Solar Power

Karen ErdmanLamar Erdman

Solar Power

Making SenseSaving Cents

LamTec Resources LLC 2014

• What brought you to this presentation?A simple need to lower your living expenses?Looking for ways to lower your business expenses?The realization that we are trashing our environment.

Now you are here and want to do something. But what to do first?Three general principles to conserve energy:

1. Reduce losses in your energy consumption2. Increase efficiency in energy appliances3. Reduce your energy consumption.

The ULTIMATE reduction in energy use comes from using renewable energy sources.

Take a close look at the picture. Is this the profile of a beautiful young lady, or the face of an ugly, old witch?

They’re both here, but for a variety of reasons that make up your own individual psychological make-up, some of you see one woman, some the other.

How do view alternate energy?

However, there are other people who think of solar energy as something that’s been around for a long time.

Solar hot water collectors on a home in California in 1906

When people think of solar energy, the same thing often happens. We all view it in a different light. Some see it as something from the past or for the future. But those seeking to make a wise investment see it as something that is here today.

So which view of solar energy-- for the past, the future or for today –is correct?

Probably a little of each.

Solar energy will certainly play an important role in the future energy needs of our planet, but it’s also here today and ready for hundreds of uses in homes, businesses, and industry.

Advantages of Solar SystemsNon Polluting: no noise, no harmful or unpleasant emissions or smells.

Solar Modules over their lifetime produce more power per gram of material than nuclear power but without the problem of large volumes of environmentally hazard material.

Advantages of Solar Systems

Solar power is a renewable energy source. It is a resource that cannot be used up by us using it.

Although we cannot utilize the power of the sun at night, we can count on the sun being there the next day, ready to give us more energy and light.

Very reliable: most solar panels have a 25 year warranty and even a longer life expectancy (the theory is they could last 100 years or more).

There are two types of solar systems:

1. Thermal2. Photovoltaic (PV)

Comparison for Solar Thermal and PV

Solar ThermalCapture heat from the sun and transfer it to a usable energy form such as water or air.

Solar PV(PVs) are arrays of cells containing a solar photovoltaic material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity

Domestic hot waterAir heatingSupplemental heatingSteam to turbine generatorHigher collector efficiencyGood ROISome maintenance required

Grid tie electricityGrid tie with battery backupOff grid electricityHybrid systemUtility electrical generationSREC’sUses all power producedMost widely availableNo moving parts, very little maintenance.

Solar Thermal

Two major types of freeze protected systems:DrainbackGlycol

Collector OrientationThe collectors should be mounted as close to due south as is reasonable, considering the roof line. if the collector is mounted within 45 degrees of south any performance drop is insignificant. The collectors should ideally be inclined at the same angle as the latitude, i.e. if you are located in Harrisburg, PA (latitude 40 degrees) you would ideally have the collectors inclined 40° from horizontal. Testing has shown that mounting a collector within ±15° of the site’s latitude will lead to no significant degradation in the collector’s annual performance.If your roof line doesn’t match the ideal criteria listed above, we recommend adding collector area as opposed to mounting the collector at a tilt

Solar PhotovoltaicYou can put PV anywhere you really need it.

These solar panels, on a donkeys back, were used to charge batteries for a

documentary film The Nature Conservancy.

Typical PV Grid Tie Application

Site Analysis & System Design

Should be conducted by qualified PV designerPerform a Solar Site Analysis

I. Shade Analysis (Best is no shade from 9 AM to 3 PM)II. Power production estimatesIII. System sizing criteria

1. Budget2. Available mounting area3. Annual usage4. Fastest ROI

Use the solar calculator to estimate your possible savings from solar power.

Site Analysis & System Design

Array Orientation. South facing arrays are best, but southeast and southwest array performance drops are insignificant.Use the location latitude or match the rooflineRoof mounting should maintain a 3 inch minimum airspace under the array.Ground and Pole Mounts require the same system analysis.

Would you like these results? Looking at the PPL Electric bill, you can see that the electric use in our home for May and June of 2009 was 55kwh and 43kwh per day. Because we installed our solar PV system, the kwh usage was zero for May and June 2010. Both bills total would have been approximately $400.00 before we installed our solar system. Both bills were $8.45 each for the customer service charge. Besides our electric savings, our equivalent SRECS were worth about $882.00. Plus we also have a credit for over-generation.

What will your future energy source be?

The answer should be obvious.It’s been up there all the time.

Solar Project Funding

Federal Solar Tax Credit1. Extended the tax credit for 8 years for both residential and commercial.2. Eliminated the 30% cap for residential electric.3. Can be carried Forward to 2016.4. Extended the credit to off-grid system owners.

Solar Project Funding

http://newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/index.aspx

Find Incentives and apply for funding.

Your search will return all of the grants, loans, and initiatives offered through the Department of Community and Economic Development that are likely to be relevant to your initiative.

Contact your county Department of Community and Economic Development.

The End…

(Or is it just the beginning?)

LamTec Resources LLC 570-617-5141