Photovoltaics as a distributed resource - making the value connection

Photovoltaics, the modular, versatile, market-ready distributed generator, is gaining share in the electric service market. The grid-connected distributed resource (DR) application is the fastest growing market for photovoltaics (PV). PV may be the ultimate distributed resource (DR) due to its modularity, resource availability and independence on fossil fuel. As a distributed resource, PV attributes include the usual values of being near the load, and offsetting generation, distribution, and transmission losses and capacity requirements. PV-DR also has unique values of modularity, independence on fossil fuel price volatility, no environmental emissions or noise, and a generation profile caused by the same resource as the system load peaks. However, these tangible values are often spread out several stakeholders and it is difficult for the PV system investor to collect the full value potential for the investment. This paper presents the PV value analysis using PV value matrix that focused on both individual value attributes and stakeholder perspective.