Chacon Final Slides
Solar Discussion Solar Electric Power Association April 30, 2015
Beth Chacon Environmental Policy Manager Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy Inc. Northern States Power Company Minnesota Public Service Company of Colorado
Southwestern Public Service Company
Northern States Power Company Wisconsin
Gas Customers Electric Customers
1.9 M 3.5 M
Xcel Energy is a Clean Energy Leader No. 1 wind provider Top-ten utility for solar capacity Leader in emission reductions
95
Xcel Energy CO2 Emissions (millions of tons)
90 85 80
30% Reduction 2005-2020
75 70 65 60 55 2005
2020
Company Solar Efforts On-site solar
(Solar*Rewards®) — 255 MW — 25,600 systems Solar gardens (Solar*Rewards® Community®) — 14 approved gardens Large-scale solar — 140 MW
Utility-Scale Solar Adoption Factors which can lead to adoption: Competitive pricing Economies of scale — Tracking systems — Optimal siting Correlation with system peak
Historical Pricing Curve
From NREL Open PV Project
Prepared by The Brattle Group
Utility-scale prices have dropped over 50% in the last decade
Large-scale Solar Colorado — 87 MW online — 170 MW under construction — Selected as cost-effective resource
Minnesota ▬ 300 MW under development
▬ 1700 MW proposed in recent Integrated Resource Plan
Texas/New Mexico ▬ 50MW on system
▬ 140 MW proposed from two projects in New Mexico
Solar Forecasting CO PV Production Profile
Forecasting Development Project with DOE, NCAR, other utilities Develop improved tool Account for geographic diversity Day ahead and hourly forecasts
Two different days in April 2015
Beth Chacon Environmental Policy Manager Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy Inc. Northern States Power Company Minnesota Public Service Company of Colorado
Southwestern Public Service Company
Northern States Power Company Wisconsin
Gas Customers Electric Customers
1.9 M 3.5 M
Xcel Energy is a Clean Energy Leader No. 1 wind provider Top-ten utility for solar capacity Leader in emission reductions
95
Xcel Energy CO2 Emissions (millions of tons)
90 85 80
30% Reduction 2005-2020
75 70 65 60 55 2005
2020
Company Solar Efforts On-site solar
(Solar*Rewards®) — 255 MW — 25,600 systems Solar gardens (Solar*Rewards® Community®) — 14 approved gardens Large-scale solar — 140 MW
Utility-Scale Solar Adoption Factors which can lead to adoption: Competitive pricing Economies of scale — Tracking systems — Optimal siting Correlation with system peak
Historical Pricing Curve
From NREL Open PV Project
Prepared by The Brattle Group
Utility-scale prices have dropped over 50% in the last decade
Large-scale Solar Colorado — 87 MW online — 170 MW under construction — Selected as cost-effective resource
Minnesota ▬ 300 MW under development
▬ 1700 MW proposed in recent Integrated Resource Plan
Texas/New Mexico ▬ 50MW on system
▬ 140 MW proposed from two projects in New Mexico
Solar Forecasting CO PV Production Profile
Forecasting Development Project with DOE, NCAR, other utilities Develop improved tool Account for geographic diversity Day ahead and hourly forecasts
Two different days in April 2015
