PV System Design
From Green Garage Detroit
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Contents
References
- Building Plans
- Solar_Thermal_Collectors
- Natural Systems - study of the Sun at our location on the planet
- 42N Latitude
- Solar South (25 degrees west of GG south wall)
- Cloud cover
- Learning Resources
PV Product Resources
- Evaluation / Referral of PV Components
- 10 Questions to Ask when Shopping for Solar Panels Pretty solid
- The Daily Green PV Panel Recommendations...Sanyo (most efficient), Kyocera (best value), Evergreen (most green)
- SRoeCo Listing of Most Efficient PV Panels
- EcoBusiness Links - Most Cost Effective Panels List very good
- Build It Solar PV component referral page
- Go Solar - State of California - PV Panel Product listing with PTC values
- Bauer Power in Michigan
- Evaluation Ideas
- Buy blemished PV Panels .. called "B" panels..need to check warranty
- $ / watt is one measure... Under $3.00 per watt is good....under $2.50 is great...under $2.00 is exceptional
- Need 25 year warranty (80% power production) + 5 year workmanship warranty
- The PTC is a more realistic test for power than the name plate rating ... about 5 - 8% less.
- Manufacturers of PV Components
- PV Panels
- Sunpower Corp make the most efficient panels in the industry ... getting close to 20%....very expensive...require their engineering
- Sanyo HIT PV Panel Main Page
- Sanyo HIT PV Panel one of the most efficient ...but pricey
- http://www.schueco.com/web/us/residential/products/Solar_Energy_Products/solar_thermal_systems/mounting_systems Schueco] German company makes great value PV panels
- Evergreen U.S Company...seem to have a lot of "B" panels this could be good or bad.
- REC...Norway company
- Affordable REC panel very cost effective
- PV Panels
- PV Component Stores
- Sun Electronics - Evergreen Panel "B" good site for low cost used, blemished components
- Alt E Store - Evergreen "B" panel good all around store
- Civic Solar - direct distributor
- Wholesale Solar
- Frames
- Zomeworks frames and beyond...creative passive.
DTE Incentive Program
Design Sessions
Friday (May 21)
- Green Garage Emergency Lighting System (Sean)
- Manufacturer and model for:
- Batteries
- Exit Signs + Lights
- Sequence of Operations
- Costs
- Manufacturer and model for:
- Green Garage PV-DC System Fan (Sean)
- Manufacturer and model for:
- Panel
- Breaker Panel
- Fans
- Mounting Strategy
- Manufacturer and model for:
- Green Garage PV-AC Systems Preliminary (Tris)
- Manufacturer and model for:
- Panels
- Controllers
- Grid interconnection
- Mounting Strategy (on / off)
- Sequence of Operation
- DTE Program qualification
- Manufacturer and model for:
PV Design
Requirements
- Establish the "basic" solar PV infrastructure to begin learning how we can meet our remaining 10% energy need.
- Cover the solar hot water panels...flexibility in number in operation at one time ... flex from 1 to 9 panels.
- Supply driven design (because supply will be small part of demand)
- Power the emergency lights
- Simplicity of installation and operation
- no new structural demands
- easy to cover and uncover solar hot water panels
- weight of integrated panel is 100lb or less
- easy to store
- Open architecture
- if you can produce a current ... you can plug in and start contributing (e.g. bike generator)
- Durability = 50 years
- Connect people to the sun
- Educates people on the amount of energy that can be produced
- Partnering with local supplier
Design / Selection
- Ideas
- Connect to the grid directly
- Sharp ...inverters per panel
- DTE Incentive programs
- Education
- Run one thing off the panels directly (e.g. fan, light bulb, refrigerator)
- Design
- Overall Strategy
- AC - Connected to the grid directly
- DC - for emergency + fans (2) +
- Open architectures
- AC - scalable by panel / inverter module
- DC - able to plug in any DC generator
- Solar Collector Array
- AC
- 9 Solar PV panels - removable
- DC
- 1 smaller panel - permanent
- Location: annex roof
- Position: 25 degrees west of south wall
- Manufacturer:
- Cover with PV panels in the warm season (below # of covered thermal panels or # of PV panels operating)
- 0 panels (Jan, Feb, Dec)
- 3 panels (Mar, Nov)
- 5 panels (Apr, Oct)
- 7 panels (May, Sept)
- 9 panel (Jun, Jul, Aug)
- AC
- Integration System
- AC - grid integrated
- DC - separate DC system
- Structure
- attach onto solar hot water panels
- Overall Strategy
- Maintenance
- Clean them monthly
Rationale
- Connectedness to the earth
- net zero-energy
- simplicity / optimized
PV Meetings
Meeting April 30
- DC system
- Supply Side
- Panel
- Sizing
- Manufacturer
- mounting (45 degree)
- Distribution Box / fuse disconnect
- Panel
- Storage
- charge controller
- Batteries
- Usage
- Emergency lighting
- Fans
- Open architecture test
- Bike with generator
- Estimates of generation
- Sequence of Operation
- Backup
- Costs
- Supply Side
- AC system
- Panels
- Manufacturer
- mounting
- Weight
- Inverters
- manufacturer
- Metering
- DTE Requirements
- Open architecture test
- Estimates of generation
- Costs
- DTE Requirements
- Open architecture test
- Estimates of generation
- Costs
- Panels