NewNM note - This is a comment posted by one of our listeners on PNM going solar. We felt it was worth posting and worth reading.
5 MW rated capacity is the equivalent of a 1 MW generator running full-time, because a fixed-angle solar PV system has a capacity factor (cf) of 20%. So this 5 MW PV system will generate approx 8,766 MWh per year. Since PNM owns this system and uses all the power themselves, they are not required to report the actual power generated to the FERC, so we will never know exactly how much power is being generated.
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| Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington |
Another misleading statement is the "supply about 1,600 average NM homes." Per PNM's Aug 11 news release about new ratres going into effect, the average residence in their area uses 600 kWh per month, or 7,200 kWh per year. So 8,766 MWh/yr divided by 7,200 kWh/yr = 1271 homes, three-quarters of "1,600 homes." Even the calculated 1,266 homes is a misleading number, because 0 homes are powered by this (or any) PV system at night or during cloudy conditions. All this 5 MW (rated) PV system does is appease some people who think that it is causing a measurable reduction in pollution and CO2. The power from this system will not reduce the output from a single coal-fired power plant anywhere. All it will do is slightly reduce the fuel used by PNM's most expensive power source, such as the two 40 MW simple- (aka open-) gas turbines at the Lordsburg power plant. The photo is of a dual-axis tracking solar PV system, which gets about 40% higher power output (28% capacity factor), but requires motors and tracking systems that have to be maintained.
Reader's Comments on Solar Arrays
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2 comments:
The even more ridiculous statement in the article is that it will generate enough electricity to take 4500 cars off the road! Are any environmentalist volunteering to give up their cars because PNM is making solar power? These kinds of statements are just ludicrous.
Yes, Mr. Crawford! Did you have a question?
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