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Solar power installed behind the meter in homes, businesses and communities offers numerous advantages, according to an article by Stanford engineering professor Mark Jacobson.
Solar energy projects can be classified into two categories: large ground-mounted, grid-connected projects, or smaller distributed projects, typically 20 MW or less.
In California, and many other U.S. states, smaller distributed projects, especially those located behind the meter, are under attack from power companies and state legislatures, who often blame them for high electricity rates. An article by Mark Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, explains why we should support behind-the-meter solar installations across the country.
Small-scale distributed solar projects are typically classified as either “behind-the-meter” (BTM) or “front-of-the-meter” (FOM), depending on how they connect to the grid.
FOM systems connect to the grids distribution lines and supply buildings directly, minimising the need to build additional transmission lines. The distribution lines are connected to the transmission lines, so FOM solar can also feed its electricity into the transmission grid. They are therefore subject to the same market and grid connection rules as public grid PV systems.
Behind-the-meter systems are typically smaller than FOM systems and are often installed in buildings, parking lots, hillsides, yards, and vacant lots that directly serve buildings. Any excess electricity production from these systems can be fed back into the grid, and if the system is not meeting 100% of demand, it can draw power from the grid.
“Grid operators often oppose distributed PV (BTM) because its first effect is to reduce electricity demand from the grid,” Jacobson explains. “Utilities argue that the remaining customers must pay a higher cost for the remaining demand, especially since the fixed cost of the transmission and distribution system is now spread across fewer customers.”
Jacobson offered ten reasons why BTM solar energy helps everyone:
1. The claim that BTM solar reduces electricity demand and therefore increases costs by spreading the fixed cost of transmission and distribution across fewer customers, known as “cost shifting,” ignores the reality of the energy transition. Buildings, transportation, and industry are becoming electrified. According to Jacobson, electricity needs will nearly double.
“Even if 25% of total electricity demand is met by BTM PV, the total grid electricity needs will still increase by 50% compared to today. Therefore, the utilities’ assumption that high BTM PV growth reduces demand is only valid for low levels of electrification, not for large-scale electrification, which is necessary to address climate, pollution and energy security issues,” Jacobson said.
2. BTM rooftop solar does not require new land, whereas utility-scale solar does. Therefore, BTM solar reduces land requirements and habitat damage.
3. BTM solar reduces the need for transmission and distribution lines. Grid customers need transmission and distribution lines for 100% of their electricity consumption, and PV requires transmission and distribution lines for 100% of its generation. BTM solar customers only need transmission lines to support the extra demand not covered by their solar array.
4. When BTM solar energy together with a battery produces more than the building consumes, the excess electricity is fed back into the grid. This helps prevent blackouts, especially on hot summer days in regions where alternating current is used.
5. Sparks from transmission lines have caused devastating fires, such as in California and Hawaii. The cost of these fires and the burying of transmission lines has been passed on to California customers. According to Jacobson, BTM solar reduces fires.
6. The addition of BTM PV reduces the extraction, processing and burning of polluting fuels (fossil fuels and bioenergy) for electricity generation on the grid, thus supporting a cleaner environment.
7. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions from polluting fuels, BTM PV reduces climate damage for both distributed PV and grid customers.
8. By reducing the use of fossil fuels, BTM PV reduces the energy insecurity problems associated with fossil fuels.
9. BTM PV installation creates more jobs than the installation and operation of utility-scale PV and other grid-scale electricity generation, and this benefits a state or country as a whole.
10. Because rooftop PV absorbs 20% to 26% of the sunlight that falls on it and converts it into electricity, the building absorbs less light, which cools the building during the day and reduces daytime electricity demand for air conditioning. This cooling is greater in summer and during the day, when electricity prices are higher. |
