Tucson gets Energy Dept. solar grant

TUCSON, July 30 (UPI) -- Arizona's Tucson Electric Power was awarded a federal grant to develop new methods to evaluate solar energy systems.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative awarded TEP $100,000 to develop new methods to evaluate how effective solar power is at replacing traditional sources.

The grant department's Solar America Initiative supports research and development efforts to encourage the use of solar energy.

"As TEP and other utilities ramp up our use of solar energy, we need to develop a much better understanding of how this and other renewable resources can be seamlessly integrated into our long-term power generation portfolio," Tom Hansen, vice president of environmental services, conservation and renewable energy for TEP, said in a statement.

"Passing clouds can reduce the output of a photovoltaic array by 80 percent or more in less than a minute's time," Hansen said. "Utility planners and system power dispatchers will need tools to manage such volatility in order to economically balance the resources necessary to provide safe, reliable electric service."

TEP officials plan to use the grant in developing computer models to evaluate solar generation production data. The models, measuring in 10-second time increments, should help utilities better develop the tools to integrate solar power into a traditional fossil fuel-based generation portfolio.

Additionally, TEP will use the grant to research the cost effectiveness and potential benefits of photovoltaic arrays installed on customers' homes and businesses.