High Penetration Distributed Energy Study

In January 2010, APS and its partners received a $3.3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to study the effects of high concentration of solar energy on the grid. The 45-month study, which began in April 2010, will focus on both technical and non-technical elements. Study partners include GE, Arizona State University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and ViaSol Energy Solutions LLC. What the team learns will optimize grid operations and help the company -- and other utilities -- to build a solar future. This project leverages APS’s Community Power Project and Smart Grid initiatives to meet the technical objectives of the study.

The APS Community Power Project^SM is a unique high penetration distributed energy (DE) demonstration project taking place in northeast Flagstaff, Arizona. The project is designed to meet the growing customer demand for DE, especially from solar panels; remove barriers for customers interested in DE, help exceed an increasing Renewable Energy Standard and study the effects of a high concentration of solar on the electric grid.

The Community Power Project

APS is installing 1.5 megawatts (MW) of DE in a single electric feeder -- or distribution area, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Residential and commercial customers will host rooftop mounted photovoltaic systems in exchange for a portion of their energy delivered at a fixed price over 20 years. The systems, which are offered to customers at no up-front cost, are owned and maintained by APS and the company receives the direct-to-grid energy from them.

Residential systems range in size from 2 - 4 kW while commercial systems may range from 50 - 250 kW. In addition to generating 600kW from 200 residential participants and 400kW from commercial participants, APS is developing the Doney Park renewable energy site, which will generate 500-700 kW from utility-scale banks of solar panels and up to 8kW of wind; the company will also test battery storage at the site. In addition, APS is offering 50 PV solar water heater systems to limited income customers in the area.

Complementing the high penetration DE penetration study is APS’s smart grid technology initiative. APS is in the process of installing automated switches and remote monitoring equipment that help improve responsiveness and reliability of the electric distribution system.

APS also seeks to learn whether utility-owned DE assets are a sustainable line of business and if so, what the best ways are to integrate this into the company’s generation portfolio and grid management operations.

Research and Study Resources

U.S. Department of Energy High Penetration Solar Portal

Community Power Project Information

Community Power Project fact sheet
Community Power Project Web Site