Mark Dabell (Canada)
KMD
Engineering
Mark is a retired engineer with 40 years of experience in multiple sectors of design and analysis in British Columbia with a bachelors degree from the University of British Columbia. His experience has been principally in the numerical modeling of physical systems. His current interests involve undertaking systems analysis of technology implementations with respect to advancing the transition of society towards a form with a more equitable and sustainable basis. He has participated in a number of conferences and workshops and activist group events both locally and internationally. Extensive travel, particularly numerous visits to sustainability conscious Scandinavia, have informed recent activities.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

MAKING A CASE FOR URBAN SOLAR PV ENERGY GENERATION

Session Name
0630 - Academic Sessions - Circular 08: overview from measuring to materials, carbon, materials and food (ID 83)
Session Type
Academic Sessions
Date
02/24/2022
Session Time
04:00 PM - 05:20 PM
Room

Hall B

Presenter
Lecture Time
04:40 PM - 04:50 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Broad use of photo-voltaic (PV) energy for individual home owners is constrained by perceived high costs, complexity, utility net-metering limitations, and perceived waste in over-generation. This paper proposes an alternative application of PV in an urban setting that addresses these challenges and may open a path to adoption.

The concept involves a system configuration that is small scale and designed to match the energy generation during summer months to expected demand, with on-site battery storage to balance daily requirements. For most of the year the energy produced would be less than the demand. The intent would be to make use of all the PV energy produced when it is available and to make use of grid energy when it is not. The system would be independent of the grid and net-metering would not be considered. The system would be intended to maximize the use of the PV energy generation with no waste.

This concept is applied to an urban setting in Vancouver Canada. The British Columbia grid energy mix is considered to be relatively “green” with 85% produced by hydroelectric generating stations. The electricity tariff is considered to be “low” with the average cost of energy being the third lowest in Canada. Vancouver is a mature built environment with relatively older homes on small lots. If a case can be made for PV in these circumstances then it should be considerably more attractive in other situations.

A system is sized by assuming an average household demand with expected generation based on actual PV arrays in the Vancouver region. Costs are assessed for commercial installation. Requirements for switching between PV and grid energy is defined. Energy cost is estimated over an assumed system lifetime of 25 years and this is compared to the current effective energy tariff. The effectiveness of the concept to provide broad energy generation is defined in terms of the number of such installations that would be required to replace the energy produced by a new currently being considered hydro generating station and comparing the costs involved.

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