georgia power renewables - gappagappa.org/annualmeetings/2015/presentations/2015 gappa pres...

©2014 Georgia Power Company – Confidential & Proprietary

Georgia Power Renewables GAPPA 2015 Conference, Jekyll Island George Dobbins, DG Renewables Manager May 23, 2015


• Largest of four Southern Company electric utilities

• 2.3M+ customers

• High customer

satisfaction

• Rates 10% below

the national average

• 45% of customers earn

under $40k

Georgia Power


Current Tax credits

• 30% federal solar tax credit – 2016

Expired Tax credits

• GA Clean Energy Tax Credit - 2014

• Wind federal production tax credit - 2014

• Biomass federal production tax credit - 2013

Technology & Efficiency Trends

• Installed cost of solar dramatic decrease

• Larger wind turbine design

National Policies

• 37 states with renewable portfolio standards or goals

• EPA’s Clean Power Plan (111(d)) Proposal

Preferences & Perceptions

Drivers of The Renewable Energy Market

http://www.georgiapower.com/earthcents/green/home.cshtml

http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/solar-resources.cshtml

http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/solar-projects/

http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/solar-faqs.cshtml

©2014 Georgia Power Company – Confidential & Proprietary Source: US Solar Market Insight – 2013 YIR

U.S. PV Installations + Average System Price 2000-13


• Use of Avoided Cost – Pay generators appropriately

• Assure fairness among all customers

– No cross subsidies or additional upward rate pressure

• Protect and grow company investments

– Seek opportunities to own renewables

• Promote sound policy – Maintain vertically integrated model

CUSTOMERS

Constructive Regulation

Healthy Capital Spending

High Reliability

Low Prices

High Customer Satisfaction

Renewable Energy Guiding Principles


Solar Resource Availability

http://prod-http-80-800498448.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/w/images/0/00/NREL-eere-pv-georgia.jpg


Solar Annual Capacity by State – 2016

1000 MW +

300-1000 MW

100-300 MW

25-100 MW

10-25 MW

0-10 MW


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

GP Owned

ASI Prime

ASI Classic

LSS

SP/RNR/QF

Georgia Power Solar Program Growth


130

100

121

77

20

51

18

30

30

30

16

4

10 20

30

Georgia Power Utility Scale Solar Projects

ASI Classic 76.7 MW ASI-Prime 2015 209.9 MW ASI-Prime 2016 228.8 MW TOTAL ASI 515.4 MW

ASI Prime Average weighted cost of the

portfolio is less than 6.5 cents per kWh

ASI Classic Average weighted cost of the

portfolio is less than 8.5 cents per kWh

Georgia Power Utility Scale Projects


– Fort Benning

– Fort Gordon

– Fort Stewart

Partnership with US Military

– Kings Bay Naval Base


Georgia Power Utility Scale Solar Projects Georgia Power Distributed Generation Projects

©2014 Georgia Power Company – Confidential & Proprietary 12

Results of Growing Solar Responsibly


Agnes Scott Solar Projects


Parking Canopy – 92.72kW


Facilities Building – 100kW


Science Building – 21kW


Soccer Field– 18.9kW


A Great Partnership!


Solar Options for Georgia Power Customers

• Energy Offset

‒ Customer installs renewable generation to offset purchases

• RNR (Renewable Non-Renewable)

‒ Customer offsets purchases and sells excess to GPC avoided cost

(2013- 4.7¢/kWh)

• QF (Qualifying Facility)

‒ Customers with large generators sell to GPC at real time avoided cost

• ASI (Advanced Solar Initiative) 2013-2016

‒ Customer sells 100% energy to GPC at 13¢/kWh (‘13-’14). Prices vary

for 2015-16.

• SP (Solar Purchase Program)

‒ Customer sells energy to GPC at 17¢/kWh (fully subscribed)

• Green Energy Program

‒ Customer can purchase 50% solar energy for $5.00 per 100 kWh block


Cedartown ASI Patterson-Dewar Rooftop

1MW ground-mount ASI

Installation Examples (ASI & SP)


Hickory Ridge Landfill IKEA Hickory Ridge Landfill IKEA

MARTA

Qualified Facility Solar Examples


What’s next for DG in Georgia?


50 MW

40 MW

10 MW

2015/16 Advanced Solar

Initiative Group A (500kW - 3 MW)

Group B (100kW - 999kW)

Group C (up to 100kW)

Group Customer Sited Greenfield Sited

A Competitive Bidding Competitive Bidding

B Customers get

preference and fixed pricing

(101kW-500kw) Fixed Pricing

Remaining MW; Lottery Selection

C Customers only, fixed

pricing Ineligible 100 MW Total Capacity

©2014 Georgia Power Company - Confidential & Proprietary 4

Georgia HB 57 – Solar Leasing

• Allows solar equipment leases that are based on the system performance or system output.

• Financing Agents are not considered utilities

• Size limited to 125% of peak demand for Commercial and 10 kW for Residential

• All energy must be used on premise or sold to utility

• Passed by House and Senate, signed by Governor Deal, effective July 1, 2015


Renewable R&D at Georgia Power


Research and Development

– Replaced GPC HQ rooftop solar

systems with current technologies.

– 1 MW solar fixed vs tracking and

south vs southwest facing

– Small wind turbines study –

coastal and mountain sites

– Offshore wind study

Research Programs


Objectives:

• Compare string versus micro

inverter technology

• Compare south versus

southwest array orientation

• Compare production of vintage

panels to newer technologies

• Test battery storage partnered

with solar generation

Interactive Dashboard

http://buildingdashboard.com/clien

ts/southernco

Georgia Power Rooftop Demo – 38kW

http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/southernco

http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/southernco


UGA Golf Course

Botanical Garden

Club Sports

Soccer Complex

Five 250kW DC solar arrays

• Different tracking technologies & orientations

• Power delivered to grid

UGA property

• Ground lease required (7-10 Acres)

• Received Board of Regents approval

Research Partnership Agreement with UGA Research Foundation

1 MW Solar Tracking Demo: UGA

11

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://ratiochristi.org/uga&ei=AY30VM-8AoKZgwTRzIHYAw&bvm=bv.87269000,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNE5f3yx57oT7me4joc2a4qc47h6yw&ust=1425399358372791


The 2013 IRP included approval for a research project to study small scale wind turbines at 2 different

sites in Georgia.

Demonstration Overview

Partnerships

Small Scale Wind Demonstration

http://tjschell.com/


Coastal: Skidaway Institute of Oceanography • Board of Regents approved • 4 Turbines / 1 Met Tower

Mountain: still being negotiated • 2 Turbines / 1 LiDAR Box

SKIO

Small Scale Wind Demo

12


http://www.sparpointgroup.com

LiDAR

Buoy

Met

Tower

Offshore Wind Research Lease

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http://axystechnologies.com/united-states-department-energy-orders-two-windsentinel-systems/&ei=DCRMVYvHAoKZsAXRw4C4DA&psig=AFQjCNHghMa0wgkQrkqQj7_Oxc5JscW2vA&ust=1431139724281236

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.sgurrenergy.com/services/offshore-wind/offshore-met-mast-maintenance/&ei=AidMVaaeD4XSsAWDpIEg&bvm=bv.92765956,d.b2w&psig=AFQjCNFFaLXOdnXKcTGEEFOSoI0edVEm5A&ust=1431140457806226

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http://axystechnologies.com/ahoy-offshore-wind-advanced-buoys-bring-vital-data-untapped-energy-resource/&ei=DCRMVYvHAoKZsAXRw4C4DA&psig=AFQjCNHghMa0wgkQrkqQj7_Oxc5JscW2vA&ust=1431139724281236


• Established a Renewable Development Organization

• Growing the Nation’s Largest Voluntary Solar Portfolio

• Providing Customers Options to Purchase & Sell Renewable Energy

• Integrated Resource Plan to Diversify Generation

• Researching Solar & Wind Technologies

• Educating Customers:

– www.GeorgiaPower.com/solar

– Solar Energy Support: 1-866-446-7513

Georgia Power’s Commitment to Renewables

http://www.georgiapower.com/solar

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=RYzyXi8OPmGnvM&tbnid=9nqcuNK59bdMzM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-sun-plant-illustration-image14695559&ei=fBurU9rGIorhoAS6t4HgDw&bvm=bv.69620078,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHydb-CwA_M9TJzKH2EmOmsEZ4j8w&ust=1403808988269692


• GPASI Website

– http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/asi/advanced-solar-initiative.cshtml

• GA Solar Developers Website

– http://www.nabcep.org/certified-installer-locator

• GA PSC Website (Approved Order & Pricing)

– http://facts.psc.state.ga.us/Public/GetDocument.aspx?ID=157730

– http://facts.psc.state.ga.us/Public/GetDocument.aspx?ID=157118

• NREL Pvwatts

– http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/

Additional Resources

http://www.georgiapower.com/about-energy/energy-sources/solar/asi/advanced-solar-initiative.cshtml










http://www.nabcep.org/certified-installer-locator






http://facts.psc.state.ga.us/Public/GetDocument.aspx?ID=157730






http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/


Thank you. Questions?


Solar Technology: Efficiency

Light Energy DC Electricity AC Electricity

Sun Photovoltaic

(PV) Panel or

Array

Inverter Grid

~10-

20%

efficien

cy

~90-

98%

efficien

cy


1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

Wed Thu Fri SatSun Mon Tue

August 2012 August Example

Georgia Power HQ Rooftop Solar Demonstration


38

Strives for optimal mix of supply and demand resources to reliably

meet customer needs at the lowest possible cost

Supply-Side Nuclear, Gas, Coal Renewable Energy Unit Retirement

Studies

Transmission 10 Year Plan

Demand-Side Options Energy Efficiency

Programs Demand Response

Programs

Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – every 3 years


Georgia Power’s Generation Mix


Another Georgia College – 183kW


Wind Resource is Best in Midwest


Blue Canyon Wind - Oklahoma

georgia power renewables - gappagappa.org/annualmeetings/2015/presentations/2015 gappa pres...

Documents