Measuring the value of distributed photovoltaic generation: final results of the Kerman grid-support project

This paper presents results from the world´s first power plant designed and built to measure the benefits of grid-support photovoltaic generation. The research results provide concrete evidence that nontraditional benefits are measurable and significant, doubling the overall value of the plant relative to a traditional resource planning evaluation. A primary function of electric resource planning is to select new supply- and demand-side resources to satisfy growing demand. Traditionally, resource planning has been limited to the evaluation of avoided energy and capacity costs, and does not capture the unique benefits of distributed resources such as grid-support PV. The Kerman grid-support project provides further evidence that current resource planning practices need to be updated if distributed resources are to receive the credit they deserve