solar energy basics
DESCRIPTION
CarbonfreeDC presentation by Jim Crowley, Chairman of the Potomac Region Solar Energy Association (PRSEA)TRANSCRIPT
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Potomac Region Solar Energy Association
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--Reading your electric bill
--Conservation and efficiency
--Solar hot water
--Solar electricity
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--Kilowatt-hours used
--Transmission cost
--Cost per kilowatt-hour
--Fuel adjustment charge
Total cost per KWH: 12.9¢(increased by 30% in last 5 years)
69 kWh
69 x o.o260300
69 x 0.0551500
69 x 0.0474500
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--Rate increases alreadyapproved in VA, MD, DC
--Carbon tax and/or cap-and-trade policy will increasefuel costs
Electricity Cost Trends
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Upgrade to efficient “Energy Star” appliances-refrigerator-clothes washer-dehumidifier
Insulation, sealing
Heating/cooling Front-load washer
Energy-star refrigerator
www.energystar.gov
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Upgrade to efficient appliances
Insulation, sealing-attic insulation 15” minimum-attic door cover-storm windows
Heating/coolingInsulated attic door cover
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Upgrade to efficient appliances
Insulation, sealing
Heating/cooling
--Annual maintenance
--Difficult to retrofit
--Ductless heat pumps
--Radiant barrier
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--Use less air conditioning— programmable thermostat
--Whole house fan
--Lower hot water heater temperature setting
--Use fans for spot cooling
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--Use less air conditioning
--Whole house fan
--Lower hot water heater temperature setting
--Use fans for spot cooling
From: Extremehowto.com
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--Use less air conditioning
--Whole house fan
--Lower hot water temperature setting to 130 F--Add insulation blanket
--Use fans for spot cooling
1. Turn off circuitbreaker
2. Remove covers
3. Set thermostats
4. Turn on breaker!
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--Use less air conditioning
--Whole house fan
--Lower hot water heater temperature setting
--Use fans for spot cooling—Turn off when you are not nearby
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--Buy things that don’t use energy when turned off
--Eliminate “phantom” loads
--Turn stuff off!
Coffee pot with clock/timer
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--Buy things that don’t use energy when turned off
--Eliminate “phantom” loads “Kill-a-Watt” meter
--Turn stuff off!
Entertainment center with Power strip
Kill-a-Watt meter
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--Buy things that don’t use energy when turned off
--Eliminate “phantom” loads
--Turn stuff off! (printers, monitors, coffeepots, security lights, etc., etc.)
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Your personal smart grid can reduce “peak” energy usagePut hot water tank on a timer to avoid peak
hour operation (12:00 pm-7:00 pm).Use timers on other major appliances
(dehumidifier, possibly freezer/refrigerator)
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--How does it work?
--What does it look like?
--What are the requirements?
--What are the cost/benefits?
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Diagram courtesy of Standard Solar, Inc.
Back up heat
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1. Evacuated tube--more efficient--smaller footprint--angle tolerant
2. Flat panel
www.sssolar.com
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1. Evacuated tube
2. Flat panel--simple, effective,
durable--heavy!--angle steeper than
many roofs
www.heliodyne.com
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--Unshaded, south facing roof or other location near house
--Angle should be optimized for winter; summer will have plenty
Shed mounted
Ground mount near house
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1. Typical usage (family of four) = 4700 kwh/year @ 15¢ per = $700
2. SHW system displaces ~70% of usage= $500
3. SHW system cost after tax incentives = $5000--
Basic assumptions
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Three ways to look the benefits:
1. Simple payback --$5000/$500 per year savings = 10 year s
2. CD comparison --$5000 invested to get $500 per year = 10% interest rate. Actually about 13% effective rate considering taxes.
3. Refinance $5000 @ 5% rate costs $322 per year. You saved $500-$322 = $178 per year. No large out of pocket expense.
And don’t forget!
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--How does it work?
--What does it look like?
--What are the requirements?
--What are the cost/benefits?
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Diagram courtesy of Standard Solar, Inc.
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Single crystal, polycrystalline, extruded thin-film—all are functionally very similar.--cost/watt approximately $3.50-4.00--panels represent about half the total system cost of ~$7.00-8.00 per watt.
Single crystal
Polycrystalline
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1. Off-grid2. Grid-tied with net metering3. Grid-tied with net metering and battery backup
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--DC electricity generated by your solar panels is converted to AC by an inverter that feeds the power back to the grid.
--You receive a power “credit”. In essence, your utility meter runs backwards if you are generating more electricity than is being used within the house.
--The grid becomes like a giant battery—saving your excess solar energy for later use.
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--Solar panels
--Charge controller (battery backup systems only)
--DC -> AC Inverter
--External shut-off
External shut-off
System with battery backup
Simple grid-tie inverter
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--Need southern exposure with no shading for most of the day.
--Roof mount or ground mount; fixed or adjustable.
--Can be located away from house (inverter near panels so that power is transmitted as high voltage AC.
--Modular design is possible
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Assumptions:
1. Price for a one kilowatt grid-tied array after incentives: $7000
2. Annual kilowatt-hours produced : 1250
3. Value of electricity produced: $188 @ 15¢ per kwh
$376 @ 30¢ per kwh
4. Annual cost to finance at 5% rate: $451
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www.dsireusa.org
Picture is changing rapidly—You can influence the outcome!
Website provides information about incentives for each state:
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A few other resources:www.prsea.org (our website)Homepower.com (home power magazine)Solartour.org (DC area solar homes tour
website)
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The 7 stages towards acceptance of a new idea, such as solar power generation, by entrenched interests:1. Idea is dismissed out of hand.2. Idea is described as quixotic and impractical,
for various reasons3. Some lip service is paid, but grudgingly4. Keen interest expressed, but mainly a
marketing ploy5. Control of changing public attitudes and
political trends becomes difficult.6. Idea is mainstream and treated seriously.7. Corporations must adapt or become extinct!
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