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System Options

Screen 1 offers a choice of four utility scale scenarios and allows the user to state capital cost assumptions, supplement the intermittency of solar with gas or coal plant additions, and specify power grid characteristics.

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System Options

Policy & Technology Options

Policy options such as carbon pricing and investment tax credits are addressed on screen 2, alongside power plant choices and an opportunity for solar developers to specific custom technology characteristics.

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Policy & Technology Options

Siting Analysis

Screen 3 uses GIS mapping to identify solar-feasible areas, highlighting descriptors for each site and potential constraints. Relaxing some GIS filters can significantly increase the emergence of solar-feasible areas.

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Siting Analysis

Transmission Grid

The entire Western Region power grid is mapped on screen 4 using PowerWorld, to visually portray the impact of energy choices upon transmission.

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Transmission Grid

Economic Costs

Screen 5 assesses the economic cost implications, including the levelized cost of delivery per MWh for 17 energy sources and a through-time levelized cost estimate for 11 types of renewable and non-renewable energy.

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Economic Costs

Environmental Impacts

The environmental consequences of increased solar generation deployment are illustrated on screen 6, identifying trade-offs between energy cost and environmental consequences.

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Environmental Impacts

Summary Screen

The final screen summarizes the locational choices made within each scenario, the maximum possible contribution of solar to the energy mix, and the trade-off between pricing and environmental effects.

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Summary Screen
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System Options

System Options

"Screen 1 offers a choice of four utility scale scenarios and allows the user to state capital cost assumptions, supplement the intermittency of solar with gas or coal plant additions, and specify power grid characteristics.

Policy & Technology Options

Policy & Technology ...

"Policy options such as carbon pricing and investment tax credits are addressed on screen 2, alongside power plant choices and an opportunity for solar developers to specific custom technology characteristics.

Siting Analysis

Siting Analysis

"Screen 3 uses GIS mapping to identify solar-feasible areas, highlighting descriptors for each site and potential constraints. Relaxing some GIS filters can significantly increase the emergence of solar-feasible areas.

Transmission Grid

Transmission Grid

"The entire Western Region power grid is mapped on screen 4 using PowerWorld, to visually portray the impact of energy choices upon transmission.

Economic Costs

Economic Costs

"Screen 5 assesses the economic cost implications, including the levelized cost of delivery per MWh for 17 energy sources and a through-time levelized cost estimate for 11 types of renewable and non-renewable energy.

Environmental Impacts

Environmental Impacts

"The environmental consequences of increased solar generation deployment are illustrated on screen 6, identifying trade-offs between energy cost and environmental consequences.

Summary Screen

Summary Screen

"The final screen summarizes the locational choices made within each scenario, the maximum possible contribution of solar to the energy mix, and the trade-off between pricing and environmental effects.

Sponsors & Partners

Az SMART is supported by many high-profile organizations.

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Research Papers

Download the latest Az SMART research and white papers.

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Contact Us

Find out more about the power and benefits of Az SMART. 

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