1. Department of Water and Power
City of Los Angeles
California State Lands Commission
Owens Lake Demonstration Project
Yamen Nanne
Solar Energy Development
June 2nd, 2010

2. Presentation Outline
 LADWP Renewables Overview
 Project Background & Drivers
 Project Development Review & Status
 Solar Technologies Assessment
 Wind Tunnel Testing
 Geotechnical affects on foundations
 Revised Solar Demonstration Project Structure
 Feedback & Recommendations on Next Steps
2

3. Los Angeles Department of Water Power (LADWP) Env / Energy Policies

LADWP & Green LA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Goals:
o
o
Deliver coal-free energy to customers by 2020.
o

Reduce GHG emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2012 and to 35% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Compliance with other GHG reduction legislation such as AB32, SB1368, etc.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS):
o

Energy sold to LADWP customers include 20% renewable resource by 2010 and 35% by 2020.
Integrated Resource Plan:
o
LADWP plans to assure adequate resources to meet customer energy needs reliably and economically.

o
Incorporates strategies to meet GHG, RPS goals, and integration requirements.
Energy Cost Adjustment Factor (ECAF)
o
The ECAF authorizes the LADWP to recover their costs due to the fluctuating costs of renewable sources of
power, fuel/natural gas, and escalating costs of third party provided purchased power.
3

4. LADWP Renewables Mix
4

5. LADWP Solar Program
Solar LA Program
Existing Programs
Utility Built
Brief Description
LADWP will install utility-scale solar projects using local labor on
City owned land & facilities.
Solar Incentive Program (SB1) Encourage ratepayers to install solar systems to supplement their
own utility purchases.
Programs Under
Devlopment
Large Scale Power Purchase
Agreements (PPA)
Brief Description
Long-term PPAs with solar developers, including an option for
LADWP to own the project.
Feed-In-Tariff (FIT)
Allows LADWP customers & solar power providers to sell energy
to LADWP (Distribution grid connected).
Sunshares (Community
Projects)
Enables ratepayers to participate in community solar energy
development
5

6. Solar Demonstration Project Background

LADWP Water System has dust mitigation commitments at Owens Dry Lake (ODL)

Power System has RPS goals of 20% by 2010 & 35% by 2020

July 2009, LADWP proposed concept of solar as a means of non-water based dust mitigation

August 2009, GB established criteria for using solar as a Best Available Control Measure (BACM)

Sept – Dec 2009 LADWP conducted extensive wind tunnel testing for feasibility of solar

Wind model configurations showed that solar in combination with other non-water based control
measures can reach the 99% compliance threshold

December 2009 - GB agreed to allow LADWP to conduct a solar demonstration project (Demo)

Initially LADWP filed a Notice of Exemption (NOE) request for a 616 acre

LADWP Water System submitted a lease application for 80 acres

Canceled NOE and initiated Negative Declaration (ND)

Power System Consultants conducted an feasibility assessment based on Phase 7 Geotechnical Data
6

7. Demonstration Project Drivers

Provide a field verification as requested by GBUAPCD to validate the use of solar
integrated with other mitigation mechanisms as a BACM

Substantial Long term water savings for LA & the State of California

GHG reduction & Air Quality Improvement

Economic development & job creation

Help DWP meet its renewable energy program using its existing transmission

Validate the feasibility of doing solar on the Lake
–
Tackle Geotechnical / Soil Conditions
–
System / Construction costs
–
Operation & Maintenance costs
–
Provide an innovative case study for future projects
7

8. LADWP Solar Project Implementation Process
Site Assessment
Technology
Assessment
Environmental
Review
Environmental
Compliance
Preliminary
Design
Preliminary Cost /
Feasibility Study
Prepare Detailed
Design Bid
Award Bid &
Procure Material
Construction
8

9. Cost of Renewable Power
9

10. Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) by Resource
$/MWh: 2009 - 2012
Renewables
$87 - 196
Solar PV
Solar Thermal
$129 - 206
$57 - 113
Wind
Conventional
$225 - 342
Gas Peaking
Gas Combined
Cycle
0
0
50
$74 - 102
75
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Levelized Cost ($/MWh)
Prices include federal incentives
Source: Lazard Capital Markets 3/18/2009
10

11. USA Solar Resource
Owens
Lake
11

12. Why Solar at Owens Lake

Very High Solar Resource

Average Solar resource ~ above 7.5 kWh / m2 /day

Solar resource x solar cell efficiency x area of panel = energy output per day (kWh)

Utilize existing transmission lines and corridors

Utilize previously disturbed land

Weather data shows 89% sunny days


Per existing weather station
Strategic location within CA
12

13. Solar Technology 1 – Flat Plate Photovoltaic (PV)
13

14. Solar Technology 2 – Tracking PV
14

15. Solar Technology 3 – Membrane Thin Film PV
One pod, two panels of solar cells
Solar cells on a floating cover
(Courtesy Dow Geomembrane Systems).
15

16. Solar Technology 4 - Floatovoltaics
16

17. Emerging Technology
Commercial
glass & steel
Greenhouse
700F Working
Fluid
P4P
Suspended
17

18. Preferred Technology – Standard PV

Proven Commercially Technology

Minimal water use

Lowest cost & maintenance

Modular constructability

LADWP had existing RFP for Design & Procurement

Fixed panels most likely to provide most optimal ground coverage
18

19. Wind Tunnel Testing Project Team
19

20. GBUAPCD - Wind Reduction Criterion
 Historically, Best Available Control Measures (BACM) required to achieve
99 percent reduction in dust emissions on the Owens playa (SIP, Chapter 8,
Attachment B, Item 3(c)iii).
 For solar, measure of success defined by the District as complete
sheltering of 99 percent or more of the area within the solar panel array.
Previous Control measures required 75% coverage to achieve 99% sheltering
 The design wind speed defined by District is 22.4 m/s (50 mph) at 10 m
above ground. Complete sheltering occurs when the wind speed at 0.254 m
above ground is 4.5 m/s or less.
 Complete sheltering occurs when the wind speed at a height of 0.254 m (10
inches) above ground is reduced to 20 percent or less of the wind speed at
10 m.
20

21. 1 MW PV Block

642 ft x 538 ft

7.9 Acres

Solar Covering 6.9 Acres

Major Components
–
PV Modules
–
Inverter
–
Foundations
–
Racking
–
Electrical Wiring
–
Fencing
21

22. Wind Tunnel Test Configuration Summary
Parameters: Panel Tilt, Panel Height, Row Spacing, Fencing, Wind Deflector (fairings)
22

23. 5
5
5
5
5
5
9
9
7
5
5
9
9
In
te
rio
rR
ow
Sp
Ex
ac
te
in
rio
g
Pe r
R
rim o
C et w
or er S
n
F p
W erin en acin
in g ce g
d
D Fen
ef
le ce
ct
or
CONFIG
A21
A22
A23
A24
A25
A26
C21
C22
D (D21 & D22)
E22
E23
F (F21 & F22)
G (G21 & G22)
In
te
r
Ex ior
te Ro
In rior ws
te R
r
o
Ex ior ws
Ti
te
lt
H rior
ei
gh Tilt
t
Wind Tunnel Test Configuration Summary
4 30 20 3'
12'
4 30 20 3'
12'
4 30 20 3'
12'
30
3'
12'
4 30 20 3'
12'
4 30 20 3'
12'
30
3'
12'
30
3'
12'
30
3' Long Checker
4 30 20 1'
12'
4 30 20 1'
12'
4 30 20 1' 16', Checker
4 30 20 1' 16', Checker
Hnorth (H21 & H24) 15 4 30 20 1'
Hsouth (H23 & H22) 15 4 30 20 1'
I21
9 4 30 20 1'
I (I22 & I23)
9 4 30 20 1'
J21
7
5
3'
J22
7
5
3'
J23
7
5
3'
K21
7
5
3'
K22
7
5
3'
K23
7
5
3'
K24
7
5
3'
16', Checker
16', Checker
16', Checker
16', Checker
3'
3'
3'
6'
6'
6'
6'
12' 8'
porous back
12'
porous back
12' 8'
No
8'
No
12' 8'
porous back
12' 8'
porous back
8'
No
8'
No
8'
No
12'
No
12' 8'
No
12' 12' 10' solid toe
12' 12' 10' solid toe, solid back and sides in
places
12' 12' 10' solid toe
12' 12' 10' solid toe
12' 12' 10' solid toe, various additional fencing
12' 12' 10' solid toe, interior fencing
12'
No
12'
solid toe
12'
solid toe, 3' surrounding fence
12'
solid toe
6'
solid toe
6'
solid toe, 3' surrounding fence
12'
solid toe, 3' surrounding fence
23

24. K21 and K24
24

25. Contour Plots Wind from 180O
WWWW
DWrWctWoW
25

26. Contour Plots
Wind from 315O
WWWW
DWrWctWoW
26

27. Best and Worst K24 with Gravel Rows
Alternate Interpolation
(biased low)
Original Interpolation
(biased high)
27

28. Lease Application Background
•
LADWP Submitted a Lease Application Feb 24, 2010
•
80 Acres of Land for a Solar
•
Within Area T1A-4 of Phase 7
•
Solar augmented w/ gravel
•
Solar within earthen berms
•
Emerging technologies
•
On March 22nd responded w/ a letter to LADWP requesting further details on the
specifics of what the demo project will entail
•
Since then:
•
Continued economic and geotechnical analysis of best solutions to implement
for the Demo
28

29. Soil Conditions at T1A-4

Based on Phase 7 Geotechnical Data
–
–
Severely corrosive chloride & sulfate
–
Shallow ground water
–
Substantial differential settlement
–

Clayey lacustrine deposits
Required concrete ballasts
Ballast foundations & racking
–
–

8x3x1 ft ballast
Significant cost increase
Need for additional more specific
geotechnical investigation
29

30. Scope of Geotechnical Study

Submit GeoTech Permit

Investigate 20 acres on T37-1

Investigate 20 acres on Area 1 of Phase 8

Foundation design
–
Bearing capacity of soil
–
Experimental foundations
•

Subgrade Preparation
–

Piles, Hemispherical, Rect / Square
Blending in material (lime, cement)
Loading scenarios
–
Axial, lateral, & combined
–
Using a backhoe & spring scale
30

31. New Targeted Areas for Solar Demo
31

32. Interconnection Options

Area T37-1
–

Located within ½ mile of existing 34.5 kV
New Study Area 1
–
Located very near existing 4.8 kV
32

33. Revised Demo Structure

Obtain GeoTech Permit

Conduct GeoTechnical Study

Amend Lease application pending Geotech Analysis
–
Create flexibility
–
Phase I
•
•
–
½ MW of Solar PV w/ Gravel
3 – 5 acres depending on technology
Phase II
•

Other / emerging technologies
More engagement w/ External Stakeholders
33

34. External Stakeholders
California State
Lands
Commission
Environmental
& Cultural Grps
GBUAPCD
CARB
RWQCB
Ranchers
Owens Lake
Master Planning
Committee
Regional Utilities
Local
Community &
Local Agencies
34

35. Remaining Milestones

June 9th Owens Lake Master Planning Committee Presentation

GeoTech Permit

GeoTechnical Investigation

Revise Lease / Project Description

Draft Neg Dec Completed

Board approval of final CEQA document

Engineer & procure system

Construction

COD : Target of July 1st, 2011 but no later than Oct 1st, 2011
–

Wind season is October – June, however Demo can be validated if significant wind events occur
Monitoring & Validation Period
35

36. Feedback & Recommendations
36