Study on low-carbon comprehensive benefits of grid-connected photovoltaic generation

Solar energy is a type of clean energy and the development of photovoltaic power generation is of significant importance for the achievement of low carbon development in the electric power industry. This paper proposes models and methods for the evaluation of low carbon benefits of grid - connected photovoltaic power generation projects. Firstly, the carbon emissions (or emission reductions) characteristic and economic benefits are analyzed from the following four aspects: revenue of generation capacity, cost of PV, improvement in efficiency of losses, and cost of reserve capacity. Then, corresponding low carbon benefit models and economic benefit models are established. Next, combined with the low carbon and economic characteristics of photovoltaic power generation, the low-carbon comprehensive benefits (LCBs) evaluation model of photovoltaic power generation is created and the concept of carbon-emission payback period (CPP) is put forward. The example based on typical operating data verifies the validity of the models and methods mentioned in this paper. The analysis results show that photovoltaic power generation has a great advantage regarding low-carbon comprehensive benefits, compared to conventional power generation.