What is Solar and Storage Worth?
Description
This project focuses on analyzing time series data from 2023 to assess the impact that solar and storage can have on carbon emissions and cost savings for a home serviced by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE). Leveraging real marginal emissions data, alongside actual energy consumption data and utility tariffs, this study integrates solar energy production simulation with two different battery controllers: a linear program to maximize the offset emissions by the solar and battery system, and a discrete time-based simulation maximizing the financial savings from the solar and storage system. The project aims to quantify the carbon emission savings and cost reductions achievable through the adoption of solar panels and battery storage, offering a strategic approach to enhancing sustainability and economic efficiency in energy use.
Data Sources
Python Libraries Used
Background Information
Modeling the latest California PUC regulations for single-family solar installations under the Net Billing Tariff. Under this tariff, energy that is consumed onsite is categorized as production (solar or storage) up to the home's energy consumption and is compensated at retail time of use rates, offsetting the cost of the energy consumption. Production in excess of the energy consumption is classified as exported to the grid and is compensated based on the avoided cost calculator (ACC). For the time of use rates, the under 130% baseline rates were assumed, and for export rates, the 2024 ACC rates were assumed.
Data Acquisition and Processing
This section details the methodologies used for data collection and preprocessing. Marginal emissions data for the SDGE area was acquired through an API, providing insights into the carbon intensity of electricity generation throughout 2023. Real energy consumption data was downloaded and cleansed to ensure quality and relevance. Additionally, tariff information was obtained to assess cost implications accurately. Solar production data was sourced from NREL's PVWatts Calculator, offering precise estimates of solar energy generation potential based on geographical and technical parameters.
Utility Data
Figure 1: Interactive Utility Time Series Data. Top: Hourly Marginal Emissions from CEC Midas vs SDGE Time of Use Rate. Bottom: ACC Export Rate
This chart is zoomed in at the most intriguing month of the year in terms of export rates where the maximum compensation for energy sent to the grid can reach nearly $3 per kWh. This means there is a lot of potential for compensation if a household is able to export energy during these time periods, but only the months of July-September do the export rates have considerable value. It is crucial to note that on average the export compensation is roughly 7 cents per kWh and is roughly 80% less compensation than consuming energy from solar and storage onsite. For the time-of-use retail electricity rates, there is a general trend that the rates follow the emissions where highest on-peak rates coincide with the highest marginal emissions during the day. It is also intriguing to note that the winter TOU rates are more tightly bound than the summer ones which have large swings in price.
Baseline Scenario
The baseline scenario involves analyzing the energy consumption and costs without any solar or storage systems in place. This provides a reference point to compare the benefits of adding solar and storage systems.
Solar Simulation
The solar simulation involves modeling the energy production from solar panels based on geographical and technical parameters. This simulation helps in understanding the potential energy generation and its impact on reducing grid dependency.
Battery Maximized Emission Savings
This section focuses on using a linear program to maximize the emission savings by optimizing the usage of the battery storage system. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by storing excess solar energy and using it during high emission periods.
Battery Maximized Financial Savings
This section involves a discrete time-based simulation to maximize the financial savings from the solar and storage system. The objective is to reduce electricity costs by optimizing the usage of stored solar energy during peak rate periods.
Conclusion
The project demonstrates the significant benefits of integrating solar and storage systems in terms of both carbon emission reductions and cost savings. By leveraging real data and advanced simulations, the study provides valuable insights into the potential of solar and storage systems to enhance sustainability and economic efficiency in energy use.
Dashboard
Interested in learning more and diving into the data? Feel free to check out the full dashboard here.