Concentrating Solar Technologies Program to host System Advisor Model (SAM) seminar

Sandia National Laboratories’ Concentrating Solar Technologies Program, as part of its Concentrating Solar Seminar Series and in conjunction with the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF), will present, “System Advisor Model (SAM) for Concentrating Solar Power,” facilitated by Paul Gilman, on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) manager Margaret Gordon and Natalie Gayoso, a CSP intern, will host the session, which will serve as an introduction to SAM’s CSP models, cover the basics of sizing parabolic trough and power tower systems for different locations, provide a short introduction to the new Electric Thermal Energy Storage (ETES) model, cover techniques for optimizing system designs and dispatch, and end with a Q&A session.

SAM is a techno-economic computer model that calculates performance and financial metrics of renewable energy projects that either buy and sell electricity at retail rates (residential and commercial) or sell electricity at a price determined in a power purchase agreement (PPA). Project developers, policy makers, equipment manufacturers, and researchers use graphs and tables of SAM results in the process of evaluating financial, technology, and incentive options for renewable energy projects. SAM simulates the performance of photovoltaic, concentrating solar power, solar water heating, wind, geothermal, and biomass power systems, and includes a basic, generic model for comparisons with conventional or other types of systems. The financial models are for SAM’s simulation tools to facilitate parametric and sensitivity analyses, Monte Carlo simulation and weather variability (P50/P90) studies.

Paul Gilman is a contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and has been a part of the SAM development team since 2005. He provides user support and user interface and model development on SAM and PVWatts. He has also designed and facilitated dozens of training workshops for energy professionals around the world and continues to provide technical assistance to project developers and researchers in the renewable energy industry. He has a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Washington and a BA in music performance from Oberlin College.

For questions, contact Margaret Gordon, CSP manager.

Sandians may attend in person in 9981/146. Or, join the seminar using Teams or call in (audio only) at +1 505-373-1510, Phone Conference ID: 606 351 207#.