Western Solar Task Force Report
Solar Energy - Technical ReportAuthor: Western Solar Task Force
Submitted: Fri, 07/11/2008 - 21:21
Edited: Fri, 07/11/2008 - 21:24
Published in: Western Governors' Association on January 2006
 Download document here.
Copyright Status: free to download Description:
The average solar radiation falling on the area the size of a basketball court in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, is, in thermal energy terms, equivalent to about 650 barrels of oil a year. Solar energy is the most abundant of all the renewable resources in the interior west and can provide upwards of 10,000 MW of clean energy by 2015, at a cost competitive to burning natural gas. That is if policy makers take heed to the recommendations set forth in this report.
This report outlines the overall near-term development potential of both centralized and distributed Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic Power (PV) in the Western United States. Each individual section presents the various types of solar systems that could be deployed (parabolic troughs, dish-Stirling engine systems, power towers, concentrating photovoltaic systems); specific barriers they face (electrical transmission, capital costs, slow development times); the policies and programs recommended to overcome those barriers (tax incentives, rebates, net metering, long term electrical purchasing contracts, fast-track project permitting); and the potential impact in energy production, jobs and other economic and environmental benefits that states will enjoy as a result.
 Login to post comments
Printer friendly version
Display a printer friendly version of this page. |
