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A national laboratory of the U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Energy Efficiency & Renewable EnergyNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryInnovation for Our Energy FutureSolar Advisor ModelUser Guide for Version 2.0Paul GilmanNate Blair, Mark Mehos, Craig Christensen, andSteve JanzouNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryChris CameronSandia National LaboratoriesNREL is operated by Midwest Research Institute BattelleContract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337Technical ReportNREL/TP-670-43704August 2008
Solar Advisor ModelUser Guide for Version 2.0Paul GilmanNate Blair, Mark Mehos, Craig Christensen, andSteve JanzouNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryChris CameronSandia National LaboratoriesPrepared under Task No. PVB7.6201National Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393303-275-3000 www.nrel.govOperated for the U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energyby Midwest Research Institute BattelleContract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337Technical ReportNREL/TP-670-43704August 2008
NOTICEThis report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government.Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes anywarranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, orusefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would notinfringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service bytrade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement,recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views andopinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United Statesgovernment or any agency thereof.Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridgeAvailable for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energyand its contractors, in paper, from:U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical InformationP.O. Box 62Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062phone: 865.576.8401fax: 865.576.5728email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.govAvailable for sale to the public, in paper, from:U.S. Department of CommerceNational Technical Information Service5285 Port Royal RoadSpringfield, VA 22161phone: 800.553.6847fax: 703.605.6900email: orders@ntis.fedworld.govonline ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htmPrinted on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste
Executive SummaryThe Solar Advisor Model provides a consistent framework for analyzing and comparing powersystem costs and performance across the range of solar technologies and markets, fromphotovoltaic systems for residential and commercial markets to concentrating solar power andlarge photovoltaic systems for utility markets.This manual describes Version 2.0 of the software, which can model photovoltaic andconcentrating solar power technologies for electric applications for several markets. The currentversion of the Solar Advisor Model does not model solar heating and lighting technologies. Thecurrent version number is displayed in the software under Help, About.Solar Advisor Model Disclaimer 2008 National Renewable Energy LaboratoryThe Solar Advisor Model is provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ("NREL"),which is operated by the Midwest Research Institute ("MRI") for the Department Of Energy("DOE"). Access to and use of the Solar Advisor Model shall impose the following obligationson the user. The user is granted the right, without any fee or cost, to use the Solar Advisor Modelfor any purpose whatsoever, except commercial purposes or sales, but not to modify, alter,enhance or distribute. Further, the user agrees to credit DOE/NREL/MRI in any publications thatresult from the use of the Solar Advisor Model. The names DOE/NREL/MRI, however, may notbe used in any advertising or publicity to endorse or promote any products or commercial entityunless specific written permission is obtained from DOE/NREL/MRI. The user also understandsthat DOE/NREL/MRI is not obligated to provide the user with any support, consulting, trainingor assistance of any kind whatsoever with regard to the use of the Solar Advisor Model or toprovide the user with any updates, bug-fixes, revisions or new versions. The Solar AdvisorModel is provided by DOE/NREL/MRI "as is" and any express or implied warranties, includingbut not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purposeare hereby disclaimed. In no event shall DOE/NREL/MRI be liable for any special, indirect orconsequential damages or any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to claimsassociated with the loss of data or profits, which may result from an action in contract,negligence or other tortious claim that arises out of or in connection with the access, use orperformance of the Solar Advisor Model.Microsoft and Excel are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.i
Table of ContentsExecutive Summary . iSolar Advisor Model Disclaimer . iTable of contents . iiList of Tables . vBefore you Begin . 1About the Solar Advisor Model .1Contacting user support .2Getting Started . 2Installing and starting the software .2What to do if you encounter a bug .3Reviewing an existing analysis .4Creating a new analysis .4Working with files and cases .5Solar Advisor file formats.6User Interface Overview . 6Main window .6Text box background colors.7Run Analysis and results buttons .9Results . 9Metrics table.10Graphs .14Adding and removing sliders .17Customizing graphs .18Spreadsheets .20Time series graphs in DView .22Waterfall graphs (CSP only) .24Exporting Data and Graphs. 25Exporting graph and table data .26Exporting graph images .27Input Pages . 28Program .28Environment .29Climate .30Typical Meteorological Year (TMY2).30EnergyPlus Weather (EPW) data .31Utility Rates .32Financials .32Incentives .35Loads .37System: Photovoltaic .37Configuration .38Array .38Module: PV .40Module: CPV .42Inverter .43ii
Storage and BOS .44System: Concentrating Solar Power .44Configuration .45Solar Field .45SCA / HCE.48Power Block .51Storage .54Parasitics .58System: Generic .58Costs.60Capital costs .60Operation and maintenance costs.61Entering year-by-year O&M costs .62Working with Parametric Variables . 63Example 1: Independent parametric .65Example 2: Independent parametric with linkage .70Example 4: Combination parametric with linkage .79Example 5: Review the CSP parametric analysis .85Working with External Workbooks and UDVs. 87Overview .88A. Review the external workbook .89B. Define the Captured From variable .90C. Create a UDV .91D. Define the Sent To variables .92Managing UDVs, Sent To and Captured From Variables .94Appendix 1: Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) . 95Residential and commercial LCOE .96Utility LCOE .96Real and nominal LCOE .97Appendix 2: Cash Flow . 98After tax net equity cash and cost flows .98State and federal taxes .99Total operating expenses.101Total debt payment .101Project income (revenue and offset payments) .102Appendix 3: Equations for Calculated Values . 102Financials .103Loan Amount .103Weighted Average Cost of Capital .103PV Array .104PV Derate .106PV Module .107PV Inverter .107CSP Solar Field .108Solar Field Area, Solar Multiple, and Exact Area .108Exact Number of SCAs.109Solar Field Piping Heat Losses .109iii
CSP SCA / HCE.110HCE Optical Efficiency .110HCE Heat Losses .111CSP Power Block .112Design Turbine Thermal Input.112CSP Storage .112Maximum Energy Storage .112Heat Exchanger Duty .113Maximum Power To and From Storage.113CSP Parasitics .114Effective tax rate .115References . 116Weather data .116Project economics financing .116Performance models.116CSP technology.116TRNSYS and Excelergy .117Useful web sites .117Index .
The Solar Advisor Model provides a consistent framework for analyzing and comparing power system costs and performance across the range of solar technologies and markets, from photovoltaic systems for residentia
