Solar Advisor Model General Introduction

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Solar Advisor ModelGeneral Introduction

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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..
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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 RD on LCOE,
  NPV, etc. in various markets.
• Sensitivity analysis and graphing capabilities

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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
• 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
• Future versions

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

• Solar water heating
• CSP central receiver
• PV loads and storage

• PVWatts model integration
• Interface to Navigant Consulting cost model

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Users

• Over 3,000 copies downloaded by
• Manufacturers
• Engineering Consulting and RD 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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Current Development Team

• Management
• Nate Blair, NREL
• Programming
• Aron Dobos, NREL
• Steven Janzou, NREL
• PV Model Validation
• Chris Cameron, Sandia
• Photovoltaics
• Bolko von Roedern, NREL

• Concentrating Solar Power
• Mark Mehos, NREL
• Craig Turchi, NREL
• Water Heating
• Jay Burch, NREL
• Craig Christensen, NREL
• Documentation and User Support
• Paul Gilman, NREL

Contractors
Contact Solar_Advisor_Support_at_nrel.gov
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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)

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Downloading SAM

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

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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_at_nrel.gov

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Block Diagram
Inputs
Results
Weather Data
Financial Metrics LCOE, IRR, NPV, Payback, etc.
SAM
Utility Rate Structure
Hourly Simulation
Financial Assumptions
Performance Metrics Capacity Factor, Annual
Output
Financial Model
Incentives
Sensitivity Analysis
Component Parameters
DetailHourly Energy Flows, Cash Flow
Costs
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Input Data Sources

• Built-in data sets for
• Weather data
• Utility rate structure
• Component parameters
• Sample default values for
• System parameters
• Financial assumptions
• Incentives
• Costs
• Additional data on the Web for
• Weather data (TMY2, EPW format)

Inputs
Weather Data
Utility Rate Structure
Financial Assumptions
Incentives
Component Parameters
Costs
Input variables can be linked to Excel
spreadsheets
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SAM

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

SAM
Hourly Simulation
Financial Model
Sensitivity Analysis
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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Results

• Summary table
• Graphs
• Standard graphs are built in
• Custom graphs can be created
• Sliders
• Graphical data viewer
• Spreadsheet
• Cash flow detail
• Hourly data
• Inputs

Results
Financial Metrics LCOE, IRR, NPV, Payback, etc.
Performance Metrics Capacity Factor, Annual
Output
DetailHourly Energy Flows, Cash Flow
Table and graph data can be exported to Excel
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Thank you!

• Solar_Advisor_Support_at_nrel.govhttp//www.nrel.go
  v/analysis/sam

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