First large Scale PV Power Plants

After succesfull implementation of PV systems in space programmes reach experiences were used for realisation of terrestrial PV systems. Most common applications in early beginnings of terrestrial PV applications include small rural PV power plants, PV systems for telecommunication purposes, PV systems for water supply and similar applications. First utility scale pilot PV power plants were constructed as results of different technological and scientific research programmes worldwide. Overview of first important research PV programmes is available in the literature. Several PV research programmes were ongoing in seventhies and early eighties and result of these projects were among others several pilot PV power plants with power capacity up to 300 kW. Numerous projects have been realised in this period, most notably in the USA, and Europe. First plans for utility scale PV power plants with power capacity more than 100 kW were done in late seventies and larger PV power plants followed soon. Pilot projects in this period include grid connected PV power plants, off-grid PV power plants, PV power plants with battery storage and hybrid PV-wind power plants. Particular attention was also put on off-grid PV systems for electricity supply of Islands. PV power plant on Island Pellworm in northern Germany was one of the first utility scale PV power plants with 300 kWp power capacity of the first stage. Designed and constructed by AEG Telefunken was intended to power the local recreation center. Later it was expanded to 600 kWp and wind generators were added, so Pellworm plant became also the largest hybrid PV power plant at that time. Pellworm PV power plant was repovered later and is still in service today.

One of the pioneering companies in this field was USA based Atlantic Richfield Oil Company (ARCO). The first MW-ranged power plant was constructed in Hesperia, California with ARCO's modules in the early 1980s. Carrizo Plain, the largest photovoltaic array in the world at that time, producing more than six MWp power, and it remained in service until 1994, was constructed shortly afterward. Carrizo Plain facility was the first large-scale plant with trackers and even included mirrors. The facility was dismantled in the late 1990s. Almost at the same time Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) constructed the first arrays of Rancho Seco PV power plant, near Sacramento, CA. With more than 2 MWp power it was largest photovoltaic power plant owned by a utility company at that time. Rancho Seco PV power plant was constructed partially, first with two 1.23 MW arrays in 1984 and 1986, later it was expanded several times until power capacity of more than 3 MW was reached.

Pilot PV power plants were constructed also in some other regions, like in Japan, Africa and Middle East. Among large-scale research facilities constructed in Japan it is worth mentioning the MW-range plant in Saijo City. It was constructed in 1985. However in Japan much more attention was given than solely on large-scale power plants; they focused heavily on residential PV rooftop programmes. Some residential PV systems realised with generating power capacity in MW range were put into service in Japan last 15 years as result of these early activities. In Saudi Arabia 350 kW pilot power plant for three remote villages was constructed in early 1980s.

In the early 1990s research activities in Europe, especially in Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands has resulted in several large-scale PV projects covering a wide range of applications - from wind-PV hybrid systems and noise barriers to a PV powered hydrogen facility. Systems with fixed and tracking arrays have been constructed. In the 1990s a 340 kWp power plant in Kobern-Gondorf, Mosel Valley, was constructed by companies RWE and AEG. Some other projects, like Lake Neurath PV plant were also put into service almost at the same time. Italy and Switzerland have also done significant pioneering. Power plants like Delphos and later Serre have been constructed in Italy. In Switzerland one project worth mentioning is the photovoltaic power plant along the Belinzona-Locarno railway and the 500 kWp Mont Soleil PV plant constructed in 1990s. A PV power plant located in Puebla de Montalbán, Toledo, Spain, was put into service some years later. Toledo PV power plant which consists of fixed and tracking arrays with peak power 1 MWp, was the first Spanish MW-range PV power plant and is still in operation today. In 1990s much attention was put also on residential PV programmes and some other applications like PV noise barriers and BIPV applications. In late 1990s large utility scale residential PV programmes in Germany in the Netherlands and in Australia to name but a few were successfull realised. First utility scale PV noise barrier was put into service in Switzerland. Large 1 MWp BIPV power plant with transparent modules was connected to the grid in Herne, northern Germany in 1999. With some other large utility scale roof mounted PV power plants in late 1990s direction of future development was clearly shown. Technical obstacles for large utility scale PV power plants were minimized and MW-ranged free field PV power plants as well as MW sized roof mounted PV power plants were nothing uncommon anymore.


Web Sites


www Akademie Mont-Cenis, Herne - 1 MW PV roof integrated transparent power plant in Herne, Germany.
www Puebla de Montalbán, Toledo - 1 MW PV power plant in Toledo, Spain.
www Solardach München-Riem - roof array in Munich, trade fair area.

Proceedings

www Durand, H.L., Maycock, P.D., Palz, W. Eds. (1981). Proceedings of the EEC/DOE Workshop hosted by the Commissariat a L'Energie Solaire, held in Sophia-Antipolis, France, 23-24 October 1980. Springer, ISBN 978-9027712790.
www Starr, M., Palz, W. Eds. (1983). Photovoltaic Power for Europe: An Assessment Study, Springer, 1 edition, 1983, 978-9027715562.
www Palz, W. Ed. (1982). Photovoltaic Power Generation. Solar Energy R&D in the European Community Series C, Volume 1, D. Reidel, ISBN 978-9027713865.
www EU Bookshop - some EU PVSEC proceedings available in electronic format.

Papers and Additional Information


www PVSEC (1977): Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Luxembourg, September 27-30, pp 446-534.
www PVSEC (1979): 2nd E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Overstraeten, R. van, Palz, W. Editors. Berlin, 23-26 April, pp 1106-1156.
www Macomber, H. L. (1983): Status of U.S. large PV systems applications. Photovoltaic Power Generation. Final Design Review Meeting on EC Photovoltaic Pilot Projects, Proc. Palz W. Ed. Brussels, 12 - 13 July, pp 6-22.
www Maycock, P. (1980): Overview of U.S., DOE Large PV Systems. Medium-Size Photovoltaic Power Plants. EEC/DOE Workshop Proc. Durand, H. L., Maycock, P., Palz, W. Editors. Sophia-Antipolis, 23-24 October, pp 4-7.
www Maycock, P. (1980): Photovoltaics program overview. Third E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W. Editor. Cannes, 27-31 October, pp 10-17.
www Hamakawa, Y. (1980): Sunshine project solar photovoltaic program and recent R&D activities in Japan. Third E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W. Editor. Cannes, 27-31 October, pp 22-29.
www Starr, M., Palz, W. (1983): Photovoltaic Power Generation. Photovoltaic Power for Europe, an Assessment Study. Appendix B - CEC Photovoltaic Pilot Plants, pp 194-195.
www Cordes, V., Korupp, K. H. (1980): 300 kW Photovoltaic pilot plant Pellworm/Germany. Medium-Size Photovoltaic Power Plants. EEC/DOE Workshop Proc. Durand, H. L., Maycock, P., Palz, W. Editors. Sophia-Antipolis, 23-24 October, pp 55-58.
www Lowalt, H.J. (1981): 300 kW photovoltaic pilot plant Pellworm. Photovoltaic Power Generation. Final Design Review Meeting on EC Photovoltaic Pilot Projects, Proc. Palz W. Editor. Brussels, Nov 30 - Dec 2, pp 179-201.
www Lowalt, H.J. (1983): 300 kW photovoltaic plant Pellworm - Power supply for the recreation centre - Island Pellworm, Schleswig-Holstein. Photovoltaic Power Generation. Final Design Review Meeting on EC Photovoltaic Pilot Projects, Proceedings. Palz W. Editor. Brussels, 12 - 13 July, pp 30-54.
www Lowalt, H. J., Proetel, B. (1985): The 300 kW Pellworm Solar Power Station: Performance and Experience . Sixth E.C.Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Treble, F. C. Editors. Kavouri (Athens), 15-19 April, pp 486-490.
www Treble, F. C. (1985): The CEC Photovoltaic Pilot Projects. Sixth E.C.Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Treble, F. C. Editors. Kavouri (Athens), 15-19 April, pp 474-480.
www Lowalt, H. J. (1989): Follow-on-activities, 300 kW Pellworm Solar Plant. Photovoltaic power generation, European research and development, Participating contractors. Caratti, G., Shock, R. A. W., Reis, M., Editors. Report EUR 12359, pp 141-142.
www Kruse, C. et al. (1991): Eight Years Experience with the 300 kWp Solar Power Plant on the Island Pellworm (FRG) and the Extension to a 1.25 MW Hybrid System. Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Luque, A., Sala, G., Palz, W., Dos Santos, G., Helm, P. Editors. Lisbon, 8-12 April, pp 724-727.
www Aitken, D. W. et al. (2000): SMUD PV Program Review; SMUD'S PV PROGRAM: Past, Present, and Future, Final Report, December 30. A Report to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, SMUD Consulting Services Contract No. I-143.
www Arnett, J. C. et al. (1983): Design, installation and performance of the ARCO Solar one-megawatt power plant. Fifth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Fittipaldi, F. Editors. Kavouri (Athens), 17-21 October.
www Rhodes, G. W., Reilly, M. R. (1983): Design, installation and performance of the ARCO Solar one-megawatt power plant. Fifth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Fittipaldi, F. Editors. Kavouri (Athens), 17-21 October.
www Sumner, D. D. et al. (1988): Carrisa Plains Photovoltaic Power Plant 1984-1987 Performance. Twentieth IEEE PVSC, pp 1289-1292.
www Wenger, H. J. et al. (1990): Carrisa Plains PV Power Plant Performance. Twenty-first IEEE PVSC, pp 844-849.
www Rosenthal, A. L., Lane, C. G. (1991): Field Test Results for the 6 MW Carrizo Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant. Solar Cells, vol. 30, pp 563-571.
www Patapoff, N. W. (1985): Utility Interconnection Experience with an Operating Central Station MW-Sized Photovoltaic Plant. IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems. Volume PAS-104 , Issue 8, pp 2020 - 2024.
www Tolbert, R.E.L., Arnett, J.C. (1984): Design, installation and performance of ARCO solar photovoltaic power plants. 17th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference Proc. Orlando, FL, USA, pp 1149-1152.
www Takahashi, M. et al. (1984): Development of 1 MW centralized PV power plant. 17th IEEE photovoltaic specialists conference, Proc. Orlando, FL, USA, May, pp 1031-1035.
www Huraib, F. et al. (1982): Design, installation, and initial performance of 350-kW photovoltaic power system for Saudi Arabian villages. Fourth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Bloss, W. H., Grassi, G. Editors. Stresa, 10-14 May, pp 57-66.
www Beyer, U., Puttbrock, R. (1989): Design, Construction and Operation of a 340 kWp Photovoltaic Plant. Ninth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Wrixton, G. T., Helm, P. Editors. Freiburg, 25-29 September, pp 655-660.
www Corvi C, Vigotti R. (1991): ENEL's 3-MW PV Power Station Preliminary Design. Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Luque, A., Sala, G., Palz, W., Dos Santos, G., Helm, P. Editors. Lisbon, 8-12 April 1991, pp 1277-1280.
www Beyer U. et al. (1991): Operating Results of the 340 kWp Plant Kobem-Gondorf. Design and Construction of the 330 kWp Plant Neurather See. Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Luque, A., Sala, G., Palz, W., Dos Santos, G., Helm, P. Editors. Lisbon, 8-12 April 1991, pp 1281-1284.
www Hächler, R., Nordmann, T. (1991): 100kW Grid Connected PV-Installation Along Rail Infrastructure in Southern Switzerland - A Feasibility Study. Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Luque, A., Sala, G., Palz, W., Dos Santos, G., Helm, P. Editors. Lisbon, 8-12 April 1991, pp 738-741.
www Fabriani, L. M. et al. (1986): Present situation of the Delphos project - Design, installation and testing. Seventh E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Goetzberger, A., Palz, W., Willeke, G. Editors. Sevilla, 27-31 October 1986, pp 108-112.
www Rufer, A. C. et al. (1993): Operating experience at the 500 kW photovoltaic plant PHALK Mont-Soleil. Fifth European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications. Brighton. 13-16 September, pp 18-23.
www Yordi, B. et al. (1994): 1MW Photovoltaic Power Station Toledo/Spain - Plant Description and Gained Experience During Construction - Toledo PV. 12th European photovoltaic solar energy conference Proc. Amsterdam, pp 1163-1166.
www Yordi, B. et al. (1994): 1MW Photovoltaic Power Station Toledo/Spain - Plant Description and Gained Experience During Construction - Toledo PV. 12th European photovoltaic solar energy conference Proc. Amsterdam, pp 1163-1166.
www Nordmann T. et al. (1989): Realisation of a 100kW grid connected PV installation using the sound barriers along a motorway in the Swiss Alps. Ninth E.C.Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Proc. Palz, W., Wrixton, G. T., Helm, P. Editors. Freiburg, 25-29 September, pp 669-673.
www Spooner, E. D. et al. (1998): Solar Olympic Village, Design and Testing Experience. 2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, 15th European PV Solar Energy Conference, 27th US IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, 10th Asia/Pacific PV Science and Engineering Conference, Proc. Schmid, J., Ossenbrink, H. A., Helm, P., Ehmann, H., Dunlop, E. D. Editors. Vienna, 6 - 10 July, pp 2466-2471.
www Cunow, E., Giesler B. (1998): One Megawatt Photovoltaic Plant at The New Munich Trade Fair Centre The World's Largest PV Rooftop Plant. 2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, 15th European PV Solar Energy Conference, 27th US IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, 10th Asia/Pacific PV Science and Engineering Conference, Proc. Schmid, J., Ossenbrink, H. A., Helm, P., Ehmann, H., Dunlop, E. D. Editors. Vienna, 6 - 10 July, pp 2472-2475.
www Vlek, F. et al. (1998): 1 MW Decentralized and Building Integrated PV System in a New Housing Area of the City of Amersfoort, The Netherlands. 2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, 15th European PV Solar Energy Conference, 27th US IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, 10th Asia/Pacific PV Science and Engineering Conference, Proc. Schmid, J., Ossenbrink, H. A., Helm, P., Ehmann, H., Dunlop, E. D. Editors. Vienna, 6 - 10 July, pp 2492-2495.
www Steinhardt, F. et al. (1998): 200 kWp Roof Integrated PV Power Station "Auf dem Kruge", Bremen. 2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, 15th European PV Solar Energy Conference, 27th US IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, 10th Asia/Pacific PV Science and Engineering Conference, Proc. Schmid, J., Ossenbrink, H. A., Helm, P., Ehmann, H., Dunlop, E. D. Editors. Vienna, 6 - 10 July, pp 2534-2537.
www Kreutzmann, A. et al. (1999): Size matters. Die dachintegrierte Solarstromanlage in Herne ist am Netz. Photon das Solarstrom Magazin. Mai-Juni, 1999, pp 42-46. In german language.
www EU PVNB POT (1999): EU PVNB POT: Evaluation of the potential of PV noise barrier technology for electricity production and market share. Thermie B Project. Project Number: SME 1479-97, Final Report Volume 1 & 2, TNC Consulting AG.
www Castello, S. et al. (2001): Operational Performance know-how and results of PV Systems Analysis. IEA-PVPS Task 2, Operational Performance, Reliability and Promotion of Photovoltaic Systems. Proc. of October 2001 Workshop.