Competitiveness Analysis Results for Photovoltaic Microgeneration Systems in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The results from evaluating the economic feasibility of ownership of photovoltaic (PV) microgeneration systems with reference to the consumed energy cost criterion are presented. The evaluation is carried out based on the results of modeling and simulation of three photovoltaic system (PVS) configurations: without energy storing, with electric energy storage, and with thermal energy storage under the conditions of a few prospective regions of Russia taking into account the emerging regulatory norms and mechanisms supporting the development of microgeneration. It is shown that under certain conditions PV microgeneration systems can be competitive in a number of energy isolated regions and in certain non-pricing zones of the wholesale electricity and capacity market, in particular, on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), whereas in pricing zones PV microgeneration is economically unfeasible for any of the system configurations considered.