our Energy Future

Future versions
Solar water heating CSP central receiver PV loads and storage
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Users
Over 3,000 copies downloaded by
Manufacturers Engineering Consulting and R&D firms Utilities Developers Venture Capital Firms

Examples of applications
In New Jersey, promoted as standard analytical tool for the states clean energy program Federal Energy Management Program: Feasibility studies PowerLight: Compare with internal financial models Arizona Public Service: Verify energy production estimates University graduate research projects
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Current Development Team

Management
Nate Blair, NREL

Concentrating Solar Power

Mark Mehos, NREL Craig Turchi, NREL

Programming
Aron Dobos, NREL Steven Janzou, NREL*

Water Heating
Jay Burch, NREL Craig Christensen, NREL

PV Model Validation
Chris Cameron, Sandia

Photovoltaics
Bolko von Roedern, NREL
* Contractors

Documentation and User Support

Paul Gilman, NREL*

Contact: Solar_Advisor_Support@nrel.gov
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Other Contributors
Photovoltaics
Sandia Laboratories
Development of Sandia PV Array Performance Model and Performance Model for Grid-Connected PV Inverters (David King et. al.) Parameter data for Sandia PV and inverter models

University of Wisconsin
Development of CEC Performance Model (Five-parameter module model)

California Energy Commission (CEC)

Parameter data for CEC Performance Model

Concentrating Solar Power

NREL
Parabolic trough model (Hank Price et. al.)

University of Wisconsin
Dish-Stirling model, developed with funding from NREL

Financial modeling
Lawrence Berkeley National laboratory: Validation Navigant Consulting: PV cost model (planned)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Downloading SAM
http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/sam 1) Sign in 2) Complete registration form 3) Download

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Getting Help

Online Help and User Guide

Help menu and buttons

SAM Website
http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/sam

Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/group/sam-user-group

Email User Support

Solar_Advisor_Support@nrel.gov

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Block Diagram
Inputs
Weather Data Utility Rate Structure

Results SAM
Hourly Simulation Financial Model Sensitivity Analysis Performance Metrics: Capacity Factor, Annual Output Detail: Hourly Energy Flows, Cash Flow Financial Metrics: LCOE, IRR, NPV, Payback, etc.

Financial Assumptions Incentives

Component Parameters

Costs

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Input Data Sources

Inputs
Weather Data Utility Rate Structure

Built-in data sets for:

Weather data Utility rate structure Component parameters

Financial Assumptions Incentives

Component Parameters

Sample default values for:

System parameters Financial assumptions Incentives Costs

Additional data on the Web for:

Weather data (TMY2, EPW format)

Costs

Input variables can be linked to Excel spreadsheets

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

SAM
Processes input data to calculate hourly output and cash flow TRNSYS simulation engine
Uses component models developed by the SAM team

SAM
Hourly Simulation Financial Model Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis: Multiple simulations

TRNSYS is developed and maintained by the Solar Energy Laboratory of the University of Wisconsin at Madison. http://sel.me.wisc.edu/trnsys/
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Results
Results
Financial Metrics: LCOE, IRR, NPV, Payback, etc. Performance Metrics: Capacity Factor, Annual Output Detail: Hourly Energy Flows, Cash Flow

Summary table Graphs

Standard graphs are built in Custom graphs can be created

Sliders Graphical data viewer Spreadsheet

Cash flow detail Hourly data Inputs
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Table and graph data can be exported to Excel

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future

Thank you!
Solar_Advisor_Support@nrel.gov

http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/sam

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future