Ask a Solar Engineer - Backup Systems (Part 3)

This is the third in a series of posts on back-up for solar power systems. Read on, and learn more about how you can turn your public utility into your solar back-up with a grid-tied system.

Grid-Tied Systems

Where utility power is available, a grid-tied solar power system can supply most of the energy needed, using the power from the utility as a back-up, in place of batteries. Because these grid-connected systems are much less expensive to purchase and operate than battery back-up systems--and because the owners can effectively sell power back to the utilities--these systems are the most popular.

Public Utilities as Back-up

One benefit of the grid-tied system is that owners can both buy and sell electricity each month. This is because electricity generated by the solar energy system can be used on-site, or fed through a meter into the utility grid. California's net metering law, for example, provides that all utilities must allow customers with solar electric systems rated up to 1.5 MW to interconnect with the local utility grid, and receive retail value for the electricity produced. With a grid-tied system, the utility serves as a back-up to the solar power system, similar to the way in which batteries do in stand-alone (off-grid) systems.

Time of Use Billing

The other benefit of a grid-tied power system is the Time of Use billing structure, which is measured with special meters that calculate how much and when electricity is used. These rate structures make grid-tied systems even more economical.

For example, PG&E's Time Of Use rate would allow you to run your electric meter backwards at up to $0.44 per kWh during summer weekday afternoons (when your solar energy system generates its maximum amount of power), and purchase electricity at all other times at $0.12 per kWh! This Time of Use billing method effectively improves the economics of your solar power electric system by 15 to 40%.

Hopefully this three-part overview of backup systems will be helpful when you decided how you want to back up your solar power system.

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Solar Advocacy

They say that sometimes, it’s all about whom you know. But when you’re hoping to affect positive change within a long-established sector like the electric power industry, it might be more accurate to say that it’s really about advocacy.

Having an effective advocate by your side can make an incredible difference in opening minds, sharing information, and growing support for a burgeoning industry. In that vein, we in the Westinghouse Solar family were thrilled when we announced recently that internationally recognized environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be joining our Board of Advisors.

Extending his family’s longstanding legacy of support of the arts, human rights, and health care, Mr. Kennedy has devoted much of his career to environmental stewardship. His work with Riverkeeper, a clean water advocacy group in New York, and the Waterkeeper Alliance, dedicated to protecting water from polluters, has established him as a tireless supporter of environmental preservation efforts. In recent months he has also spoken out strongly on the Gulf oil spill, coal mining, and alternative energy sources.

So to our new friend and colleague we say, Welcome. We look forward to working together to bring solar to rooftops across America, and to help create new jobs through our industry’s continued growth.

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Solar Power Systems: Does Size Matter? (Part 1)

One of the most common questions potential solar customers ask is, “What size solar power system do I need to offset my electricity bill?” The Reader’s Digest version of the answer is that, from a financial standpoint, you don’t want your solar investment to far outweigh your immediate need. Yet you also don’t want to be short-sighted when it comes to your future energy use.

It’s fairly easy to get an idea of current requirements by reviewing your energy usage over the past few years. There are also some tools you can employ to get a more accurate idea of how you currently use energy, such as having a professional home energy efficiency audit conducted, and adding a Smart Meter that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional utility meter.

You also will need to consider how you may or may not change the way you utilize electricity in the coming years. Some of the variables that can affect change in energy consumption include:

- Long-term or permanent changes in family size. If you have children heading off to college or out on their own, are just starting a family, or have Grandma or Grandpa coming to live with you, your energy usage could change significantly.

- Appliance upgrades. Swapping out your old, avocado-green appliances for new Energy Star models not only makes them easier on the eyes--it can also dramatically reduce your household energy requirements.

- Creature comforts. Installing central air conditioning systems or hot tubs always serves to increase your energy bills.

- Gettin’ your Prius on. Driving hybrids is great for the environment, but remember that you will need to charge your new car’s batteries in order to reap the benefits to your carbon footprint.

- Home improvements. Making changes to the infrastructure of your home, including installing a programmable thermostat, weatherproofing doors and windows, insulating your hot water heater, replacing single-pane windows with their double- (or even triple-) paned counterparts, mounting an attic fan to drive warm air out in the summer, and adding extra insulation to attics, crawl spaces, and basements, can all add up to big energy savings.

These changes, made incrementally over time, generally don’t provide an immediate huge impact on your energy bill. But down the road, you will definitely notice a significant 5- or 10-year change in consumption—and that sustained change is what you need to consider when configuring your solar energy system.

In my next post, I’ll talk a bit about the different levels of offset you can achieve for your energy bills with a new solar power system. Stay tuned!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, and for many of us, this day marks an opportunity to think about ways to help take better care of our planet and its resources. Sort of like making a New Year’s resolution―but the stakes are global, and infinitely higher.

Obviously, going solar makes a large impact on this effort, and it’s a trend that is catching on all over the country. According to a study conducted by The Solar Energy Industries Association, American homes generated twice as much power from rooftop solar panels in 2009 than in 2008.

Now that the government has lifted the $2,000 cap on tax credits for residential solar panels, homeowners can deduct a full 30% of their costs of going solar at tax time. With this new savings incentive, it’s expected that more and more people will be opting in to solar in 2010.

As we stand on the edge of a solar power boom, the industry landscape will be growing more and more crowded, and the marketing noise will be rising. So when it comes to buying a solar power system, who do you trust?

Right now, there is no “Microsoft of the solar industry,” so many consumers are left to their own devices when choosing an installer. With no readily available guidelines, many potential customers become overwhelmed, and their quest for solar becomes stalled indefinitely.

Founded in 2001, Akeena Solar is the country’s most trusted solar installer, with thousands of satisfied customers throughout the United States. We’ve taken the lead in developing the next generation of solar technologies with our Andalay panels, which set a new industry standard for error-free installation and robust, unparalleled performance.

Our commitment to complete customer service and satisfaction begins with a free, no-obligation Solar Evaluation, and continues as our engineers design a custom installation plan, and our project managers coordinate all of the paperwork for permits, hookup, rebates, and incentives.

So if you’re considering a move to solar this Earth Day, I hope you’ll think about Akeena. We’re helping America get greener, one home at a time. To find out if solar is right for your home, just request a free Solar Evaluation.

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A Single Step

According to the US Department of the Interior, the desert areas of the southwestern states alone have the potential to be able to meet the electricity needs of the entire United States through solar energy. That’s pretty amazing information, isn’t it?

Hollywood, New York, and Las Vegas are considered the entertainment capitals of the country, and Silicon Valley and Seattle are hotbeds of technology innovation. Wouldn’t it be great if Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California could take up the mantle to become the solar energy center of the country?

Research states that if all of the solar radiation in this geographic area were converted to electricity, that could actually become a reality. The ability to offset so much energy usage by leveraging a relatively small portion of land is mind-boggling.

But of course we know that such an undertaking would require years of planning, negotiation, and legislation. And while we wait for that to become a reality, it’s important to remember that any long journey begins with just a single step. And the steps we take today to take our dependencies away from the grid and change the way we power our homes and businesses by switching to solar bring us closer and closer to the day when we can, as a country, change the way the world thinks about energy.

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The Care and Feeding of Your Solar Power System

Now that spring is in the air, the weather is warming, and the sun is getting ready for its busy season, let’s talk about the best ways to make sure your solar system is always in great working order.

Most solar systems are installed on rooftops, out of sight. And because they have no moving parts that grind, squeak, and attract attention to themselves, it’s easy to forget they’re even up there. But in order to keep enjoying the tremendous energy and cost savings you’re getting from solar, your system needs a semi-annual cleaning―especially if you are located in an area that is particularly dry and dusty.

1. Safety First - The first thing to be aware of when cleaning your solar panels is always safety. Make sure any ladder you are using to access rooftop panels is stable, and work with a partner if you can. If you’re uncomfortable with heights, definitely consider hiring a professional service to perform regular cleanings.

2. Hope Floats, But Glass Cracks - Remember to avoid walking or standing on the panels while cleaning them. Although the tempered glass surface of the modules is extremely strong, the panels will break if you walk on them, and must be replaced if damaged.

3. Don’t Get Sappy - For average dust accumulations, you can simply hose the modules off. Also check for accumulations of tree sap or bird droppings, and clean them off with a sponge or squeegee using a mild dish soap and water solution.

4. Branch Out (and Off)! - Also make sure to clean leaves, branches, and other debris off the top of the modules, and remove any material that may have become lodged under the modules, as it could reduce cooling airflow, or cause water to back up in a severe rainstorm.

Just as you do for your home and your car, it’s important to keep your solar power system well maintained in order to get the most value from your investment. A quick cleaning a couple of times a year will keep your system cranking out that solar goodness for years to come!

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The Facts of Life (As They Apply to Better Performing, More Reliable Solar Power, of course)

We’ve already talked about how improved installation methods dramatically affect the value of your solar investment. Now, I’m going to give you just a few last facts on performance, safety and reliability:

FACT #1: Andalay AC Solar Panels improve system performance:

1. Panels connect directly into your home electricity meter, eliminating the need for the system to convert current from DC to AC
2. Each panel within the system maximizes its output―even in shade―for better productivity

FACT #2: Andalay’s integrated mounting and fully grounded systems reduce or eliminate safety issues:

1. Shorter wiring runs reduce system wear
2. Panels connected structurally reduce safety issues significantly
3. The mounting pans serve as a redundant ground path for all adjacent modules

FACT #3: Andalay’s factory-assembled systems provide better reliability:

1. Panel-to-panel electrical locking connectors provide higher overall system reliability and safety
2. Self-tightening connection rods eliminate exposed wires and pinched electrical joints

So there you have it. You probably haven’t thought this much about electricity since high school science class, have you? But when you are considering in a long-term investment like solar energy, it pays to understand how new advances have improved safety, productivity, and reliability ― and how it will protect your investment.

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