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PPoowweerr Where You Need ItThe Promise of Photovoltaics

Connie BrooksSandia National Laboratories

Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center

A D E D I C A T I O N T O T H E P V I N D U S T R YC O N T E N T S

AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks goes to Jim Rannels, Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Solar EnergyTechnologies, for conceiving the idea for this book. He believes that DOE and its contractors, such asSandia National Laboratories, and the entire U.S. photovoltaics industry can benefit from a book thatcaptures the myriad uses for photovoltaics under one cover. Thanks to Chris Cameron, manager of thePhotovoltaic System Applications Department at Sandia, for his guidance during the preparation of thisbook, and for his vision that it should be a book about ideas, about promise, about opening our mindsto photovoltaics applications not yet conceived. Several staff members within Sandia’s PhotovoltaicSystems Assistance Center, notably Hal Post and John Stevens, gave generously of their time; their decadesof experience with PV were invaluable in helping structure, critique, and guide the preparation of thisbook. Finally, without the U.S. photovoltaics industry itself, this book would never have been possible.They created the successful systems illustrated here. They work daily to further the acceptability, qual-ity, and reliability of PV. They were a huge part of the preparation of this volume. From CEOs tosecretaries; from marketers to web managers, thank you for sharing your photographs and for sharingyour enthusiasm.

Connie BrooksPhotovoltaic Systems Assistance Center

Sandia National Laboratories

P. O. Box 5800

Albuquerque, NM 87185-0753

cjbrook@sandia.gov

(505) 844-4383 (phone)

(505) 844-6541 (fax)

www.sandia.gov/pv

Cover Photo: Fetzer Vineyards, one of the largest wine makers inthe United States, has decided to run all its operations from elec-tricity generated by renewable energy. Read more about thisphotovoltaics installation on page seven. [Photo courtesyAstroPower, Inc.]

Lofty Beginnings..............................................2

Down to Earth.................................................3

Commercial Applications.................................4

Grid Connected Residential .............................8

Stand Alone Residential .................................12

Agricultural Uses ...........................................14

Facility Power ................................................16

Lighting.........................................................18

Security Lighting ...........................................20

Transportation ...............................................22

Navigational Aids ..........................................24

Other Infrastructure ......................................26

Telecommunications......................................28

Utility Applications .......................................30

Military Uses .................................................34

Environmental Aids.......................................36

Disaster Mitigation and Relief .......................38

Public Health and Safety ...............................40

Recreational Needs ........................................42

Making Everyday Life Better .........................44

Still Flying High ............................................46

Contributors..................................................47

Index .............................................................50

SAND 2000-1124

Power Where You Need ItThe Promise of PhotovoltaicsFirst Printing May 2000

PPoowweerr Where You Need It: The Promise of Photovoltaics

or more than twenty years Sandia National Laboratories has been involved in help-

ing establish successful programs and partnerships with members of the

photovoltaics community in the United States. In large part, Sandia’s efforts have

fallen within the realm of engineering expertise and systems excellence.

Because those efforts have been documented in numerous technical

publications disseminated by the tens of thousands to industry, gov-

ernment agencies, educational institutions, and interested individuals,

the installations with which Sandia has assisted are well known. Power

Where You Need It is unique in that it also features dozens of installa-

tions with which Sandia has had little or no connection, except that

those installations came about, in the end, because U.S. Department

of Energy funding through its National Photovoltaics Program helped

foster their existence. Sandia’s technical expertise in systems engineering created the over-

arching technical framework under which many of these PV installations were made

possible. Sandia, along with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a partner in

the National Center for Photovoltaics, which is the Department of Energy’s focus organ-

ization for carrying out its National Program. Some of the installations featured in this

book were made possible through various programs at the Department of Energy, but

many were not. Many were simply the result of an enthusiastic end user making a vital

business connection with one of the thousands of spirited members of the U.S.

Photovoltaics Community. This book is dedicated to all of them. May something depicted

here spur your imagination to make PV a part of the world around you.

� Walking the talk…Secretary ofEnergy Bill Richardson helps inaugu-rate a photovoltaic system at DOEheadquarters—Washington, D.C.’sForrestal Building. [Photo courtesyNational Renewable Energy Laboratory]

� The 15kW photovoltaic system atthe Pentagon. The system is the largestinstallation of ac modules in the U.S.—operating at the largest office buildingin the world. The project is a jointeffort of the Department of Defenseand the Department of Energy. [Photocourtesy Ascension Technology]

F

Copyright 2000, Sandia Corporation.

All rights reserved.

A D E D I C A T I O N T O T H E P V I N D U S T R YC O N T E N T S

AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks goes to Jim Rannels, Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Solar EnergyTechnologies, for conceiving the idea for this book. He believes that DOE and its contractors, such asSandia National Laboratories, and the entire U.S. photovoltaics industry can benefit from a book thatcaptures the myriad uses for photovoltaics under one cover. Thanks to Chris Cameron, manager of thePhotovoltaic System Applications Department at Sandia, for his guidance during the preparation of thisbook, and for his vision that it should be a book about ideas, about promise, about opening our mindsto photovoltaics applications not yet conceived. Several staff members within Sandia’s PhotovoltaicSystems Assistance Center, notably Hal Post and John Stevens, gave generously of their time; their decadesof experience with PV were invaluable in helping structure, critique, and guide the preparation of thisbook. Finally, without the U.S. photovoltaics industry itself, this book would never have been possible.They created the successful systems illustrated here. They work daily to further the acceptability, qual-ity, and reliability of PV. They were a huge part of the preparation of this volume. From CEOs tosecretaries; from marketers to web managers, thank you for sharing your photographs and for sharingyour enthusiasm.

Connie BrooksPhotovoltaic Systems Assistance Center

Sandia National Laboratories

P. O. Box 5800

Albuquerque, NM 87185-0753

cjbrook@sandia.gov

(505) 844-4383 (phone)

(505) 844-6541 (fax)

www.sandia.gov/pv

Cover Photo: Fetzer Vineyards, one of the largest wine makers inthe United States, has decided to run all its operations from elec-tricity generated by renewable energy. Read more about thisphotovoltaics installation on page seven. [Photo courtesyAstroPower, Inc.]

Lofty Beginnings..............................................2

Down to Earth.................................................3

Commercial Applications.................................4

Grid Connected Residential .............................8

Stand Alone Residential .................................12

Agricultural Uses ...........................................14

Facility Power ................................................16

Lighting.........................................................18

Security Lighting ...........................................20

Transportation ...............................................22

Navigational Aids ..........................................24

Other Infrastructure ......................................26

Telecommunications......................................28

Utility Applications .......................................30

Military Uses .................................................34

Environmental Aids.......................................36

Disaster Mitigation and Relief .......................38

Public Health and Safety ...............................40

Recreational Needs ........................................42

Making Everyday Life Better .........................44

Still Flying High ............................................46

Contributors..................................................47

Index .............................................................50

SAND 2000-1124

Power Where You Need ItThe Promise of PhotovoltaicsFirst Printing May 2000

PPoowweerr Where You Need It: The Promise of Photovoltaics

or more than twenty years Sandia National Laboratories has been involved in help-

ing establish successful programs and partnerships with members of the

photovoltaics community in the United States. In large part, Sandia’s efforts have

fallen within the realm of engineering expertise and systems excellence.

Because those efforts have been documented in numerous technical

publications disseminated by the tens of thousands to industry, gov-

ernment agencies, educational institutions, and interested individuals,

the installations with which Sandia has assisted are well known. Power

Where You Need It is unique in that it also features dozens of installa-

tions with which Sandia has had little or no connection, except that

those installations came about, in the end, because U.S. Department

of Energy funding through its National Photovoltaics Program helped

foster their existence. Sandia’s technical expertise in systems engineering created the over-

arching technical framework under which many of these PV installations were made

possible. Sandia, along with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is a partner in

the National Center for Photovoltaics, which is the Department of Energy’s focus organ-

ization for carrying out its National Program. Some of the installations featured in this

book were made possible through various programs at the Department of Energy, but

many were not. Many were simply the result of an enthusiastic end user making a vital

business connection with one of the thousands of spirited members of the U.S.

Photovoltaics Community. This book is dedicated to all of them. May something depicted

here spur your imagination to make PV a part of the world around you.

� Walking the talk…Secretary ofEnergy Bill Richardson helps inaugu-rate a photovoltaic system at DOEheadquarters—Washington, D.C.’sForrestal Building. [Photo courtesyNational Renewable Energy Laboratory]

� The 15kW photovoltaic system atthe Pentagon. The system is the largestinstallation of ac modules in the U.S.—operating at the largest office buildingin the world. The project is a jointeffort of the Department of Defenseand the Department of Energy. [Photocourtesy Ascension Technology]

F

Copyright 2000, Sandia Corporation.

All rights reserved.

Of This Book

This book is loosely organized into categories that represent how PV is used, where it is used, and by whom. This necessarilymeans that a reader will find lighting applications, for example, on several different pages. We mean to stimulate thinking, notstructure thinking. The PV pictured here was installed for many different reasons, not all of which have to do with econom-ics. PV is often the power of choice because it reduces greenhouse gases and provides a cleaner environment; it means lessdependence on imported resources and helps conserve fossil fuels; it helps companies with their ‘green’ image and allows usersto choose renewables; and it can provide uninterruptible building power.

D O W N T O E A R T H

32

hotovoltaics is a universal power source. Though still a

young technology, its strength is that it can be used

anywhere. This book strives to highlight the myriad

ways in which photovoltaics is already being used—then

expand the ways we use photovoltaics (PV). PV is an enabling

technology—and it can enable us to do things never dreamed

of before.

Photovoltaics—often called “solar electricity,” is the direct

conversion of sunlight to electricity. When sunlight strikes a

PV cell, electrical current and voltage are created—silently and

cleanly. Because of this, PV is one of the most attractive alter-

native energy forms. The modern PV cell was developed in the

mid-1950s. Shortly thereafter, it powered our first space satel-

lites, and after several decades many of these PV-powered

systems are still operating—a great witness for the reliability

of this power source.

Terrestrial use began to be encouraged by the U.S. government

in the early 1980s. These early projects sought to prove PV’s

reliability and competitiveness in practical field applications.

Some of those early applications, such as the Coast Guard’s

aids to navigation, were embraced immediately. Today PV is

the prime power source for all of the U.S. Coast Guard’s nav-

igational aids. Likewise, other military and governmental

applications have proven irreplaceable, remote meteorological

monitoring for example.

P Enormous growth in terrestrial photo-

voltaics has occurred. The 21st century

opens with the United States dominating

the world market in PV manufacturing

and technology. A presidential initiative

has suggested we can have solar systems

on a million U.S. roofs by 2010. The

world’s first PV-powered neighborhood in

Gardner, Massachusetts spawned neigh-

borhoods throughout the country,

Sacramento, California being a prime

example. Utility deregulation has made it

possible for home-owners to install PV and

sell back to their utility that portion of

power generation beyond their daily needs.

PV as a power source in remote areas not

served by a utility was attractive from the

outset and continues to create hungry mar-

kets for photovoltaics.

There are few limits to PV as a power tech-

nology. Anything that requires electricity

can be powered with PV. It has become the

power of choice for a vast number of

telecommunications challenges worldwide.

In a fragile environment, it is often the

only appropriate technology. Increasingly,

it is the power of choice

for utilities, commercial

entities, and informed

individuals.

So expand your thinking.

Imagine what PV can do

for you, your company,

your power challenge.

Power Where You Need It

highlights many ways in

which PV is being used

right now—but its future is limitless. PV is

truly a clean, competitive and reliable

power source for the 21st Century.

� Electric Sunflowers, a photovoltaicarray in California, designed by SolarDesign Associates [Photo courtesy SolarDesign Associates, Inc.]

A B O U T T H E O R G A N I Z A T I O N� Photovoltaic cells were first used in space to power a 5mWbackup transmitter on the Vanguard 1 in 1958. Sputnik used PV.Indeed, solar cells power most satellites in space today, and theU.S. shuttle fleet uses PV to generate much of its electrical power[Photo courtesy National Renewable Energy Laboratory from aLockheed rendition]

L O F T Y B E G I N N I N G S

Of This Book

This book is loosely organized into categories that represent how PV is used, where it is used, and by whom. This necessarilymeans that a reader will find lighting applications, for example, on several different pages. We mean to stimulate thinking, notstructure thinking. The PV pictured here was installed for many different reasons, not all of which have to do with econom-ics. PV is often the power of choice because it reduces greenhouse gases and provides a cleaner environment; it means lessdependence on imported resources and helps conserve fossil fuels; it helps companies with their ‘green’ image and allows usersto choose renewables; and it can provide uninterruptible building power.

D O W N T O E A R T H

32

hotovoltaics is a universal power source. Though still a

young technology, its strength is that it can be used

anywhere. This book strives to highlight the myriad

ways in which photovoltaics is already being used—then

expand the ways we use photovoltaics (PV). PV is an enabling

technology—and it can enable us to do things never dreamed

of before.

Photovoltaics—often called “solar electricity,” is the direct

conversion of sunlight to electricity. When sunlight strikes a

PV cell, electrical current and voltage are created—silently and

cleanly. Because of this, PV is one of the most attractive alter-

native energy forms. The modern PV cell was developed in the

mid-1950s. Shortly thereafter, it powered our first space satel-

lites, and after several decades many of these PV-powered

systems are still operating—a great witness for the reliability

of this power source.

Terrestrial use began to be encouraged by the U.S. government

in the early 1980s. These early projects sought to prove PV’s

reliability and competitiveness in practical field applications.

Some of those early applications, such as the Coast Guard’s

aids to navigation, were embraced immediately. Today PV is

the prime power source for all of the U.S. Coast Guard’s nav-

igational aids. Likewise, other military and governmental

applications have proven irreplaceable, remote meteorological

monitoring for example.

P Enormous growth in terrestrial photo-

voltaics has occurred. The 21st century

opens with the United States dominating

the world market in PV manufacturing

and technology. A presidential initiative

has suggested we can have solar systems

on a million U.S. roofs by 2010. The

world’s first PV-powered neighborhood in

Gardner, Massachusetts spawned neigh-

borhoods throughout the country,

Sacramento, California being a prime

example. Utility deregulation has made it

possible for home-owners to install PV and

sell back to their utility that portion of

power generation beyond their daily needs.

PV as a power source in remote areas not

served by a utility was attractive from the

outset and continues to create hungry mar-

kets for photovoltaics.

There are few limits to PV as a power tech-

nology. Anything that requires electricity

can be powered with PV. It has become the

power of choice for a vast number of

telecommunications challenges worldwide.

In a fragile environment, it is often the

only appropriate technology. Increasingly,

it is the power of choice

for utilities, commercial

entities, and informed

individuals.

So expand your thinking.

Imagine what PV can do

for you, your company,

your power challenge.

Power Where You Need It

highlights many ways in

which PV is being used

right now—but its future is limitless. PV is

truly a clean, competitive and reliable

power source for the 21st Century.

� Electric Sunflowers, a photovoltaicarray in California, designed by SolarDesign Associates [Photo courtesy SolarDesign Associates, Inc.]

A B O U T T H E O R G A N I Z A T I O N� Photovoltaic cells were first used in space to power a 5mWbackup transmitter on the Vanguard 1 in 1958. Sputnik used PV.Indeed, solar cells power most satellites in space today, and theU.S. shuttle fleet uses PV to generate much of its electrical power[Photo courtesy National Renewable Energy Laboratory from aLockheed rendition]

L O F T Y B E G I N N I N G S

C O M M E R C I A L A P P L I C A T I O N S

4

� This large 20kW system was designed and installed on theHouston Health Science Center by Planergy, Inc. [Photocourtesy Planergy, Inc.]

� Montara Elementary School, first of 165 schools for LosAngeles Unified School District—the largest school district in theU.S.—sports a 4.8 kW school lunch shelter. Solar Utility, Inc. isthe exclusive distributor of Uni-Solar’s building-integrated roofingmaterial as featured on this school. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility, Inc.]

� Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows, Kohala Coast, Hawaii.This unique 100kWp (75kWAC) solar electric tile system isbelieved to be the largest hotel PV system in the world.PowerLight Corporation, integrator, installed their commer-cial-scale PowerGuard system using ASE’s PV modules, backedwith insulating polystyrene foam. The project exemplifies the

flexibility of PV—serving as both an electricity generator anda building material. The roof covers 10,000 square feet and isexpected to offset more than 14,000 barrels of oil during its life.[Photos courtesy ASE Americas, Inc. and Sandia NationalLaboratories (inset)]

� The Western Area Power Authority building in Folsom,California, features 12kW Solarex, 12kW EPV, and Traceinverters on its line-tied PV system designed and installed bySolar Electrical Systems, Thousand Oaks, California. [Photocourtesy Solar Electrical Systems]

� This 6kW grid-connected system at a service station in Olney, Maryland, supplies 15 percent ofthe station’s electrical needs. It is the first to use Solarex’s MST43 thin film modules. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar]

� A 120kW array of ASE Americas 300-DG modules was installed by Applied Power Corporationat the Bentley Mills carpet factory in Southern California. APC (Lacey, Washington) also designedthe installation, which is one of the largest industrial solar installations in the United States. BentleyMills is a subsidiary of the Interface Group, a global provider of flooring products with a philos-ophy of sustainable manufacturing. [Photo courtesy ASE Americas, Inc.]

� Block Island, Rhode Island, scene of a 6kW ground-mounted system providing grid-connected and back-upemergency power. Block Island was the first post office in theMillion Solar Roofs program. Integrator: Solar Works. [Photocourtesy ASE Americas, Inc.]

here are excellent reasons why American busi-ness and industry might be interested inusing photovoltaics as part of their total

energy package. The installations shownhere represent some of these reasons. Also

depicted here is PV on schools. There is a majorpush to incorporate PV on schools to educate thenext generation of power consumers.

Perhaps the most important economic reason forbusinesses to consider PV is reduction of peakdemand. Electric bills for most consumers repre-sent kilowatt hours used; but large energyconsumers are also billed for their peak powerconsumption during a demand period. If a com-pany’s peak demand coincides with a time whenthe sun is shining, then installing a PV system canreduce their demand, thereby possibly savingthem money.

PV can also be an economic boon to a businessthat needs to power a sign where the grid is inac-cessible or it is too expensive to remove asphaltor concrete.

Commercial entities also realize that incorpo-rating some form of renewableenergy can be a huge publicrelations gesture—as well as away to help with a healthyenvironment. BP Solar’s publicawareness campaign with PV visible on their gasstations and educational kiosks at their frontdoors is a good example of this.

T

� This remote system powersNorthern Colorado’s Channel 9news camera used to captureimages of Public Service Companyof Colorado’s wind farm. The self-contained unit serves as a mountfor a 900 watt PV array and housesthe inverter, batteries, controls,and Channel 9’s camera equip-ment. The hybrid system includesa 6.5kW back-up propane genera-tor. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

5

C O M M E R C I A L A P P L I C A T I O N S

4

� This large 20kW system was designed and installed on theHouston Health Science Center by Planergy, Inc. [Photocourtesy Planergy, Inc.]

� Montara Elementary School, first of 165 schools for LosAngeles Unified School District—the largest school district in theU.S.—sports a 4.8 kW school lunch shelter. Solar Utility, Inc. isthe exclusive distributor of Uni-Solar’s building-integrated roofingmaterial as featured on this school. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility, Inc.]

� Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows, Kohala Coast, Hawaii.This unique 100kWp (75kWAC) solar electric tile system isbelieved to be the largest hotel PV system in the world.PowerLight Corporation, integrator, installed their commer-cial-scale PowerGuard system using ASE’s PV modules, backedwith insulating polystyrene foam. The project exemplifies the

flexibility of PV—serving as both an electricity generator anda building material. The roof covers 10,000 square feet and isexpected to offset more than 14,000 barrels of oil during its life.[Photos courtesy ASE Americas, Inc. and Sandia NationalLaboratories (inset)]

� The Western Area Power Authority building in Folsom,California, features 12kW Solarex, 12kW EPV, and Traceinverters on its line-tied PV system designed and installed bySolar Electrical Systems, Thousand Oaks, California. [Photocourtesy Solar Electrical Systems]

� This 6kW grid-connected system at a service station in Olney, Maryland, supplies 15 percent ofthe station’s electrical needs. It is the first to use Solarex’s MST43 thin film modules. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar]

� A 120kW array of ASE Americas 300-DG modules was installed by Applied Power Corporationat the Bentley Mills carpet factory in Southern California. APC (Lacey, Washington) also designedthe installation, which is one of the largest industrial solar installations in the United States. BentleyMills is a subsidiary of the Interface Group, a global provider of flooring products with a philos-ophy of sustainable manufacturing. [Photo courtesy ASE Americas, Inc.]

� Block Island, Rhode Island, scene of a 6kW ground-mounted system providing grid-connected and back-upemergency power. Block Island was the first post office in theMillion Solar Roofs program. Integrator: Solar Works. [Photocourtesy ASE Americas, Inc.]

here are excellent reasons why American busi-ness and industry might be interested inusing photovoltaics as part of their total

energy package. The installations shownhere represent some of these reasons. Also

depicted here is PV on schools. There is a majorpush to incorporate PV on schools to educate thenext generation of power consumers.

Perhaps the most important economic reason forbusinesses to consider PV is reduction of peakdemand. Electric bills for most consumers repre-sent kilowatt hours used; but large energyconsumers are also billed for their peak powerconsumption during a demand period. If a com-pany’s peak demand coincides with a time whenthe sun is shining, then installing a PV system canreduce their demand, thereby possibly savingthem money.

PV can also be an economic boon to a businessthat needs to power a sign where the grid is inac-cessible or it is too expensive to remove asphaltor concrete.

Commercial entities also realize that incorpo-rating some form of renewableenergy can be a huge publicrelations gesture—as well as away to help with a healthyenvironment. BP Solar’s publicawareness campaign with PV visible on their gasstations and educational kiosks at their frontdoors is a good example of this.

T

� This remote system powersNorthern Colorado’s Channel 9news camera used to captureimages of Public Service Companyof Colorado’s wind farm. The self-contained unit serves as a mountfor a 900 watt PV array and housesthe inverter, batteries, controls,and Channel 9’s camera equip-ment. The hybrid system includesa 6.5kW back-up propane genera-tor. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

5

C O M M E R C I A L A P P L I C A T I O N S

7

� The City of Tucson SoutheastService Center (Ward 4) hosts agrid-tied 5kW PV system. Withestimated peak daytime electri-cal loads at about 7kW, thissystem provides a significant por-tion of the facility’s energyrequirements. A data acquisitionsystem designed and installed bythe Southwest TechnologyDevelopment Institute, NewMexico State University, allowsremote monitoring of systemperformance. [Photo courtesySouthwest Technology DevelopmentInstitute]

� Siemens modules electrify this facility on Fox Island, just on the Virginia side of theVirginia/Maryland line, Chesapeake Bay. The system powers 20-watt flourescent lights, a marine radio,refrigeration, and a wastewater treatment system. Atlantic Solar, Baltimore, Maryland, provided the sys-tem for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar]

� This 41.4kW rooftop array on Fetzer Vineyards’ administration building in Hopland, Califonia, (shown here and on cover)features AstroPower’s AP-106 single-crystal cells, 36 per panel, 90 panels per module, 4 modules. Real Goods Trading Companywas the developer/distributor and PowerLight the system integrator. Fetzer plans to run all its operations from electricity gen-erated by renewable energy by purchasing 5 million kWh per year under a long-term contract with Pacific Gas & Electric.[Photo courtesy AstroPower, Inc.]

� The engineering lab atthe University of California,Irvine, uses Uni-Solar struc-tural standing seam roofingpanels. The project was per-formed by Solar Utility Inc.of Culver City, California.The installation provides upto 6kW of grid-connectedsolar electricity for the build-ing, with surplus power fedback into the electric grid.This installation was madeunder a contract to SouthernCalifornia Edison. [Photocourtesy United Solar SystemsCorp.]

� Bluffsview ElementarySchool, Columbus, Ohio, a2kW conventional powersystem by BP Solar, Inc.[Photo courtesy BP Solar, Inc.] � An ancient order of Benedictine monks

thrives in the modern world. The Monastery ofChrist in the Desert is able to pursue a high-tech livelihood—designing web sites—withpower brought by Siemens modules. TheBrothers use electricity from PV to power 15computers for web site designs, including theVatican’s web site. Connecting to the nearestelectric grid from a remote canyon in northernNew Mexico would have cost more than $1million. The eight solar arrays mounted ontrackers follow the sun throughout the day.[Photo courtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� By covering the 2,400 square foot lunch eating area at TeofiloMendoza Elementary School in Imperial Beach, California, with PV(Solar Utility’s Uni-Solar panels), shelter is provided and electricity isproduced using what would have been otherwise wasted roof space.[Photo courtesy Solar Utility]

� This Rikers Island (New York) facility incorporates BIPV(building integrated photovoltaics). The panels serve as roofing,as skylighting, and as a power source. The Atlantis Energy mod-ules consist of translucent PV designed as multifunctionalglazing material. [Photo courtesy Atlantis Energy]

� In partnership with Southern California Edison and the Department of Energy, the Solar Utilityteam installed a state-of-the-art photovoltaic distributed generation system at the world-renownedHuntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. The system provides valuable supportto the utility grid during peak load periods. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility, Inc.]

� PVI Photovoltaics International’s SunFocus Power System™ installation at the SacramentoMunicipal Utility District. This 20-panel system, consisting of 240 individual modules, has an out-put of 31kW of ac power. Each module tracks the sun as it arcs across the sky. The system providespeak load shaving to SMUD and its customers seeking green power. [Photo courtesy of PVIPhotovoltaics International]

6

C O M M E R C I A L A P P L I C A T I O N S

7

� The City of Tucson SoutheastService Center (Ward 4) hosts agrid-tied 5kW PV system. Withestimated peak daytime electri-cal loads at about 7kW, thissystem provides a significant por-tion of the facility’s energyrequirements. A data acquisitionsystem designed and installed bythe Southwest TechnologyDevelopment Institute, NewMexico State University, allowsremote monitoring of systemperformance. [Photo courtesySouthwest Technology DevelopmentInstitute]

� Siemens modules electrify this facility on Fox Island, just on the Virginia side of theVirginia/Maryland line, Chesapeake Bay. The system powers 20-watt flourescent lights, a marine radio,refrigeration, and a wastewater treatment system. Atlantic Solar, Baltimore, Maryland, provided the sys-tem for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar]

� This 41.4kW rooftop array on Fetzer Vineyards’ administration building in Hopland, Califonia, (shown here and on cover)features AstroPower’s AP-106 single-crystal cells, 36 per panel, 90 panels per module, 4 modules. Real Goods Trading Companywas the developer/distributor and PowerLight the system integrator. Fetzer plans to run all its operations from electricity gen-erated by renewable energy by purchasing 5 million kWh per year under a long-term contract with Pacific Gas & Electric.[Photo courtesy AstroPower, Inc.]

� The engineering lab atthe University of California,Irvine, uses Uni-Solar struc-tural standing seam roofingpanels. The project was per-formed by Solar Utility Inc.of Culver City, California.The installation provides upto 6kW of grid-connectedsolar electricity for the build-ing, with surplus power fedback into the electric grid.This installation was madeunder a contract to SouthernCalifornia Edison. [Photocourtesy United Solar SystemsCorp.]

� Bluffsview ElementarySchool, Columbus, Ohio, a2kW conventional powersystem by BP Solar, Inc.[Photo courtesy BP Solar, Inc.] � An ancient order of Benedictine monks

thrives in the modern world. The Monastery ofChrist in the Desert is able to pursue a high-tech livelihood—designing web sites—withpower brought by Siemens modules. TheBrothers use electricity from PV to power 15computers for web site designs, including theVatican’s web site. Connecting to the nearestelectric grid from a remote canyon in northernNew Mexico would have cost more than $1million. The eight solar arrays mounted ontrackers follow the sun throughout the day.[Photo courtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� By covering the 2,400 square foot lunch eating area at TeofiloMendoza Elementary School in Imperial Beach, California, with PV(Solar Utility’s Uni-Solar panels), shelter is provided and electricity isproduced using what would have been otherwise wasted roof space.[Photo courtesy Solar Utility]

� This Rikers Island (New York) facility incorporates BIPV(building integrated photovoltaics). The panels serve as roofing,as skylighting, and as a power source. The Atlantis Energy mod-ules consist of translucent PV designed as multifunctionalglazing material. [Photo courtesy Atlantis Energy]

� In partnership with Southern California Edison and the Department of Energy, the Solar Utilityteam installed a state-of-the-art photovoltaic distributed generation system at the world-renownedHuntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. The system provides valuable supportto the utility grid during peak load periods. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility, Inc.]

� PVI Photovoltaics International’s SunFocus Power System™ installation at the SacramentoMunicipal Utility District. This 20-panel system, consisting of 240 individual modules, has an out-put of 31kW of ac power. Each module tracks the sun as it arcs across the sky. The system providespeak load shaving to SMUD and its customers seeking green power. [Photo courtesy of PVIPhotovoltaics International]

6

98

� This PV system consists of a 1.8kW array of BP-275 modules, a sin-gle Trace SW4048 true sine waveinverter, and 35kWh of battery stor-age. The system (located in Corrales,New Mexico) is grid connectedunder a net metering agreement thatallows the excess solar energy to be‘stored’ on the grid for use when thesun is not shining. [Photo courtesyEnergia Total]

� This grid-connected residence was featured in the Denver Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes. The Green Gables home byMcStain features a 1.2kW Solarex Solar Energizer® system. [Photo courtesy Solarex]

� FIRST, Inc., creates homes with a buyer-ready option for choosing a solar power alternative,meaning no retrofit costs. (AvisAmerica was selected by FIRST to supply these factory-built, mod-ular, all-solar homes.) There is every indication that more building-integrated PV will takeplace, making design and building activities more compatible with PV. [Photo courtesy FIRST, Inc.]

� Homes with PV included as part of the total purchase price are beginning to be chosen bynew home buyers. Two subdivisions that offer such an option are the Reflections at Mace Ranch(Davis, California) and Prodigy Homes (Elk Grove, California), both of which are constructedwith Sunslates as upgrades. Sunslates is a product provided by Atlantis Energy of Sacramento.[Photo courtesy Atlantis Energy]

� Designed by Solar Design Associates of Harvard, Massachusetts,this home in Kennebunkport, Maine, is approximately 2,900square feet and produces its own heat, hot water, and electricityfrom the sun. The south roof incorporates an integrated array ofsolar thermal collectors and large-area PV modules (4.2kW) toform a single, uniform glass plane. This building-integrated PV isutility-interactive, but could operate as a stand-alone system at anytime. The house exports a surplus of power annually via a netmetering connection. Modules are by ASE Americas, inverters byTrace, batteries by BP. [Photo courtesy Solar Design Associates]

G R I D - C O N N E C T E D R E S I D E N T I A L

he deregulation of the electric utility indus-try has heralded an increase in grid-tiedPV systems on homes, due in part to the

fact that consumers now find it easier toown a system that is readily accepted by the util-

ity, and then sell the excess power they create backto the utility. Selling excess electricity generated isthe premise of net metering, which several statesnow allow.

Programs that educate utilities with respect toPV and its successful interface with electricpower lines have been increasingly visible. That,too, has promoted the acceptance of PV by util-ities, which has often meant incentives offered toconsumers, which translates to more utility-tiedphotovoltaic systems.

It is estimated that there are now at least 20megawatts of power being generated by grid-tiedPV in the United States.

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative has given PV aboost among state energy programs and the gen-eral citizenry. Initiatives such as the SacramentoMunicipal Utility District’s Pioneer program allowresidents to purchase SMUD’s rooftop systems,which are all net metered, and programs in Floridaand Arizona are part of a large thrust to make PVa viable grid-tied option for homeowners.

T

� Ascension Technology provided this 2kW array on a grid-con-nected home in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area. The project was partof Northern States Power Company’s Solar Advantage Program. [Photocourtesy Ascension Technology]

� This grid-tied 8.6kW PV system meets all the electric needs of this 4,500 square foot home, including the charger forthe family’s electric vehicle and an air conditioning system. The system, which was provided by Altair Energy, includes emer-gency features for covering an electric utility outage, so the family can operate key appliances for a couple of days. TheseBoulder, Colorado homeowners benefit from net metering. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

� Evergreen’s EverSun™ ac modules (available through Real GoodsTrading Company), provide power for this home. Evergreen Solar islocated in Waltham, Massachusetts. [Photo courtesy Evergreen Solar]

� At a California PVUSA site, this roofing shingle test bed allowsmore successful residential grid-tied installations throughout theU.S. [Photo courtesy PVUSA]

98

� This PV system consists of a 1.8kW array of BP-275 modules, a sin-gle Trace SW4048 true sine waveinverter, and 35kWh of battery stor-age. The system (located in Corrales,New Mexico) is grid connectedunder a net metering agreement thatallows the excess solar energy to be‘stored’ on the grid for use when thesun is not shining. [Photo courtesyEnergia Total]

� This grid-connected residence was featured in the Denver Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes. The Green Gables home byMcStain features a 1.2kW Solarex Solar Energizer® system. [Photo courtesy Solarex]

� FIRST, Inc., creates homes with a buyer-ready option for choosing a solar power alternative,meaning no retrofit costs. (AvisAmerica was selected by FIRST to supply these factory-built, mod-ular, all-solar homes.) There is every indication that more building-integrated PV will takeplace, making design and building activities more compatible with PV. [Photo courtesy FIRST, Inc.]

� Homes with PV included as part of the total purchase price are beginning to be chosen bynew home buyers. Two subdivisions that offer such an option are the Reflections at Mace Ranch(Davis, California) and Prodigy Homes (Elk Grove, California), both of which are constructedwith Sunslates as upgrades. Sunslates is a product provided by Atlantis Energy of Sacramento.[Photo courtesy Atlantis Energy]

� Designed by Solar Design Associates of Harvard, Massachusetts,this home in Kennebunkport, Maine, is approximately 2,900square feet and produces its own heat, hot water, and electricityfrom the sun. The south roof incorporates an integrated array ofsolar thermal collectors and large-area PV modules (4.2kW) toform a single, uniform glass plane. This building-integrated PV isutility-interactive, but could operate as a stand-alone system at anytime. The house exports a surplus of power annually via a netmetering connection. Modules are by ASE Americas, inverters byTrace, batteries by BP. [Photo courtesy Solar Design Associates]

G R I D - C O N N E C T E D R E S I D E N T I A L

he deregulation of the electric utility indus-try has heralded an increase in grid-tiedPV systems on homes, due in part to the

fact that consumers now find it easier toown a system that is readily accepted by the util-

ity, and then sell the excess power they create backto the utility. Selling excess electricity generated isthe premise of net metering, which several statesnow allow.

Programs that educate utilities with respect toPV and its successful interface with electricpower lines have been increasingly visible. That,too, has promoted the acceptance of PV by util-ities, which has often meant incentives offered toconsumers, which translates to more utility-tiedphotovoltaic systems.

It is estimated that there are now at least 20megawatts of power being generated by grid-tiedPV in the United States.

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative has given PV aboost among state energy programs and the gen-eral citizenry. Initiatives such as the SacramentoMunicipal Utility District’s Pioneer program allowresidents to purchase SMUD’s rooftop systems,which are all net metered, and programs in Floridaand Arizona are part of a large thrust to make PVa viable grid-tied option for homeowners.

T

� Ascension Technology provided this 2kW array on a grid-con-nected home in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, area. The project was partof Northern States Power Company’s Solar Advantage Program. [Photocourtesy Ascension Technology]

� This grid-tied 8.6kW PV system meets all the electric needs of this 4,500 square foot home, including the charger forthe family’s electric vehicle and an air conditioning system. The system, which was provided by Altair Energy, includes emer-gency features for covering an electric utility outage, so the family can operate key appliances for a couple of days. TheseBoulder, Colorado homeowners benefit from net metering. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

� Evergreen’s EverSun™ ac modules (available through Real GoodsTrading Company), provide power for this home. Evergreen Solar islocated in Waltham, Massachusetts. [Photo courtesy Evergreen Solar]

� At a California PVUSA site, this roofing shingle test bed allowsmore successful residential grid-tied installations throughout theU.S. [Photo courtesy PVUSA]

1110

� Some homeowners choose to have their photovoltaic systeminstalled as an awning or patio cover, thereby alleviating the needfor a roof-mounted system, while providing a desirable shaded area.[Photo courtesy Bill Brooks] � The Florida Solar Energy Center and a

Lakeland, Florida homebuilder partnered tobuild and monitor this home, which demon-strates that energy efficient strategies significantlydecrease a building’s energy load and increase thevalue of a building’s PV system. Photovoltaics,when installed in homes that have already beenmodified to take advantage of other energy-effi-cient options, can offset a large percentage of ahomeowner’s electrical loads. This 4kW PV sys-tem over-cools with day time solar energy,avoiding the early evening peak-utility use. [Photocourtesy Florida Solar Energy Center]

� Although 20 years passed after Tucson’s solar village was firstannounced, Civano, a planned energy-efficient community, isnow a reality. Every Civano home is at least 50 percent more effi-cient than the model energy code, and nearly a dozen of the 17model homes built to date have photovoltaic systems on the roofs.[Photo courtesy Tucson Coalition for Solar]

� This 7,000 square footEvergreen, Colorado homefeatures a 2.4kW solar elec-tric ground-mounted back-upsystem. The system suppliesabout one-fourth of the fam-ily’s electric needs andprovides back-up power to thewell pump, heat circulationpump, refrigerator, computer,selected lights, and the secu-rity system, in the event of autility power outage. [Photocourtesy Altair Energy]

G R I D - C O N N E C T E D R E S I D E N T I A L

� This solar-shingled home is one ofSacramento Municipal UtilityDistrict’s customer-owners—part oftheir PV Pioneers Program—andoperates in conjunction with SMUD’ssolar power plant near Rancho Seco,California. SMUD’s PV Pioneer IIprogram offers homeowners theopportunity to purchase rooftop PVunits, each of which is net metered.[Photo courtesy SMUD]

� A 2kW grid-tied residential rooftopsystem in Fairfield, California. [Photocourtesy BP Solar]

� This roof-mounted 10kW system powers a single residenceoverlooking the Pacific Ocean. Concorde sealed batteries and twoTrace SW5548 inverters accompany 96 AstroPower 1206 modules,designed and installed by Pacific Solar Company. [Photo courtesyPacific Solar Company]

� Bonny Doon, near Santa Cruz, California. Although this homeis grid-tied, the location is remote enough that they lose powerfairly often during winter storms, making a battery back-up sys-tem perfect for them. The array features 24 AstroPower 1106 Vmodules (1,120W ac), a Trace SW 4048 inverter, and four floodedTrojan batteries. The installation, provided by Pacific SolarCompany of Redwood City, California, provides most, but not all,of their electrical needs. [Photo courtesy Pacific Solar Company]

1110

� Some homeowners choose to have their photovoltaic systeminstalled as an awning or patio cover, thereby alleviating the needfor a roof-mounted system, while providing a desirable shaded area.[Photo courtesy Bill Brooks] � The Florida Solar Energy Center and a

Lakeland, Florida homebuilder partnered tobuild and monitor this home, which demon-strates that energy efficient strategies significantlydecrease a building’s energy load and increase thevalue of a building’s PV system. Photovoltaics,when installed in homes that have already beenmodified to take advantage of other energy-effi-cient options, can offset a large percentage of ahomeowner’s electrical loads. This 4kW PV sys-tem over-cools with day time solar energy,avoiding the early evening peak-utility use. [Photocourtesy Florida Solar Energy Center]

� Although 20 years passed after Tucson’s solar village was firstannounced, Civano, a planned energy-efficient community, isnow a reality. Every Civano home is at least 50 percent more effi-cient than the model energy code, and nearly a dozen of the 17model homes built to date have photovoltaic systems on the roofs.[Photo courtesy Tucson Coalition for Solar]

� This 7,000 square footEvergreen, Colorado homefeatures a 2.4kW solar elec-tric ground-mounted back-upsystem. The system suppliesabout one-fourth of the fam-ily’s electric needs andprovides back-up power to thewell pump, heat circulationpump, refrigerator, computer,selected lights, and the secu-rity system, in the event of autility power outage. [Photocourtesy Altair Energy]

G R I D - C O N N E C T E D R E S I D E N T I A L

� This solar-shingled home is one ofSacramento Municipal UtilityDistrict’s customer-owners—part oftheir PV Pioneers Program—andoperates in conjunction with SMUD’ssolar power plant near Rancho Seco,California. SMUD’s PV Pioneer IIprogram offers homeowners theopportunity to purchase rooftop PVunits, each of which is net metered.[Photo courtesy SMUD]

� A 2kW grid-tied residential rooftopsystem in Fairfield, California. [Photocourtesy BP Solar]

� This roof-mounted 10kW system powers a single residenceoverlooking the Pacific Ocean. Concorde sealed batteries and twoTrace SW5548 inverters accompany 96 AstroPower 1206 modules,designed and installed by Pacific Solar Company. [Photo courtesyPacific Solar Company]

� Bonny Doon, near Santa Cruz, California. Although this homeis grid-tied, the location is remote enough that they lose powerfairly often during winter storms, making a battery back-up sys-tem perfect for them. The array features 24 AstroPower 1106 Vmodules (1,120W ac), a Trace SW 4048 inverter, and four floodedTrojan batteries. The installation, provided by Pacific SolarCompany of Redwood City, California, provides most, but not all,of their electrical needs. [Photo courtesy Pacific Solar Company]

1312

� Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Area (Idaho) is home to this remote lodge. Accessible only by air (or 28 miles of trails) this was a chal-lenge for Kyocera Solar, Inc., installers. The system uses 48 60W Solarex modules, two Trace sine wave inverters, and 2-volt IBE batteries.A number of guest cabins, power tools, and household appliances are powered by the system, which was all transported in a small plane.[Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Kyocera Solar, Inc. provided 600W skid-mounted PV systems for 100 homes on the NavajoReservation. The installations were purchased and installed by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority(NTUA). [Photo courtesy Jimmie Daniels, NTUA]

� Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist, admits his off-gridsolar-powered home in the heart of Los Angeles is a sizeable invest-ment, but he wouldn’t want to live any other way. His system iscomprised of 100 60-watt panels. He has the requisite large bat-tery bank and sinewave inverter in his garage—where he alsokeeps his PV-charged electric car. [Photo courtesy Ed Begley, Jr.]

� In the Williamson Valley of Arizona, 18 Siemens Solar panelsrun along the roof edge (smaller panel is for hot water) of this off-grid home. Designed and installed by EV Solar Products, ChinoValley, Arizona; products provided by Hitney Solar. The installa-tion uses a Trace inverter and Trojan batteries, together providinga 1.35kW array for the residence. [Photo courtesy EV Solar Products]

� Built partly from recycledsteel, this all electric stand-alonehome near Prescott, Arizona ispowered by a Siemens 11kWsystem, three Trace inverters andregulators, and Trojan batteries.Part of the PV is groundmounted and part roofmounted. Hitney Solar Productsprovided all of the panels andcomponents. The large systempowers, among other things, ahome projection theater, hamradio studio, freezers, and amusic studio. [Photo courtesyCarol Hills, Serenity Studio]

S T A N D - A L O N E R E S I D E N T I A L

hotovoltaics is very often the preferred powersource for residences in remote areas notserved by the utility grid.

Why PV on a residence? PV is the logicalchoice when the cost of having electric lines runto a home is too expensive. PV may also be prefer-able because the alternative would be a noisy,smelly generator or another power source less reli-able than PV.

Increasingly, however, there are instances wherethe grid is available, but the homeowner simplywants either the independence possible by owninga PV system, or feels strongly enough about envi-ronmental issues that the correct choice for thathomeowner is some form of renewable energy inlieu of the electric grid.

So-called ‘stand alone’ PV systems may be roofmounted, pole mounted, or ground mounted, allof which are depicted here. Each has some specialdesign or installation requirements, but each cansupply remote residential power quite reliably.

P� The Willey family, owners of Backwoods Solar Electric Systems, usephotovoltaics to power their combination home and solar catalogbusiness. The site is located on an Idaho mountain two miles from util-ity lines. [Photo courtesy Backwoods Solar]

� The large remote Navajo Nation inArizona and New Mexico is the idealsetting for photovoltaic power sys-tems. This home is in the WhitehorseChapter of the Navajo Nation, where22 identical systems were installed byAAA Solar. All systems include fourSiemens 100W modules on a polemount, eight Exide E-3600 220 AHdeep-cycle batteries, and a Trace DRseries 2400W inverter. Enough poweris produced for lighting, some smallappliances, and a very efficient smallrefrigerator. [Photo courtesy AAA Solar]

� Energia’s 600 watt stand-alone FireFly (using BP-275 modules,a Trace sine wave inverter, and Exide batteries) provides electric-ity to a family living on Pajarito Mesa, a colonia, or unincorporatedHispanic community. While only 5 miles from Albuquerque,New Mexico, about 150 families live without electric serv-ice. [Photo courtesy Energia Total]

� Remote residences are but one placewhere a photovoltaic unit such as theseGenSun solar powered energy systemswould prove useful. [Photo courtesyGenSun Electric Solar Systems, Inc.]

� PV powers this off-grid 3,000 square foot energy efficientlog home near Creston, California. Solar provides primarypower with a 15kW generator for backup. Siemens modules,Zomeworks trackers, Trace 4048 inverters, and Trojan bat-teries are included in the system, which was designed andinstalled by The Solar Connection, Morro Bay, California.[Photo courtesy The Solar Connection]

1312

� Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Area (Idaho) is home to this remote lodge. Accessible only by air (or 28 miles of trails) this was a chal-lenge for Kyocera Solar, Inc., installers. The system uses 48 60W Solarex modules, two Trace sine wave inverters, and 2-volt IBE batteries.A number of guest cabins, power tools, and household appliances are powered by the system, which was all transported in a small plane.[Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Kyocera Solar, Inc. provided 600W skid-mounted PV systems for 100 homes on the NavajoReservation. The installations were purchased and installed by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority(NTUA). [Photo courtesy Jimmie Daniels, NTUA]

� Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist, admits his off-gridsolar-powered home in the heart of Los Angeles is a sizeable invest-ment, but he wouldn’t want to live any other way. His system iscomprised of 100 60-watt panels. He has the requisite large bat-tery bank and sinewave inverter in his garage—where he alsokeeps his PV-charged electric car. [Photo courtesy Ed Begley, Jr.]

� In the Williamson Valley of Arizona, 18 Siemens Solar panelsrun along the roof edge (smaller panel is for hot water) of this off-grid home. Designed and installed by EV Solar Products, ChinoValley, Arizona; products provided by Hitney Solar. The installa-tion uses a Trace inverter and Trojan batteries, together providinga 1.35kW array for the residence. [Photo courtesy EV Solar Products]

� Built partly from recycledsteel, this all electric stand-alonehome near Prescott, Arizona ispowered by a Siemens 11kWsystem, three Trace inverters andregulators, and Trojan batteries.Part of the PV is groundmounted and part roofmounted. Hitney Solar Productsprovided all of the panels andcomponents. The large systempowers, among other things, ahome projection theater, hamradio studio, freezers, and amusic studio. [Photo courtesyCarol Hills, Serenity Studio]

S T A N D - A L O N E R E S I D E N T I A L

hotovoltaics is very often the preferred powersource for residences in remote areas notserved by the utility grid.

Why PV on a residence? PV is the logicalchoice when the cost of having electric lines runto a home is too expensive. PV may also be prefer-able because the alternative would be a noisy,smelly generator or another power source less reli-able than PV.

Increasingly, however, there are instances wherethe grid is available, but the homeowner simplywants either the independence possible by owninga PV system, or feels strongly enough about envi-ronmental issues that the correct choice for thathomeowner is some form of renewable energy inlieu of the electric grid.

So-called ‘stand alone’ PV systems may be roofmounted, pole mounted, or ground mounted, allof which are depicted here. Each has some specialdesign or installation requirements, but each cansupply remote residential power quite reliably.

P� The Willey family, owners of Backwoods Solar Electric Systems, usephotovoltaics to power their combination home and solar catalogbusiness. The site is located on an Idaho mountain two miles from util-ity lines. [Photo courtesy Backwoods Solar]

� The large remote Navajo Nation inArizona and New Mexico is the idealsetting for photovoltaic power sys-tems. This home is in the WhitehorseChapter of the Navajo Nation, where22 identical systems were installed byAAA Solar. All systems include fourSiemens 100W modules on a polemount, eight Exide E-3600 220 AHdeep-cycle batteries, and a Trace DRseries 2400W inverter. Enough poweris produced for lighting, some smallappliances, and a very efficient smallrefrigerator. [Photo courtesy AAA Solar]

� Energia’s 600 watt stand-alone FireFly (using BP-275 modules,a Trace sine wave inverter, and Exide batteries) provides electric-ity to a family living on Pajarito Mesa, a colonia, or unincorporatedHispanic community. While only 5 miles from Albuquerque,New Mexico, about 150 families live without electric serv-ice. [Photo courtesy Energia Total]

� Remote residences are but one placewhere a photovoltaic unit such as theseGenSun solar powered energy systemswould prove useful. [Photo courtesyGenSun Electric Solar Systems, Inc.]

� PV powers this off-grid 3,000 square foot energy efficientlog home near Creston, California. Solar provides primarypower with a 15kW generator for backup. Siemens modules,Zomeworks trackers, Trace 4048 inverters, and Trojan bat-teries are included in the system, which was designed andinstalled by The Solar Connection, Morro Bay, California.[Photo courtesy The Solar Connection]

1514

� SunWize Technologies introduced the first commercial, com-pletely automatic solar electric ice making plant in Chorreras,Chihuahua, Mexico, to benefit a fishing cooperative of about 70families. Previously, the coop depended on buyers travelingfrom Chihuahua to purchase and transport their catch, sincethey had no refrigeration capabilities of their own. The Plantade Hielo SunWize has brought economic independence to thecooperative. [Photo courtesy SunWize Technologies, Inc., a BesicorpLtd. Company]

� A Pennsylvania llama farm benefits from photo-voltaics. In the summertime the animals love sittingin front of fans. Costs would have been prohibitive toelectrify each of the llama ‘condos’ by any meansother than PV, so each home has been fitted with300 watts of solar electricity (four 75-watt AstroPowerpanels each). [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar]

� Water pumping is a common need on remote ranching locations, such as this one in Texas.The system is trailer-mounted so it can be moved from site to site, as appropriate. Planergy,Austin, Texas, commissioned this PV-powered water pump. Another PV application thatrelates to stock watering tanks is a small unit that powers a pump much like an aquarium airpump. The circulating water ensures that the pond will not freeze over and deprive animalsof water in the winter. [Photo courtesy Planergy]

� Ranching operationscould benefit from a PV-powered gate opener, suchas this one installed atMaroon Lake near Aspen,Colorado, in the WhiteRiver National Forest.[Photo courtesy SandiaNational Laboratories]

� Currin Corporation, Midland, Michigan, designed andinstalled this 900 watt PV array at the Hickory Ridge Farm inChelsa, Michigan. The system is a hybrid, with diesel generator,wind, and utility power sources in addition to the PV, all power-ing a farm home and shop. The system includes ten Siemens SolarSR-90 PV modules, a 14 kWh 24-volt bank of Concorde sealedAGM batteries, and a Trace 4.0 kVA sinewave inverter. [Photo cour-tesy Currin Corporation]

gricultural applications suitablefor PV solutions are numerous.These applications are a mix of

individual installations and sys-tems installed by utility companies

when they have found that a PV solu-tion is the best solution for a remoteagricultural need such as water pump-ing for livestock or crops. Everyonewins when utilities provide PV serv-ices as part of their overall service portfolio.

More than one hundred utilities in the U.S. haveintegrated PV-powered systems for numerousapplications within their service area.

Photovoltaics in agricultural settings is predomi-nantly used for water pumping. However, fenceelectrification, particularly for isolating fragile ripar-ian areas, is a growing use, as is PV for poweringremote farm and ranch homes and providing powerfor the labor-saving tools necessary to runa modern operation. Other agriculturaluses run to fly control with PV-poweredsprayers, PV for a fish farming compressorto aid with pond aeration, or PV-providedelectricity for poultry cooling fans.

In short, farmers and ranchers oftenchoose PV because it saves money.Utilities, likewise, offer PV servicesbecause it saves money.

As with any use of PV, the agriculturalapplications are limited only by one’simagination.

A � Low volume solar water pumping or drip irrigation are excellent applications for solar.GeoSolar Energy has proven that repeatedly at installations such as this densely packedFlorida citrus grove. Often, a five-acre tree, fruit, or vegetable farm can be irrigated witha single one horsepower pump. [Photo courtesy GeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc.]

� Cattle aren’t the only customersfor water provided through PV-powered systems. Here, a herd ofAmerican bison roam the GreatPlains in Nebraska, with the help ofa SunRise® sealed-piston submersiblepump made available through Dankoff Solar, Santa Fe, NewMexico, designers of the 300 watt installation. Siemens Solar mod-ules were used, with the array mounted on Zomeworks TrackRack®. The installation was made by Northwest Rural Public Power,Hay Springs, Nebraska. [Photo courtesy Dankoff Solar Products]

� Parker McCrory, Kansas City, Missouri is one of the largest buyersof PV panels in the United States. The company’s 6-volt solar poweredfencer is sold in huge volume to electrify more than one hundred thou-sand miles of fences for agricultural purposes in the U.S. Solarexmodules are used in all ParMak’s solar fencing products, which are cus-tom-manufactured at Solarex’ facility. [Photo courtesy Parker McCrory]

� This Montana off-grid barnhas been upgraded to 12kW dcwith the addition of the lowerroof elevation tile courses. TheSunslates use AstroPower cells.The system includes a batterybank and water cistern for twolarge custom houses, and hasbeen featured by HGTV cabletelevision. [Photo courtesyAtlantis Energy]

A G R I C U L T U R A L U S E S

15

� SunWize Technologies introduced the first commercial, com-pletely automatic solar electric ice making plant in Chorreras,Chihuahua, Mexico, to benefit a fishing cooperative of about 70families. Previously, the coop depended on buyers travelingfrom Chihuahua to purchase and transport their catch, sincethey had no refrigeration capabilities of their own. The Plantade Hielo SunWize has brought economic independence to thecooperative. [Photo courtesy SunWize Technologies, Inc., a BesicorpLtd. Company]

� A Pennsylvania llama farm benefits from photo-voltaics. In the summertime the animals love sittingin front of fans. Costs would have been prohibitive toelectrify each of the llama ‘condos’ by any meansother than PV, so each home has been fitted with300 watts of solar electricity (four 75-watt AstroPowerpanels each). [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar]

� Water pumping is a common need on remote ranching locations, such as this one in Texas.The system is trailer-mounted so it can be moved from site to site. Planergy commissionedthis PV-powered water pump for the Texas PV Coalition. Southwest PV, Solarex, andAeroVironment furnished special pricing or donated parts to install on the trailer, which isowned by Southwest Texas Solar Services. [Photo courtesy Planergy]

� Ranching operationscould benefit from a PV-powered gate opener, suchas this one installed atMaroon Lake near Aspen,Colorado, in the WhiteRiver National Forest.[Photo courtesy SandiaNational Laboratories]

� Currin Corporation, Midland, Michigan, designed andinstalled this 900 watt PV array at the Hickory Ridge Farm inChelsa, Michigan. The system is a hybrid, with diesel generator,wind, and utility power sources in addition to the PV, all power-ing a farm home and shop. The system includes ten Siemens SolarSR-90 PV modules, a 14 kWh 24-volt bank of Concorde sealedAGM batteries, and a Trace 4.0 kVA sinewave inverter. [Photo cour-tesy Currin Corporation]

16

� Hole in the Wall trail maintenance facility, SequoiaNational Park, California. The 8kW hybrid system wassupplied by BP Solar and provides power to a remote trail-maintenance facility. [Photo courtesy BP Solar, Inc.]

� A small PowerPod sits atop a bathroom facility at Rifle GapState Park, installed for the Colorado State Parks by SundanceSolar. The PowerPod P-150/250-12 is powering lighting andan exhaust fan. [Photo courtesy PowerPod Corporation]

� This large scale (5kW+) central power station providesall the power required for this island located in the U.S.near the Gulf of Mexico. The system contains 120kWhours of storage using sealed, maintenance-free batteries,to provide power to four homes and a marina. The systemwas provided by Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.(SEPCO), Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SEPCO™ ]

� A 21kW stand-alone PV system (Siemens modules) with battery storage, a Trace inverter, and a 30kW propane back-up generator,were provided for Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs, California, for the National Park Service, by Southern California Edisonand Kyocera Solar, Inc. Park Service personnel say the award-winning system has cut their operating costs by 90 percent and reducedtons of pollutant emissions, from two diesel generators that the system replaced. Depicted are the main system and (insert) theCottonwood system. [Photos courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

F A C I L I T Y P O W E R

acility power means different things to dif-ferent people. For purposes of Power WhereYou Need It, we use the term in a pure

sense: power for a facility or a building.

Sandia National Laboratories has a long history ofassisting the federal government with renewables.Its Renew series has featured more than one hun-dred such installations, no small number of whichwere PV power for a facility. The facility mayhave been a restroom, a camp headquarters, or aranger station.

Likewise, facility power can range from a fewwatts to ten kilowatts, or larger.

Photovoltaics offers government agencies the abil-ity to replace noisy or polluting generators withclean, quiet power.

Facility power within the federal agencies such asthe National Park Service, the USDA ForestService, and the Bureau of Land Managementcan only continue to grow because an increas-ingly informed public will demand that pristinesites be protected and clean power be used to pro-vide improved recreational services.

F

� One of the most successful photovoltaic facility power installations has been the one at Chaparral, Pinnacles National Monument,California, for the National Park Service. A 10kW roof-mounted array (Solarex modules) provides facility power to park residences, a rangercontact station, a maintenance building, and a campground. The hybrid system (installed by Applied Power Corporation) includes a 20kWpropane generator and totally eliminates the use and storage of diesel fuel in the Chaparral area. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� This installation at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico, is somewhat different from the other systems shownhere. Salinas is grid-connected and the system shown supplies the needs of the building during much of the year and powers anUninterruptible Power Supply to handle critical security should the power fail. Springer Electric Cooperative supplied the system, whichwas installed by Direct Power and Water, Albuquerque. The array uses Solarex modules, Deka valve-regulated batteries, and a Traceinverter. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

16 17

16

� Hole in the Wall trail maintenance facility, SequoiaNational Park, California. The 8kW hybrid system wassupplied by BP Solar and provides power to a remote trail-maintenance facility. [Photo courtesy BP Solar, Inc.]

� A small PowerPod sits atop a bathroom facility at Rifle GapState Park, installed for the Colorado State Parks by SundanceSolar. The PowerPod P-150/250-12 is powering lighting andan exhaust fan. [Photo courtesy PowerPod Corporation]

� This large scale (5kW+) central power station providesall the power required for this island located in the U.S.near the Gulf of Mexico. The system contains 120kWhours of storage using sealed, maintenance-free batteries,to provide power to four homes and a marina. The systemwas provided by Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.(SEPCO), Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SEPCO™ ]

� A 21kW stand-alone PV system (Siemens modules) with battery storage, a Trace inverter, and a 30kW propane back-up generator,were provided for Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs, California, for the National Park Service, by Southern California Edisonand Kyocera Solar, Inc. Park Service personnel say the award-winning system has cut their operating costs by 90 percent and reducedtons of pollutant emissions, from two diesel generators that the system replaced. Depicted are the main system and (insert) theCottonwood system. [Photos courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

F A C I L I T Y P O W E R

acility power means different things to dif-ferent people. For purposes of Power WhereYou Need It, we use the term in a pure

sense: power for a facility or a building.

Sandia National Laboratories has a long history ofassisting the federal government with renewables.Its Renew series has featured more than one hun-dred such installations, no small number of whichwere PV power for a facility. The facility mayhave been a restroom, a camp headquarters, or aranger station.

Likewise, facility power can range from a fewwatts to ten kilowatts, or larger.

Photovoltaics offers government agencies the abil-ity to replace noisy or polluting generators withclean, quiet power.

Facility power within the federal agencies such asthe National Park Service, the USDA ForestService, and the Bureau of Land Managementcan only continue to grow because an increas-ingly informed public will demand that pristinesites be protected and clean power be used to pro-vide improved recreational services.

F

� One of the most successful photovoltaic facility power installations has been the one at Chaparral, Pinnacles National Monument,California, for the National Park Service. A 10kW roof-mounted array (Solarex modules) provides facility power to park residences, a rangercontact station, a maintenance building, and a campground. The hybrid system (installed by Applied Power Corporation) includes a 20kWpropane generator and totally eliminates the use and storage of diesel fuel in the Chaparral area. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� This installation at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico, is somewhat different from the other systems shownhere. Salinas is grid-connected and the system shown supplies the needs of the building during much of the year and powers anUninterruptible Power Supply to handle critical security should the power fail. Springer Electric Cooperative supplied the system, whichwas installed by Direct Power and Water, Albuquerque. The array uses Solarex modules, Deka valve-regulated batteries, and a Traceinverter. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

16 17

� The City of Cocoa Beach, Florida, is lighted with SolarElectric Power Company systems. The City uses PV light-ing for their entrance signs, which power energy-efficientneon tubes for dazzling brightness. [Photo courtesy SolarElectric Power Company, Ltd .– SEPCO]

� The North Carolina Department of Transportation uses PV-powered lighting at its park and ride lot in Raleigh. This is a fairlycommon and truly appropriate use of photovoltaics. [Photo cour-tesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� Solar Outdoor Lighting provides a solar pow-ered Rural Area Light (shown here) that has

been used many times to light livestockpens, barns, or any other ‘dark’ areas atranching and farming locations. This par-

ticular system is designed to operate five consecutivenights without sunlight. Panels are by Solarex. [Photo

courtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting]

� A large GSA parking facility outside the federal building andcourt house in Puerto Rico, takes advantage of two 64W PVarrays for lighting. The installation, provided by Solar OutdoorLighting, Inc., is a combination of single and double fixtures,using a total of 23 lights to cover an area approximately 980 by640 feet. [Photo courtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc.]

18

L I G H T I N G

� SEPCO’s photovoltaic lighting system at the Greater Orlando International Airport was selectedas PV Project of the Year in 1998. The lights are installed throughout the airport grounds: in theemployee parking lot, at security entrance checkpoints, and at transit shelters. [Photo courtesy SolarElectric Power Company, Ltd. – SEPCO]

� Uni-Kit solar lighting systems is but one of themany available to provide electric lights in remoteareas around the world. In developing countries, smallPV systems that provide enough power for lights is acommon application. Here, a young woman inChiapas, Mexico carries the system up a mountainroad leading to her village. [Photo courtesy United SolarSystems Corp.]

n many cases PV systems can provide lightfor a fraction of what it would cost toextend a utility line. Indeed, PV systems

are powering lights around the world.

The most efficient systems use fluorescent lamps,but other types of lamps, such as halogen or low-pressure sodium, have also been used inconjunction with PV. Batteries are always a com-ponent of PV-powered lighting systems, so thatpower is created when the sun shines, stored inthe battery, and enjoyed when the sun has ceasedto shine.

If a homeowner decides that a single pole-mounted security light fits the bill for a darkcorner of his property—and an electricline is nowherearound—then PV is theperfect solution.

But illumination for its own sakeisn’t the whole story. Studies show thatlights in developing countries mean alonger, more productive work day and acommunity drawn closer together.

Pre-packaged systems at affordable pricesfrom numerous dealers means no one needremain in the dark.

I

� A registered historicsite, the Okeechobee, Florida

City Hall, takes advantage of pho-tovoltaics for powering decorative

lighting fixtures that line the entrance corridor.Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd. (SEPCO™) pro-

vided the illumination at this site—one of the nation’soldest city buildings. The inset photo shows the array at the rear

of the building. [Photos courtesy Solar Electric Power Company]

19

� The City of Cocoa Beach, Florida, is lighted with SolarElectric Power Company systems. The City uses PV light-ing for their entrance signs, which power energy-efficientneon tubes for dazzling brightness. [Photo courtesy SolarElectric Power Company, Ltd .– SEPCO]

� The North Carolina Department of Transportation uses PV-powered lighting at its park and ride lot in Raleigh. This is a fairlycommon and truly appropriate use of photovoltaics. [Photo cour-tesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� Solar Outdoor Lighting provides a solar pow-ered Rural Area Light (shown here) that has

been used many times to light livestockpens, barns, or any other ‘dark’ areas atranching and farming locations. This par-

ticular system is designed to operate five consecutivenights without sunlight. Panels are by Solarex. [Photo

courtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting]

� A large GSA parking facility outside the federal building andcourt house in Puerto Rico, takes advantage of two 64W PVarrays for lighting. The installation, provided by Solar OutdoorLighting, Inc., is a combination of single and double fixtures,using a total of 23 lights to cover an area approximately 980 by640 feet. [Photo courtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc.]

18

L I G H T I N G

� SEPCO’s photovoltaic lighting system at the Greater Orlando International Airport was selectedas PV Project of the Year in 1998. The lights are installed throughout the airport grounds: in theemployee parking lot, at security entrance checkpoints, and at transit shelters. [Photo courtesy SolarElectric Power Company, Ltd. – SEPCO]

� Uni-Kit solar lighting systems is but one of themany available to provide electric lights in remoteareas around the world. In developing countries, smallPV systems that provide enough power for lights is acommon application. Here, a young woman inChiapas, Mexico carries the system up a mountainroad leading to her village. [Photo courtesy United SolarSystems Corp.]

n many cases PV systems can provide lightfor a fraction of what it would cost toextend a utility line. Indeed, PV systems

are powering lights around the world.

The most efficient systems use fluorescent lamps,but other types of lamps, such as halogen or low-pressure sodium, have also been used inconjunction with PV. Batteries are always a com-ponent of PV-powered lighting systems, so thatpower is created when the sun shines, stored inthe battery, and enjoyed when the sun has ceasedto shine.

If a homeowner decides that a single pole-mounted security light fits the bill for a darkcorner of his property—and an electricline is nowherearound—then PV is theperfect solution.

But illumination for its own sakeisn’t the whole story. Studies show thatlights in developing countries mean alonger, more productive work day and acommunity drawn closer together.

Pre-packaged systems at affordable pricesfrom numerous dealers means no one needremain in the dark.

I

� A registered historicsite, the Okeechobee, Florida

City Hall, takes advantage of pho-tovoltaics for powering decorative

lighting fixtures that line the entrance corridor.Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd. (SEPCO™) pro-

vided the illumination at this site—one of the nation’soldest city buildings. The inset photo shows the array at the rear

of the building. [Photos courtesy Solar Electric Power Company]

19

21

S E C U R I T Y L I G H T I N G

20

� Police departments across the U.S. appreciate lighted lots—and often PV is the power of choice for such applications. These DoublePowerFlood Systems were provided by SEPCO. Security is better ensured when law enforcement officers can quickly see entire lots with-out having to drive the area. [Photo courtesy SEPCO™ – Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.]

� A one-room school housein Maryland hosts PV topower a security system usedto protect this historic treas-ure. The system is a 166 wattSolarex array. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar Products]

� Solar parking lot lights areinstalled along the east side of thebachelor officers’ quarters at theMarine Corps Air Station, Yuma,Arizona. Solar Outdoor Lightingprovided the lights, which are notgrid connected. They are 150Wflourescent-type fixtures withreflectors. [Photo courtesy U. S.Marine Corps]

� While waiting for thebus, riders can feel moresecure with the lightingthat PV provides. In manyinstances, it is more costeffective for PV to be usedin these isolated situationsthan it would be to runpower from the grid.Shown here is one of sev-eral systems provided inHouston, Texas. [Photocourtesy SEPCO]

� Perimeter security lighting isessential at the NASA Kennedy SpaceCenter tracking station, operated byAllied Signal. A total of 39 lights arein service. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� Solar lighting provides security at theentrance to Pittman Work Center, OcalaNational Forest, Seminole Ranger District,Florida. The Model PM 150 features adome-style Cobrahead fixture and isinstalled on a fiberglass pole. The light wasprovided by Solar Outdoor Lighting,Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� Photovoltaics provided an ideal solution for Wendy’s, Atlanta,Georgia. The restaurant needed lights for safety reasons behindtheir facility. Although the utility grid was close by, tying to thegrid would have proven much more expensive than installing thePV-powered lights. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� An 18 watt Solarex panel provides power for a parking lotsecurity system and light. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� Yuma Proving Ground uses smallPV arrays to provide security lightsat vital locations. [Photo courtesyU.S. Army]

21

S E C U R I T Y L I G H T I N G

20

� Police departments across the U.S. appreciate lighted lots—and often PV is the power of choice for such applications. These DoublePowerFlood Systems were provided by SEPCO. Security is better ensured when law enforcement officers can quickly see entire lots with-out having to drive the area. [Photo courtesy SEPCO™ – Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.]

� A one-room school housein Maryland hosts PV topower a security system usedto protect this historic treas-ure. The system is a 166 wattSolarex array. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar Products]

� Solar parking lot lights areinstalled along the east side of thebachelor officers’ quarters at theMarine Corps Air Station, Yuma,Arizona. Solar Outdoor Lightingprovided the lights, which are notgrid connected. They are 150Wflourescent-type fixtures withreflectors. [Photo courtesy U. S.Marine Corps]

� While waiting for thebus, riders can feel moresecure with the lightingthat PV provides. In manyinstances, it is more costeffective for PV to be usedin these isolated situationsthan it would be to runpower from the grid.Shown here is one of sev-eral systems provided inHouston, Texas. [Photocourtesy SEPCO]

� Perimeter security lighting isessential at the NASA Kennedy SpaceCenter tracking station, operated byAllied Signal. A total of 39 lights arein service. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� Solar lighting provides security at theentrance to Pittman Work Center, OcalaNational Forest, Seminole Ranger District,Florida. The Model PM 150 features adome-style Cobrahead fixture and isinstalled on a fiberglass pole. The light wasprovided by Solar Outdoor Lighting,Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� Photovoltaics provided an ideal solution for Wendy’s, Atlanta,Georgia. The restaurant needed lights for safety reasons behindtheir facility. Although the utility grid was close by, tying to thegrid would have proven much more expensive than installing thePV-powered lights. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� An 18 watt Solarex panel provides power for a parking lotsecurity system and light. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� Yuma Proving Ground uses smallPV arrays to provide security lightsat vital locations. [Photo courtesyU.S. Army]

23

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

22

he whole sphere of transportation is ripe forphotovoltaics. Indeed, railroads dependheavily on PV as a power source for control

and safety in rail yards and elsewhere. Oftenthis use is a function of economics, but often

reliability is the rail industry’s primary concern.And photovoltaics is nothing if not reliable.

Batteries are an integral part of many forms oftransportation. But batteries have an inherentproblem in that they self-discharge over time ifthey are not being used. To overcome this prob-lem, the Detroit area national guard—whichmeets only every two weeks—has installed PV-powered trickle charge units to keep their batteriesat a high state of charge.

Solar electric cars (charged with a PV system thatsometimes also powers a residence or business) arean option appreciated by motorists whose dailyneeds can accommodate fairly short mileage.

Included in these photographs are various formsof highway transport, but also some useful ‘aids totransport’ which—with PV—help ensure oursafety in an attractively economical trade-off.

T � Here a 10 watt Solarex solar array helps with road-way safety. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� This ground-mounted PV system serves as an electric refueling sta-tion for the Presidio National Park’s electric vehicles. The system is alsoline-tied, so excess electricity is fed back to the utility. The refueling sta-tion is located in front of the Thoreau Center for Sustainability at theSan Francisco park. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

� PV-lit highway signs such as this one constructed for the FloridaTurnpike’s District Traffic Operations, are commonly seen on thenation’s highways. This application is particularly well suited tophotovoltaics, because the cost of running traditional electric serv-ice under the road would be prohibitive. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� When an over-height vehicle is on course to hit an upcomingbridge, a solar-powered detection system sets off several warningdevices, including a large neon-lighted sign, two powerful arrowwarning flashers, a bright flashing strobe light, and a large klaxon.This installation is for the New YorkDepartment of Transportation, pro-vided by SEPCO™. The 200Wsystem has a piggy-back box con-taining an inverter, which sends acvoltage 1500 feet down the highwayto power the warning devices.[Photos courtesy Solar Electric PowerCompany, Ltd. – SEPCO]

� Portable units such as this one for speed controlhave long been a great application for photovoltaics.[Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� The Virginia Depart-ment of Transportation uses

photovoltaics to power theirweigh-motion stations. Among other

functions, this equipment sets the speedof traffic. This traffic monitoring station is

powered by a 1,280 watt solar array. [Photocourtesy Atlantic Solar]

� North Carolina State University at Raleigh has a1.6kW PV charging station. Here, one of its fleet, an S-10

electric truck. [Photo courtesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� Powered in part by PV, this vehicle demonstrates energy-effi-cient and environmentally sound public transportation. The PVarray on the roof provides about one-fourth of the bus’ dailypower requirement. It runs at a top speed of 24 miles per hour.[Photo courtesy Foster and Partners, Richard Davies, photographer]

� Fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered tostores in the South East region of London ina solar-powered, refrigerated lorry. Theunit, powered by PV panels onthe vehicle’s roof, was devel-oped by Sainsbury’sSupermarke t s(Br i t a in’soldest

m a j o rf o o dr e t a i l i n gchain) in part-nership withacademic andcommercial inter-ests, to look at thepotential for renewableenergy in this application.After a couple of years’ use, allreports indicate that the lorryserves this unique application quitewell. [Photo courtesy Sainsbury’s]

� Twelve Solarex 60W modulespower railroad signaling equip-ment in Western Montana. Thistype of remote application is avery common use of photo-voltaics. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� A solar electric car that can travel 55 miles suits actor Ed Begley,Jr. just fine. His PV system fully electrifies his home and provideselectricity for his converted Volkswagen Rabbit. According to theU.S. Department of Transportation, most trips taken by Americansare 40 miles or less. [Photo courtesy Ed Begley, Jr.]

23

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

22

he whole sphere of transportation is ripe forphotovoltaics. Indeed, railroads dependheavily on PV as a power source for control

and safety in rail yards and elsewhere. Oftenthis use is a function of economics, but often

reliability is the rail industry’s primary concern.And photovoltaics is nothing if not reliable.

Batteries are an integral part of many forms oftransportation. But batteries have an inherentproblem in that they self-discharge over time ifthey are not being used. To overcome this prob-lem, the Detroit area national guard—whichmeets only every two weeks—has installed PV-powered trickle charge units to keep their batteriesat a high state of charge.

Solar electric cars (charged with a PV system thatsometimes also powers a residence or business) arean option appreciated by motorists whose dailyneeds can accommodate fairly short mileage.

Included in these photographs are various formsof highway transport, but also some useful ‘aids totransport’ which—with PV—help ensure oursafety in an attractively economical trade-off.

T � Here a 10 watt Solarex solar array helps with road-way safety. [Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� This ground-mounted PV system serves as an electric refueling sta-tion for the Presidio National Park’s electric vehicles. The system is alsoline-tied, so excess electricity is fed back to the utility. The refueling sta-tion is located in front of the Thoreau Center for Sustainability at theSan Francisco park. [Photo courtesy Altair Energy]

� PV-lit highway signs such as this one constructed for the FloridaTurnpike’s District Traffic Operations, are commonly seen on thenation’s highways. This application is particularly well suited tophotovoltaics, because the cost of running traditional electric serv-ice under the road would be prohibitive. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� When an over-height vehicle is on course to hit an upcomingbridge, a solar-powered detection system sets off several warningdevices, including a large neon-lighted sign, two powerful arrowwarning flashers, a bright flashing strobe light, and a large klaxon.This installation is for the New YorkDepartment of Transportation, pro-vided by SEPCO™. The 200Wsystem has a piggy-back box con-taining an inverter, which sends acvoltage 1500 feet down the highwayto power the warning devices.[Photos courtesy Solar Electric PowerCompany, Ltd. – SEPCO]

� Portable units such as this one for speed controlhave long been a great application for photovoltaics.[Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� The Virginia Depart-ment of Transportation uses

photovoltaics to power theirweigh-motion stations. Among other

functions, this equipment sets the speedof traffic. This traffic monitoring station is

powered by a 1,280 watt solar array. [Photocourtesy Atlantic Solar]

� North Carolina State University at Raleigh has a1.6kW PV charging station. Here, one of its fleet, an S-10

electric truck. [Photo courtesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� Powered in part by PV, this vehicle demonstrates energy-effi-cient and environmentally sound public transportation. The PVarray on the roof provides about one-fourth of the bus’ dailypower requirement. It runs at a top speed of 24 miles per hour.[Photo courtesy Foster and Partners, Richard Davies, photographer]

� Fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered tostores in the South East region of London ina solar-powered, refrigerated lorry. Theunit, powered by PV panels onthe vehicle’s roof, was devel-oped by Sainsbury’sSupermarke t s(Br i t a in’soldest

m a j o rf o o dr e t a i l i n gchain) in part-nership withacademic andcommercial inter-ests, to look at thepotential for renewableenergy in this application.After a couple of years’ use, allreports indicate that the lorryserves this unique application quitewell. [Photo courtesy Sainsbury’s]

� Twelve Solarex 60W modulespower railroad signaling equip-ment in Western Montana. Thistype of remote application is avery common use of photo-voltaics. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� A solar electric car that can travel 55 miles suits actor Ed Begley,Jr. just fine. His PV system fully electrifies his home and provideselectricity for his converted Volkswagen Rabbit. According to theU.S. Department of Transportation, most trips taken by Americansare 40 miles or less. [Photo courtesy Ed Begley, Jr.]

25

N A V I G A T I O N A L A I D S

24

long America’s waterways, one of the earliestterrestrial uses of PV are navigational buoysand other aids to navigation. The loads

required for these applications are typicallysmall, the installations are remote, and the util-

ity grid is not generally accessible, making PV aperfect match for this use.

Applications may range from lighthouse beaconpower to a small single-module system posted ona lonely stretch of riverbank. But because these sig-nals, sirens, and lights are all lifesaving measures,system reliability is paramount. PV provides thatcritical reliability.

The United States Coast Guard has converted all itsnavigational buoys from primary batteries to PV-powered rechargeable batteries, thus saving millionsof dollars in battery replacement costs alone.

In fact, warning signs, signals and lights—typi-cally navigational beacons—are one of the mostpopular applications for PV in theUnited States.

A � Northern Power Systems provided theworld’s largest solar-powered obstructionlighting system for a 161kV transmissionline crossing the Mississippi Riverbetween Missouri and Tennessee.Power for the beacon, which is fullycompliant with FAA requirements, isproduced by an integrated tower-mounted array totaling 78 PVmodules on the tower. Power pro-duced is stored in a deep-cyclebattery bank. The project is analliance between a Missouri util-ity and the Tennessee ValleyAuthority. The strobe beaconflashes 60 times per minute

and operates 24 hours a day.[Photo courtesy Northern

Power Systems]

� The U. S. Coast Guard has converted all its navigational buoys fromprimary batteries to PV-powered rechargeable batteries and is savingmillions of dollars a year on the cost of servicing and maintaining them.This single-module system is typical of more than 14,000 sites that theU.S. Coast Guard has converted. The module is covered to protectagainst vandalism. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� A 100W Solar Electric Power assembly operates a digital cameramonitoring system, which scans a major waterway for marine traffic.The system operation and location are confidential, but this type ofhigh security system is growing popular for many applications. Similarsystems operate recording devices, power alarms, and power remotevideo surveillance systems, to name just a few security-type applications.[Photo courtesy SEPCO™ – Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.]

� Photovoltaics powers the navigational light at the Bureau of LandManagement’s Turn Point Light Station, Stuart Island, San Juan Islands,Washington. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� A 650 watt AstroPower arraypowers a flashing light in theFenwick Island Lighthouselocated on the Delaware-Maryland line. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar Products]

� This small PV installation at the dock at StuartIsland, San Juan Islands, Washington, is sufficient topower an effluent dump station for boats that dockthere. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� Aids to navigation are some of the most popular uses for pho-tovoltaics. Pictured here is a PV array for the Au Sable LightStation complex. The highest subarray, with the horizontal barabove it, is designed to always be above the snow level so thatsome solar power will be available throughout the winter.Snowfalls at the area have reached 70 inches. The horizontal baris for protection from falling trees. The inset photo is the quaintlighthouse at Au Sable, Michigan, a registered historic site. Thesystem was designed and installed by Currin Corporation,Midland, Michigan. [Photos courtesy Currin Corporation andSandia National Laboratories]

� A large pole-mounted stand alone power assembly illu-minates 18 decorative fixtures and a lighthouse for theKisimee (Florida) Parks and Recreation Department. At theend of the peninsula, the small-scale lighthouse flashes at therate of a large-scale lighthouse with white LED lights. [Photocourtesy Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd. – SEPCO]

25

N A V I G A T I O N A L A I D S

24

long America’s waterways, one of the earliestterrestrial uses of PV are navigational buoysand other aids to navigation. The loads

required for these applications are typicallysmall, the installations are remote, and the util-

ity grid is not generally accessible, making PV aperfect match for this use.

Applications may range from lighthouse beaconpower to a small single-module system posted ona lonely stretch of riverbank. But because these sig-nals, sirens, and lights are all lifesaving measures,system reliability is paramount. PV provides thatcritical reliability.

The United States Coast Guard has converted all itsnavigational buoys from primary batteries to PV-powered rechargeable batteries, thus saving millionsof dollars in battery replacement costs alone.

In fact, warning signs, signals and lights—typi-cally navigational beacons—are one of the mostpopular applications for PV in theUnited States.

A � Northern Power Systems provided theworld’s largest solar-powered obstructionlighting system for a 161kV transmissionline crossing the Mississippi Riverbetween Missouri and Tennessee.Power for the beacon, which is fullycompliant with FAA requirements, isproduced by an integrated tower-mounted array totaling 78 PVmodules on the tower. Power pro-duced is stored in a deep-cyclebattery bank. The project is analliance between a Missouri util-ity and the Tennessee ValleyAuthority. The strobe beaconflashes 60 times per minute

and operates 24 hours a day.[Photo courtesy Northern

Power Systems]

� The U. S. Coast Guard has converted all its navigational buoys fromprimary batteries to PV-powered rechargeable batteries and is savingmillions of dollars a year on the cost of servicing and maintaining them.This single-module system is typical of more than 14,000 sites that theU.S. Coast Guard has converted. The module is covered to protectagainst vandalism. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� A 100W Solar Electric Power assembly operates a digital cameramonitoring system, which scans a major waterway for marine traffic.The system operation and location are confidential, but this type ofhigh security system is growing popular for many applications. Similarsystems operate recording devices, power alarms, and power remotevideo surveillance systems, to name just a few security-type applications.[Photo courtesy SEPCO™ – Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd.]

� Photovoltaics powers the navigational light at the Bureau of LandManagement’s Turn Point Light Station, Stuart Island, San Juan Islands,Washington. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� A 650 watt AstroPower arraypowers a flashing light in theFenwick Island Lighthouselocated on the Delaware-Maryland line. [Photo courtesyAtlantic Solar Products]

� This small PV installation at the dock at StuartIsland, San Juan Islands, Washington, is sufficient topower an effluent dump station for boats that dockthere. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� Aids to navigation are some of the most popular uses for pho-tovoltaics. Pictured here is a PV array for the Au Sable LightStation complex. The highest subarray, with the horizontal barabove it, is designed to always be above the snow level so thatsome solar power will be available throughout the winter.Snowfalls at the area have reached 70 inches. The horizontal baris for protection from falling trees. The inset photo is the quaintlighthouse at Au Sable, Michigan, a registered historic site. Thesystem was designed and installed by Currin Corporation,Midland, Michigan. [Photos courtesy Currin Corporation andSandia National Laboratories]

� A large pole-mounted stand alone power assembly illu-minates 18 decorative fixtures and a lighthouse for theKisimee (Florida) Parks and Recreation Department. At theend of the peninsula, the small-scale lighthouse flashes at therate of a large-scale lighthouse with white LED lights. [Photocourtesy Solar Electric Power Company, Ltd. – SEPCO]

27

O T H E R I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

26

lsewhere in Power Where You Need It wehave featured dozens of applicationswhere photovoltaics plays a part—or

takes the lead—when it comes to ournational infrastructure. Webster defines infra-

structure as an “underlying foundation or basicframework.” Here, infrastructure is meant toinclude all the many fundamental, vital ways inwhich we are inter-connected: Our means oftravel (roads, waterways, and railways); ourmeans of power (our electric grid); and ourtelecommunications systems.

Shown here are examples of other components ofa basic national infrastructure: satellites, tele-phones, cable television, subway transportation,oil and gas pipelines, and water systems.

Photovoltaics has even played a part in our air-ways: in Antarctica, PV-powered runway lightshave been used.

E� Photovoltaic powerfor remote applications isa superior use of thetechnology. Here aHutton Power Systems48-watt Sun-Tel cellulardata unit powers a waterpipe flow monitor in theHouston area. Waterutilities throughout thecountry use similar sys-tems. [Photo courtesyHutton Communications]

� On a lonely stretch of beach between two Florida cities, a cable TV operator discovers greatly increased customer service through theuse of solar energy. This system is powered by a 900W SEPCO system, which contains 21kWhs of sealed Gel battery storage located atthe far side of the array. [Photo courtesy Solar Electric Power Company – SEPCO]

� A Hutton Communica-tions installation for anatural gas utility providesflow monitoring for oilpipelines and wells inOklahoma and elsewhere.This type of remotetelemetry is an ideal appli-cation for photovoltaics.[Photo courtesy HuttonCommunications]

� A Siemens panel providespower for a public telephonewhere there would otherwisebe none. This type of appli-cation is an excellent matchfor PV whether in a foreigncountry or in the UnitedStates. [Photo courtesySiemens Solar]

� A 1997 Mars Pathfinder satellite, one of several NASA explo-rations of the Red Planet. [Rendition courtesy National Aeronauticsand Space Administration]

� About 15 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska, a small PV panel (and a solar thermal panel) prove per-fect for one of PV’s more diverse applications. An antifreeze solution is pumped through tubing to aculvert, where it keeps the culvert warm enough to thaw the water so it can run under the highway.Otherwise, that same water would run over the highway, creating treacherously icy conditions. Thisprinciple could be used to thaw rain gutters and the like. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� SunWize, a Besicorp Company, provided asite-built PV-generator hybrid system forNorth America’s first completely off-grid, end-of-line rural telephone switch serving thecentral office of the Stelle Telephone Company(New York). This positive ground, 48 Vdc, 7amp continuous load provides the T-1 con-nection for Stelle’s 100 residents tocommunicate via voice and data. This ruraltelephony system was born from unreliablepower rather than lack of grid access. [Photocourtesy SunWize Technologies]

� An emergency callbox is a common usefor a small photo-voltaics panel. [Photocourtesy Kyocera, Inc.]

� Washington Metro Subway System makes excellent use of PVto power indicator lights for their trains. Since most of the system’strains are underground, it was difficult for bus drivers to knowwhen trains were approaching. Passenger complaints at missingtheir connections have greatly diminished, as the bus drivers nowsee the flash of lights signaling an approaching subway train. Thesystem uses Solarex panels. [Photos courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

27

O T H E R I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

26

lsewhere in Power Where You Need It wehave featured dozens of applicationswhere photovoltaics plays a part—or

takes the lead—when it comes to ournational infrastructure. Webster defines infra-

structure as an “underlying foundation or basicframework.” Here, infrastructure is meant toinclude all the many fundamental, vital ways inwhich we are inter-connected: Our means oftravel (roads, waterways, and railways); ourmeans of power (our electric grid); and ourtelecommunications systems.

Shown here are examples of other components ofa basic national infrastructure: satellites, tele-phones, cable television, subway transportation,oil and gas pipelines, and water systems.

Photovoltaics has even played a part in our air-ways: in Antarctica, PV-powered runway lightshave been used.

E� Photovoltaic powerfor remote applications isa superior use of thetechnology. Here aHutton Power Systems48-watt Sun-Tel cellulardata unit powers a waterpipe flow monitor in theHouston area. Waterutilities throughout thecountry use similar sys-tems. [Photo courtesyHutton Communications]

� On a lonely stretch of beach between two Florida cities, a cable TV operator discovers greatly increased customer service through theuse of solar energy. This system is powered by a 900W SEPCO system, which contains 21kWhs of sealed Gel battery storage located atthe far side of the array. [Photo courtesy Solar Electric Power Company – SEPCO]

� A Hutton Communica-tions installation for anatural gas utility providesflow monitoring for oilpipelines and wells inOklahoma and elsewhere.This type of remotetelemetry is an ideal appli-cation for photovoltaics.[Photo courtesy HuttonCommunications]

� A Siemens panel providespower for a public telephonewhere there would otherwisebe none. This type of appli-cation is an excellent matchfor PV whether in a foreigncountry or in the UnitedStates. [Photo courtesySiemens Solar]

� A 1997 Mars Pathfinder satellite, one of several NASA explo-rations of the Red Planet. [Rendition courtesy National Aeronauticsand Space Administration]

� About 15 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska, a small PV panel (and a solar thermal panel) prove per-fect for one of PV’s more diverse applications. An antifreeze solution is pumped through tubing to aculvert, where it keeps the culvert warm enough to thaw the water so it can run under the highway.Otherwise, that same water would run over the highway, creating treacherously icy conditions. Thisprinciple could be used to thaw rain gutters and the like. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� SunWize, a Besicorp Company, provided asite-built PV-generator hybrid system forNorth America’s first completely off-grid, end-of-line rural telephone switch serving thecentral office of the Stelle Telephone Company(New York). This positive ground, 48 Vdc, 7amp continuous load provides the T-1 con-nection for Stelle’s 100 residents tocommunicate via voice and data. This ruraltelephony system was born from unreliablepower rather than lack of grid access. [Photocourtesy SunWize Technologies]

� An emergency callbox is a common usefor a small photo-voltaics panel. [Photocourtesy Kyocera, Inc.]

� Washington Metro Subway System makes excellent use of PVto power indicator lights for their trains. Since most of the system’strains are underground, it was difficult for bus drivers to knowwhen trains were approaching. Passenger complaints at missingtheir connections have greatly diminished, as the bus drivers nowsee the flash of lights signaling an approaching subway train. Thesystem uses Solarex panels. [Photos courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

T E L E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

28

hen considered on a worldwide basis,telecommunications provides the lion’sshare of market opportunities for photo-

voltaics. Even in the U.S., there is a verylarge market for telecommunications both in

the private sector and among military and gov-ernment agencies.

Telecommunications applications range from smallemergency call boxes to large microwave repeaters,and everything in between. The list of telecomapplications grows continuously: relay towers,radio systems, remotely controlled systems, andcellular telephones, to name just a few. These sys-tems range from a few watts to several kilowatts.PV is ideal for communications because the PV-charged battery provides a stable dc voltage andmeets varying current demands. PV systems oper-ate reliably—and with little maintenance.

There are thousands of telecommunications sys-tems in use powered either by PV alone orpowered by PV in conjunction with another fuelsource, such as diesel. These systems, without fail,have proven that PV can increase the reliabilityand spatial coverage of telecommunications sys-tems of all types.

W

� A solar-powered remote telemetrysystem provided by Solar Depot, SanRafael, California. This is a commonapplication for photovoltaics. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Northern Power Systems designed, manufactured, and installed a hybrid MicroGrid™ PV/dieselsystem on a 10,200' mountaintop site (Mt. Callaghan) in Central Nevada. The system serves as a mas-ter site for the Top Gun Tactical Air Combat Training System upgrade on the U.S. Navy’s FallonRange. The power system consists of an 11,872-peak watt PV array coupled with a 20kW diesel gen-erator set. [Photo courtesy Northern Power Systems]

� Solar Depot installed this solar-poweredpair-gain system. This application is well suitedto PV. The twisted pairs of wire, stretchingfar enough that they lose their signal, benefitfrom the addition of a PV-powered amplifier.[Photo courtesy Solar Depot]

� Cellular repeaters are often very large or forother reasons are not always good candidatesfor photovoltaics. This installation by SolarDepot, however, serves an appropriate appli-cation of PV for this purpose. [Photo courtesySolar Depot]

� A solar-poweredcellular link. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Northern Power supplied this TeleSol™ PV stand-alonesystem to Cubic Corporation for a U.S. Air Force TacticalAir Combat Maneuvering and Instrumentation Rangelocated on Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nevada.The sole power source is a 440W solar array comprised of8 SM55 PV modules supplied by Siemens Solar. Energy pro-duced, if not immediately consumed by the load, is storedin Deka Unigy II series batteries manufactured by EastPenn of Lyons, Pennsylvania for this project. The ‘brains’ ofthe system is a Northern SC-50 controller. [Photo courtesyNorthern Power Systems]

� A state-of-the-art communicationsrepeater was installed on Mt.Washington, part of the ManzanoMountains, Albuquerque, NewMexico. A 1750 watt array wasmounted on an existing communica-tions tower. The engine generator anda communications building are part ofthe background. This installationserves as a remote communications linkfor Kirtland Air Force Base personneland Department of Energy securityguards, as well as for Sandia NationalLaboratories personnel. It is the onlycommunications in place for militarypersonnel performing field exercises inthe area. Direct Power and Water,Albuquerque, performed the designand installation. [Photos courtesySandia National Laboratories]

29

T E L E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

28

hen considered on a worldwide basis,telecommunications provides the lion’sshare of market opportunities for photo-

voltaics. Even in the U.S., there is a verylarge market for telecommunications both in

the private sector and among military and gov-ernment agencies.

Telecommunications applications range from smallemergency call boxes to large microwave repeaters,and everything in between. The list of telecomapplications grows continuously: relay towers,radio systems, remotely controlled systems, andcellular telephones, to name just a few. These sys-tems range from a few watts to several kilowatts.PV is ideal for communications because the PV-charged battery provides a stable dc voltage andmeets varying current demands. PV systems oper-ate reliably—and with little maintenance.

There are thousands of telecommunications sys-tems in use powered either by PV alone orpowered by PV in conjunction with another fuelsource, such as diesel. These systems, without fail,have proven that PV can increase the reliabilityand spatial coverage of telecommunications sys-tems of all types.

W

� A solar-powered remote telemetrysystem provided by Solar Depot, SanRafael, California. This is a commonapplication for photovoltaics. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Northern Power Systems designed, manufactured, and installed a hybrid MicroGrid™ PV/dieselsystem on a 10,200' mountaintop site (Mt. Callaghan) in Central Nevada. The system serves as a mas-ter site for the Top Gun Tactical Air Combat Training System upgrade on the U.S. Navy’s FallonRange. The power system consists of an 11,872-peak watt PV array coupled with a 20kW diesel gen-erator set. [Photo courtesy Northern Power Systems]

� Solar Depot installed this solar-poweredpair-gain system. This application is well suitedto PV. The twisted pairs of wire, stretchingfar enough that they lose their signal, benefitfrom the addition of a PV-powered amplifier.[Photo courtesy Solar Depot]

� Cellular repeaters are often very large or forother reasons are not always good candidatesfor photovoltaics. This installation by SolarDepot, however, serves an appropriate appli-cation of PV for this purpose. [Photo courtesySolar Depot]

� A solar-poweredcellular link. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Northern Power supplied this TeleSol™ PV stand-alonesystem to Cubic Corporation for a U.S. Air Force TacticalAir Combat Maneuvering and Instrumentation Rangelocated on Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nevada.The sole power source is a 440W solar array comprised of8 SM55 PV modules supplied by Siemens Solar. Energy pro-duced, if not immediately consumed by the load, is storedin Deka Unigy II series batteries manufactured by EastPenn of Lyons, Pennsylvania for this project. The ‘brains’ ofthe system is a Northern SC-50 controller. [Photo courtesyNorthern Power Systems]

� A state-of-the-art communicationsrepeater was installed on Mt.Washington, part of the ManzanoMountains, Albuquerque, NewMexico. A 1750 watt array wasmounted on an existing communica-tions tower. The engine generator anda communications building are part ofthe background. This installationserves as a remote communications linkfor Kirtland Air Force Base personneland Department of Energy securityguards, as well as for Sandia NationalLaboratories personnel. It is the onlycommunications in place for militarypersonnel performing field exercises inthe area. Direct Power and Water,Albuquerque, performed the designand installation. [Photos courtesySandia National Laboratories]

29

31

U T I L I T Y A P P L I C A T I O N S

30

here are virtually thousands of reasonableand logical ways for utility companies touse photovoltaics, all of which have an

immediate payback—all of which provethat PV can be a less expensive option than con-

ventional service.

Many utility companies are using PV for theirisolated, low energy, or low-revenue loads thatare costly to operate via conventional means. PVcan provide service to low-revenue loads whereline extensions would be unfeasible.

Communications, warning signals, sectionalizingswitches, cathodic protection, lighting, monitor-ing, and battery charging head up a growing listof appropriate applications for PV within utilities.Others include automated gas meters and gas-flow computers, gas samplers, and the like.

Participation across the U.S. by utility compa-nies is still rather uneven. There are utilities thathave determined that PV is their most reasonableoption for many small loads—and there are util-ities that have not yet made the decision to includephotovoltaics among their options.

From a few watts to several kilowatts—theopportunities for utility incorporation of PV arewide open.

T� BJ’s Wholesalers in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, serves as hostto Sun Power Electric’s first power plant. Following utility deregulationin Massachusetts, environmentally conscious electricity consumers’needs are being met through this ‘green electric’ product. There areactually three PV systems on BJ’s. Two are wall mounted and one is roofmounted using special clips on a standing seam roof. The PV consistsof 4 SunSine AC modules from Ascension Technology, 4 EvergreenSolar AC modules, and a 12kW ASE Americas system. [Photo courtesyASE Americas]

� The City of Alameda (California) Bureau of Electricity com-missioned this roof array on a parking structure at the AlamedaBoat Harbor. The array consists of 78 Solarex 64W modules, grid-tied, using Trace Engineering’s SW4048 UT inverter. Theinstallation was performed by Pacific Solar Company, RedwoodCity, California, and partially funded by UPVG. [Photo courtesyPacific Solar]

� This PV array field at Davis, California is operated by PVUSA, providing a ready test bed for util-ity applications. [Photo courtesy PVUSA]

� Here photovoltaics is used tooperate a strobe light for AlabamaPower. The installation was doneby Hutton Communications.[Photo courtesy Hutton]

� Even though there is clearlyconventional power availableat this sectionalizing switch onPublic Service Company ofNew Mexico’s transmissionline, the cost of transformers,surge arrestors, switches, anda rectifier to make the dcrequired for switch operationwas greater than the cost ofPV. The application requiresonly minimal annual energy,so this particular application isan ideal match for a small PVsystem. [Photo courtesy SandiaNational Laboratories]

31

U T I L I T Y A P P L I C A T I O N S

30

here are virtually thousands of reasonableand logical ways for utility companies touse photovoltaics, all of which have an

immediate payback—all of which provethat PV can be a less expensive option than con-

ventional service.

Many utility companies are using PV for theirisolated, low energy, or low-revenue loads thatare costly to operate via conventional means. PVcan provide service to low-revenue loads whereline extensions would be unfeasible.

Communications, warning signals, sectionalizingswitches, cathodic protection, lighting, monitor-ing, and battery charging head up a growing listof appropriate applications for PV within utilities.Others include automated gas meters and gas-flow computers, gas samplers, and the like.

Participation across the U.S. by utility compa-nies is still rather uneven. There are utilities thathave determined that PV is their most reasonableoption for many small loads—and there are util-ities that have not yet made the decision to includephotovoltaics among their options.

From a few watts to several kilowatts—theopportunities for utility incorporation of PV arewide open.

T� BJ’s Wholesalers in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, serves as hostto Sun Power Electric’s first power plant. Following utility deregulationin Massachusetts, environmentally conscious electricity consumers’needs are being met through this ‘green electric’ product. There areactually three PV systems on BJ’s. Two are wall mounted and one is roofmounted using special clips on a standing seam roof. The PV consistsof 4 SunSine AC modules from Ascension Technology, 4 EvergreenSolar AC modules, and a 12kW ASE Americas system. [Photo courtesyASE Americas]

� The City of Alameda (California) Bureau of Electricity com-missioned this roof array on a parking structure at the AlamedaBoat Harbor. The array consists of 78 Solarex 64W modules, grid-tied, using Trace Engineering’s SW4048 UT inverter. Theinstallation was performed by Pacific Solar Company, RedwoodCity, California, and partially funded by UPVG. [Photo courtesyPacific Solar]

� This PV array field at Davis, California is operated by PVUSA, providing a ready test bed for util-ity applications. [Photo courtesy PVUSA]

� Here photovoltaics is used tooperate a strobe light for AlabamaPower. The installation was doneby Hutton Communications.[Photo courtesy Hutton]

� Even though there is clearlyconventional power availableat this sectionalizing switch onPublic Service Company ofNew Mexico’s transmissionline, the cost of transformers,surge arrestors, switches, anda rectifier to make the dcrequired for switch operationwas greater than the cost ofPV. The application requiresonly minimal annual energy,so this particular application isan ideal match for a small PVsystem. [Photo courtesy SandiaNational Laboratories]

33

U T I L I T Y A P P L I C A T I O N S

32

� A 100W Solar Electric Power assembly operates a digital com-puter monitoring system that measures a city’s incoming watersupply. PV performs reliably over the long term in monitoring theflow of water, gas, oil, and so on. [Photo courtesy Solar Electric PowerCompany – SEPCO]

� Kyocera Solar provided two 82kW grid-connected PV systemsfor Arizona Public Service to serve the Phoenix area. Shown hereis APS’s installation at Flagstaff. A twin installation (inset) is atOcotillo. The applications are in support of the green pricingSolar Partners program. Modules are Siemens Solar’s SP-75.

UPG, now a part of Kyocera, was the project contractor;each system includes six UPG Model 16500C invert-

ers. [Photos courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Cathodic protection ofpipelines is one of themost appropriate andcommon uses for photo-voltaics by utilitycompanies, as it providesan economical and effec-tive solution to corrosionproblems. The solution is an electrical current from a PV sourceto counteract the natural corrosive currents generated aroundburied metallic devices. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� This 129kW PV sin-gle axis tracking system forSacramento MunicipalUtility District is locatedat the city’s municipal air-port. In addition toproviding utility power, itserves as a parking lot

shade structure. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� One of two 100kWsingle axis grid-connectedPV tracking systemsinstalled by Kyocera Solarfor the Salt River Project,Phoenix, Arizona. Themodules are SiemensSP75s. [Photo courtesyKyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV powers this utilitytranslator for Salish KootenaiCommunity College. Theinstallation is on Pistol CreekLook Out, Idaho, and con-sists of 24 Solarex MSX 64Wmodules, delivering 1563kWoutput in peak sun. Storage isin 12 IBE industrial batteries;charge regulators are SCIPPC. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� Remote telemetry for monitoring oil, gas and water pipelines isa common application for photovoltaics. Kyocera Solar, Inc.installed this monitoring system. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

�Solarex provided this 7kW remote system for SouthernCalifornia Edison at Big Creek, Mammoth Mountain. Shownis one of the arrays featuring 60 MSX-60 modules. [Photocourtesy Solarex]

33

U T I L I T Y A P P L I C A T I O N S

32

� A 100W Solar Electric Power assembly operates a digital com-puter monitoring system that measures a city’s incoming watersupply. PV performs reliably over the long term in monitoring theflow of water, gas, oil, and so on. [Photo courtesy Solar Electric PowerCompany – SEPCO]

� Kyocera Solar provided two 82kW grid-connected PV systemsfor Arizona Public Service to serve the Phoenix area. Shown hereis APS’s installation at Flagstaff. A twin installation (inset) is atOcotillo. The applications are in support of the green pricingSolar Partners program. Modules are Siemens Solar’s SP-75.

UPG, now a part of Kyocera, was the project contractor;each system includes six UPG Model 16500C invert-

ers. [Photos courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Cathodic protection ofpipelines is one of themost appropriate andcommon uses for photo-voltaics by utilitycompanies, as it providesan economical and effec-tive solution to corrosionproblems. The solution is an electrical current from a PV sourceto counteract the natural corrosive currents generated aroundburied metallic devices. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� This 129kW PV sin-gle axis tracking system forSacramento MunicipalUtility District is locatedat the city’s municipal air-port. In addition toproviding utility power, itserves as a parking lot

shade structure. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� One of two 100kWsingle axis grid-connectedPV tracking systemsinstalled by Kyocera Solarfor the Salt River Project,Phoenix, Arizona. Themodules are SiemensSP75s. [Photo courtesyKyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV powers this utilitytranslator for Salish KootenaiCommunity College. Theinstallation is on Pistol CreekLook Out, Idaho, and con-sists of 24 Solarex MSX 64Wmodules, delivering 1563kWoutput in peak sun. Storage isin 12 IBE industrial batteries;charge regulators are SCIPPC. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� Remote telemetry for monitoring oil, gas and water pipelines isa common application for photovoltaics. Kyocera Solar, Inc.installed this monitoring system. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

�Solarex provided this 7kW remote system for SouthernCalifornia Edison at Big Creek, Mammoth Mountain. Shownis one of the arrays featuring 60 MSX-60 modules. [Photocourtesy Solarex]

35

M I L I T A R Y U S E S

34

he U.S. military complex (Army, Navy, AirForce, Marines, Coast Guard, and nationaland state militia units) have many very

remote sites in their arsenals. This factmakes PV particularly valuable for some military

applications.

Several military telecommunications applicationsmay be seen in other sections of this book as well.The applications of interest to military procurersof PV are quite diverse, particularly when size istaken into consideration. Some of the military’ssites consist of a simple, small PV array tied to onebattery. Others, such as the huge grid-tied array atthe Yuma Proving Ground provide power for anentire building complex and more.

The functions of the military’s many PV installa-tions are diverse too, ranging from one of themost fundamental applications—water pump-ing—to one of the most futuristic—satellites.

Whatever the size, whatever the application, it is afact that the Department of Defense is the largestenergy consumer in the federal government, so itfollows that the military complex will continue tofind ways to integrate renewable energy—includ-ing photovoltaics—into their plans.

T

� This 18kWp grid-connected system was installed by AscensionTechnology as part of an EPA/DOE/DoD program at Ft. Dix,New Jersey for the U.S. Army. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� A PV-powered crosswalk is in use outside the Pentagon. [Photo cour-tesy U. S. Army]

� This grid-tied installation is on Barnes Field House at FortHuachuca, Arizona. Installed by AAA Solar, Albuquerque, NewMexico, it consists of 16 ASE Americas polycrystalline 285Wmodules. The dc output was inverted to 120 volts ac by a6000W Omnion true sine wave inverter and wired back into theelectrical grid in the building service entrance equipment. Thesystem was designed to offset the peak load of the Fort and alsoprovide the west-facing offices with much needed afternoonshade. [Photo courtesy AAA Solar]

� PV powers lights for a joggingtrail on Charleston Air Force Base,South Carolina. According to thebase energy manager, he preferredsolar to conventional electricallights in order to avoid transform-ers and buried cables. [Photocourtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting]

� The military often uses photovoltaics to power remote facil-ities, such as this area lighting at a remote equipment storagefacility at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� Shown here is a 441kW grid-tied PV array at Yuma ProvingGround, Arizona. The panel assemblies are attached to a torquetube that rotates to track the path of the sun during the day. PV isideal for YPG because it can generate the most electricity duringpeak demand and also provide back-up power for the base’s watersupply should there be a power outage. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� First Solar (formerly Solar Cells, Inc.), Toledo, Ohio, providedthis 25kW dc system used at the Naval Air Warfare Center,Weapons Division, China Lake, California, at a fuel cell experi-mentation site. NASA uses the off-grid installation forexperimental purposes, indicating its interest in PV working intandem with fuel cells. [Photo courtesy First Solar, LLC]

� A 1200 watt portable, unbreakablesolar array such as this one provided powerfor the U. S. government in operationDesert Shield. The panels are by Solarex.[Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� Portable solar charging units provide power even with bul-let holes and partial shade. Several companies manufacturethese lightweight, tough units for use not only by militaryunits, but also for anytime remote communications or emer-

gency power are necessary. Shown here is Uni-Solar’s Uni-Pac,which uses their triple junction technology. [Photo courtesyUnited Solar Systems Corp.]

� This U.S. Army installationat Ft. Carson, Colorado, takesadvantage of photovoltaics for awater pumping project. [Photocourtesy U.S. Army]

� A major defense contractorneeded an instrumentationpower source that would bereliable even if military basepower was lost. [Photo courtesyEvergreen Solar]

35

M I L I T A R Y U S E S

34

he U.S. military complex (Army, Navy, AirForce, Marines, Coast Guard, and nationaland state militia units) have many very

remote sites in their arsenals. This factmakes PV particularly valuable for some military

applications.

Several military telecommunications applicationsmay be seen in other sections of this book as well.The applications of interest to military procurersof PV are quite diverse, particularly when size istaken into consideration. Some of the military’ssites consist of a simple, small PV array tied to onebattery. Others, such as the huge grid-tied array atthe Yuma Proving Ground provide power for anentire building complex and more.

The functions of the military’s many PV installa-tions are diverse too, ranging from one of themost fundamental applications—water pump-ing—to one of the most futuristic—satellites.

Whatever the size, whatever the application, it is afact that the Department of Defense is the largestenergy consumer in the federal government, so itfollows that the military complex will continue tofind ways to integrate renewable energy—includ-ing photovoltaics—into their plans.

T

� This 18kWp grid-connected system was installed by AscensionTechnology as part of an EPA/DOE/DoD program at Ft. Dix,New Jersey for the U.S. Army. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� A PV-powered crosswalk is in use outside the Pentagon. [Photo cour-tesy U. S. Army]

� This grid-tied installation is on Barnes Field House at FortHuachuca, Arizona. Installed by AAA Solar, Albuquerque, NewMexico, it consists of 16 ASE Americas polycrystalline 285Wmodules. The dc output was inverted to 120 volts ac by a6000W Omnion true sine wave inverter and wired back into theelectrical grid in the building service entrance equipment. Thesystem was designed to offset the peak load of the Fort and alsoprovide the west-facing offices with much needed afternoonshade. [Photo courtesy AAA Solar]

� PV powers lights for a joggingtrail on Charleston Air Force Base,South Carolina. According to thebase energy manager, he preferredsolar to conventional electricallights in order to avoid transform-ers and buried cables. [Photocourtesy Solar Outdoor Lighting]

� The military often uses photovoltaics to power remote facil-ities, such as this area lighting at a remote equipment storagefacility at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� Shown here is a 441kW grid-tied PV array at Yuma ProvingGround, Arizona. The panel assemblies are attached to a torquetube that rotates to track the path of the sun during the day. PV isideal for YPG because it can generate the most electricity duringpeak demand and also provide back-up power for the base’s watersupply should there be a power outage. [Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� First Solar (formerly Solar Cells, Inc.), Toledo, Ohio, providedthis 25kW dc system used at the Naval Air Warfare Center,Weapons Division, China Lake, California, at a fuel cell experi-mentation site. NASA uses the off-grid installation forexperimental purposes, indicating its interest in PV working intandem with fuel cells. [Photo courtesy First Solar, LLC]

� A 1200 watt portable, unbreakablesolar array such as this one provided powerfor the U. S. government in operationDesert Shield. The panels are by Solarex.[Photo courtesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� Portable solar charging units provide power even with bul-let holes and partial shade. Several companies manufacturethese lightweight, tough units for use not only by militaryunits, but also for anytime remote communications or emer-

gency power are necessary. Shown here is Uni-Solar’s Uni-Pac,which uses their triple junction technology. [Photo courtesyUnited Solar Systems Corp.]

� This U.S. Army installationat Ft. Carson, Colorado, takesadvantage of photovoltaics for awater pumping project. [Photocourtesy U.S. Army]

� A major defense contractorneeded an instrumentationpower source that would bereliable even if military basepower was lost. [Photo courtesyEvergreen Solar]

� Reynolds Aluminum uses a trailer-mounted PV system tomonitor the air quality around a bauxite tailings “pond” coveringseveral hundred acres near Corpus Christi, Texas. The trailer wascustomized by Direct Power and Water, Albuquerque, NewMexico. Samples are taken for a 24-hour period every seven days.The power system is configured for 12VDC and consists of 16Siemens SP-75 75W modules using a battery bank of 10 Deka8L16, 375 AH batteries. A Statpower 1,500W inverter is used topower the sampler and other related equipment. [Photo courtesyDirect Power and Water]

� Simpler Solar, Tallahassee, Florida, provided this collage of com-ponents of their solar pond aeration system. As rain water washes

over streets, roofs, farm lands,and so on, it builds up anexcess of nutrients that result inexcessive weed and algaegrowth. This accumulationconsumes inordinate amountsof oxygen in ponds. Aerationsystems bring new life to thesebodies of water, and they areespecially suited to be poweredby photovoltaics. [Photo cour-tesy Simpler Solar]

onsider for a moment the impact that apower source such as photovoltaics canmake on the earth’s environment. It is clean

and considered non-polluting. It is a renew-able energy source that consumes a reasonablysmall amount of the earth’s resources to produceelectricity. It is silent. Few resources are needed tokeep it running, day, after day, after day, any-where the sun shines.

So, PV as a power source is itself a huge, positiveinfluence on our environment. With that as anincontrovertible fact, what we feature here areways in which PV is being used to promote envi-ronmentally sound projects—good works that usePV in a number of diverse ways.

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36

C

� The U.S. Geological Survey uses this portable Solarex solarsystem to take ice core samples from glaciers to study air qual-ity. This photo was taken at Fremont Glacier, Wyoming, but theUSGS has since taken the system all over the world. [Photo cour-tesy Applied Power Corporation]

� Live Oak Solar’s portable T-REX PV system is on its way to aresidential construction site in southern California. The PV unitwas quiet enough to provide the necessary noise abatement fornight-time building. [Photo courtesy Live Oak Solar]

� Professor Emeritus Bill Peterson, University of IllinoisAgricultural Engineering Department is funded partly by theIllinois Bureau of Energy and Recycling (and partly by the NationalRenewable Energy Laboratory) to demonstrate PV projects fromhis mobile flatbed trailer. He uses a number of documents fromSandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center to educate hisaudience, whom Peterson reports are pleased when they see themany possibilities for using PV to save the environment. [Photocourtesy Professor Bill Peterson]

� Protecting the fragile environment was a strong motivation forhaving PV installed at his north Florida home, according to AlFord, great-grandson of the famous automaker. Living through theaftermath of Hurricane Andrew—months of no running water orflush toilets or air conditioning—was an equally convincing rea-son to turn to PV. The large system includes Siemens panels,Zomeworks trackers, Trace Engineering inverters, and Trojan bat-teries. [Photo courtesy Energy Conservation Services of North Florida]

� In a wetlands rehydration system installed by Solar ElectricPower Company, Florida, a 900W assembly operates two remotewater pumps in a 24V PV direct configuration. The pumps providean average of over 10,000 gallons daily. The water is directed ontoa designated wetlands replacement area. [Photo courtesy SEPCO]

� A Dankoff Solar centrifugal pump removes excess treated waste-water from a wetlands treatment system by means of sprayirrigation. Second Nature Systems, Kennard, Texas, installed thesolar irrigation system at the Transco Station gas pipeline sewer andindustrial washdown near Sour Lake, Texas. Modules are from BPSolar. The array provides 675 watts of peak power. [Photo courtesySecond Nature Systems]

� Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Wyoming, within YellowstoneNational Park, uses a 5kW remote power PV system for elec-tricity for NPS rangers, as well as instructors and students whoconvene there during the summer for ecology classes. [Photocourtesy Altair Energy]

� A rainbow complements PV arrays designed and installed by The Solar Connection for TheNature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island off the California coast. Photovoltaics replaced a noisy,smelly generator to provide power for up to 100 people who stay on the island at any given time,with enough power for their scientific work as well—about 35kW. The system features Siemensmodules, C&D batteries, and a Trace Technologies inverter. In this fragile nature preserve, PVis the most appropriate technology. [Photo courtesy The Solar Connection]

� At the Miner Institute in Chazy, New York, an 1800W PV/propanegenerator hybrid system provides utility grade electricity to power avariety of instruments. This environmental research facility monitorsthe effect of environmental changes on atmospheric carbon releasesfrom the temperate forest. The PV array consists of 25 Siemens mod-ules. SunWize Technologies, a Besicorp company, provided the system,which was developed in partnership with the New York State EnergyResearch and Development Authority. [Photo courtesy SunWize]

� Reynolds Aluminum uses a trailer-mounted PV system tomonitor the air quality around a bauxite tailings “pond” coveringseveral hundred acres near Corpus Christi, Texas. The trailer wascustomized by Direct Power and Water, Albuquerque, NewMexico. Samples are taken for a 24-hour period every seven days.The power system is configured for 12VDC and consists of 16Siemens SP-75 75W modules using a battery bank of 10 Deka8L16, 375 AH batteries. A Statpower 1,500W inverter is used topower the sampler and other related equipment. [Photo courtesyDirect Power and Water]

� Simpler Solar, Tallahassee, Florida, provided this collage of com-ponents of their solar pond aeration system. As rain water washes

over streets, roofs, farm lands,and so on, it builds up anexcess of nutrients that result inexcessive weed and algaegrowth. This accumulationconsumes inordinate amountsof oxygen in ponds. Aerationsystems bring new life to thesebodies of water, and they areespecially suited to be poweredby photovoltaics. [Photo cour-tesy Simpler Solar]

onsider for a moment the impact that apower source such as photovoltaics canmake on the earth’s environment. It is clean

and considered non-polluting. It is a renew-able energy source that consumes a reasonablysmall amount of the earth’s resources to produceelectricity. It is silent. Few resources are needed tokeep it running, day, after day, after day, any-where the sun shines.

So, PV as a power source is itself a huge, positiveinfluence on our environment. With that as anincontrovertible fact, what we feature here areways in which PV is being used to promote envi-ronmentally sound projects—good works that usePV in a number of diverse ways.

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C

� The U.S. Geological Survey uses this portable Solarex solarsystem to take ice core samples from glaciers to study air qual-ity. This photo was taken at Fremont Glacier, Wyoming, but theUSGS has since taken the system all over the world. [Photo cour-tesy Applied Power Corporation]

� Live Oak Solar’s portable T-REX PV system is on its way to aresidential construction site in southern California. The PV unitwas quiet enough to provide the necessary noise abatement fornight-time building. [Photo courtesy Live Oak Solar]

� Professor Emeritus Bill Peterson, University of IllinoisAgricultural Engineering Department is funded partly by theIllinois Bureau of Energy and Recycling (and partly by the NationalRenewable Energy Laboratory) to demonstrate PV projects fromhis mobile flatbed trailer. He uses a number of documents fromSandia’s Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center to educate hisaudience, whom Peterson reports are pleased when they see themany possibilities for using PV to save the environment. [Photocourtesy Professor Bill Peterson]

� Protecting the fragile environment was a strong motivation forhaving PV installed at his north Florida home, according to AlFord, great-grandson of the famous automaker. Living through theaftermath of Hurricane Andrew—months of no running water orflush toilets or air conditioning—was an equally convincing rea-son to turn to PV. The large system includes Siemens panels,Zomeworks trackers, Trace Engineering inverters, and Trojan bat-teries. [Photo courtesy Energy Conservation Services of North Florida]

� In a wetlands rehydration system installed by Solar ElectricPower Company, Florida, a 900W assembly operates two remotewater pumps in a 24V PV direct configuration. The pumps providean average of over 10,000 gallons daily. The water is directed ontoa designated wetlands replacement area. [Photo courtesy SEPCO]

� A Dankoff Solar centrifugal pump removes excess treated waste-water from a wetlands treatment system by means of sprayirrigation. Second Nature Systems, Kennard, Texas, installed thesolar irrigation system at the Transco Station gas pipeline sewer andindustrial washdown near Sour Lake, Texas. Modules are from BPSolar. The array provides 675 watts of peak power. [Photo courtesySecond Nature Systems]

� Lamar Buffalo Ranch, Wyoming, within YellowstoneNational Park, uses a 5kW remote power PV system for elec-tricity for NPS rangers, as well as instructors and students whoconvene there during the summer for ecology classes. [Photocourtesy Altair Energy]

� A rainbow complements PV arrays designed and installed by The Solar Connection for TheNature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island off the California coast. Photovoltaics replaced a noisy,smelly generator to provide power for up to 100 people who stay on the island at any given time,with enough power for their scientific work as well—about 35kW. The system features Siemensmodules, C&D batteries, and a Trace Technologies inverter. In this fragile nature preserve, PVis the most appropriate technology. [Photo courtesy The Solar Connection]

� At the Miner Institute in Chazy, New York, an 1800W PV/propanegenerator hybrid system provides utility grade electricity to power avariety of instruments. This environmental research facility monitorsthe effect of environmental changes on atmospheric carbon releasesfrom the temperate forest. The PV array consists of 25 Siemens mod-ules. SunWize Technologies, a Besicorp company, provided the system,which was developed in partnership with the New York State EnergyResearch and Development Authority. [Photo courtesy SunWize]

hurricane strikes, bringing with it a tremen-dously destructive force that leaves acommunity without power. Or a flood, tor-

nado, or earthquake occurs with littlewarning, disrupting normal communications.Emergency management teams, the national guard,and a myriad of other organizations respond withmassive relief and rebuilding efforts. Food, water,and medical supplies are provided to survivors.

This scenario, unfortunately repeated numeroustimes a year, is one in which photovoltaics canplay a vital role. Portable powersystems, such as those equippedwith PV, are capable of provid-ing the electrical needs forvaccine refrigeration, micro-scopes and other medicalequipment, lighting, radios,fans, communications, and traf-fic control devices, to name justa few. The energy provided isclean, quiet, and reliable. Stand-alone systems require norefueling, and they can operate for long periods oftime. In fact, PV-powered systems are particu-larly appropriate for low-power needs andlong-term use.

Portable photovoltaic power has been on the sceneduring Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, Erin and Luis;at the destruction after the Northridge, California,earthquake; and at other catastrophic events.Continued training of emergency managementteams will create an even larger niche for photo-voltaics in these unfortunate situations.

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A� PowerPod’s mobile power center suits a wide range of applications,especially radio communications, medical refrigeration, and outdoorlighting in the event of a natural disaster. A typical small pod wouldinclude a 100W PV panel, two 100 amp hour batteries, and an inverterfor ac loads. These units have been deployed in Antarctica at McMurdoStation where they provide power for communications and monitor-ing equipment to measure global warming. [Photo courtesyPowerPod/Sundance Solar]

� After Hurricane Andrew in Dade County, Florida, this PV-pow-ered street light was the only illumination surviving the destructionwithin five miles. Solar power kept the lights on in several com-munities for the two- or three-week period until utility powercould be restored. The 64W system shown here was installed bySolar Outdoor Lighting, Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� A Kyocera Solar module inNorthern Arizona used for weatherdata instrument collecting and trans-mitting. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� Solar-powered early warning sirens, suchas this one installed by Solar Depot, are foundat nuclear power plants across the U.S. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Direct Global Power, Inc. has developed a portable PV-poweredsystem for furnishing critical energy services during extendedpower outages following natural disasters such as hurricanes,floods, and earthquakes. This skid-mounted unit incorporates 16AstroPower 1200W modules and a Trace sine wave-type 8000Wcontinuous rating inverter. [Photo courtesy Direct Global Power]

� Global positioning systems may be powered with photovoltaics,such as the Solarex MSX-20 Lite™ system used for this MountEverest seismic movement expedition. [Photo courtesy Solarex, © Macgillivray-Freeman]

� SunWize mobile PV powerunits provide electricity for thehomes of elderly residents ofKnotts Island, North Carolinaafter Hurricane Fran. [Photo cour-tesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� The Pacific Northwest SeismographNetwork maintains many photovoltaic-powered monitoring stations like theone shown here on Mt. Rainier,Washington, where seismic data are col-lected and transmitted to assist inforewarning about earthquakes and vol-canoes. [Photo courtesy Pacific NorthwestSeismograph Network]

hurricane strikes, bringing with it a tremen-dously destructive force that leaves acommunity without power. Or a flood, tor-

nado, or earthquake occurs with littlewarning, disrupting normal communications.Emergency management teams, the national guard,and a myriad of other organizations respond withmassive relief and rebuilding efforts. Food, water,and medical supplies are provided to survivors.

This scenario, unfortunately repeated numeroustimes a year, is one in which photovoltaics canplay a vital role. Portable powersystems, such as those equippedwith PV, are capable of provid-ing the electrical needs forvaccine refrigeration, micro-scopes and other medicalequipment, lighting, radios,fans, communications, and traf-fic control devices, to name justa few. The energy provided isclean, quiet, and reliable. Stand-alone systems require norefueling, and they can operate for long periods oftime. In fact, PV-powered systems are particu-larly appropriate for low-power needs andlong-term use.

Portable photovoltaic power has been on the sceneduring Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, Erin and Luis;at the destruction after the Northridge, California,earthquake; and at other catastrophic events.Continued training of emergency managementteams will create an even larger niche for photo-voltaics in these unfortunate situations.

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38

A� PowerPod’s mobile power center suits a wide range of applications,especially radio communications, medical refrigeration, and outdoorlighting in the event of a natural disaster. A typical small pod wouldinclude a 100W PV panel, two 100 amp hour batteries, and an inverterfor ac loads. These units have been deployed in Antarctica at McMurdoStation where they provide power for communications and monitor-ing equipment to measure global warming. [Photo courtesyPowerPod/Sundance Solar]

� After Hurricane Andrew in Dade County, Florida, this PV-pow-ered street light was the only illumination surviving the destructionwithin five miles. Solar power kept the lights on in several com-munities for the two- or three-week period until utility powercould be restored. The 64W system shown here was installed bySolar Outdoor Lighting, Stuart, Florida. [Photo courtesy SolarOutdoor Lighting]

� A Kyocera Solar module inNorthern Arizona used for weatherdata instrument collecting and trans-mitting. [Photo courtesy KyoceraSolar, Inc.]

� Solar-powered early warning sirens, suchas this one installed by Solar Depot, are foundat nuclear power plants across the U.S. [Photocourtesy Solar Depot]

� Direct Global Power, Inc. has developed a portable PV-poweredsystem for furnishing critical energy services during extendedpower outages following natural disasters such as hurricanes,floods, and earthquakes. This skid-mounted unit incorporates 16AstroPower 1200W modules and a Trace sine wave-type 8000Wcontinuous rating inverter. [Photo courtesy Direct Global Power]

� Global positioning systems may be powered with photovoltaics,such as the Solarex MSX-20 Lite™ system used for this MountEverest seismic movement expedition. [Photo courtesy Solarex, © Macgillivray-Freeman]

� SunWize mobile PV powerunits provide electricity for thehomes of elderly residents ofKnotts Island, North Carolinaafter Hurricane Fran. [Photo cour-tesy North Carolina Solar Center]

� The Pacific Northwest SeismographNetwork maintains many photovoltaic-powered monitoring stations like theone shown here on Mt. Rainier,Washington, where seismic data are col-lected and transmitted to assist inforewarning about earthquakes and vol-canoes. [Photo courtesy Pacific NorthwestSeismograph Network]

� PV helps power theOxnard, California FireStation Number Seven,which is a line-tied sys-tem designed andinstalled by SolarElectrical Systems,Thousand Oaks,California. The customer

is SCE, the modules are 12kW AstroPower, with an Omnion inverter.[Photo courtesy Solar Electrical Systems]

� International health organizations usesolar panels to power refrigeration units indeveloping countries and in emergencysituations anywhere in the world. Thisapplication saves lives by refrigerating pre-cious blood and vaccines. [Photo courtesyGeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc.]

� Here a 768 watt Solarex array powersa water chlorinating station. [Photo cour-tesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� This solar-powered water purification and disinfection unit uses thepower of the sun to provide clean, microbiologically safe drinkingwater. Units such as this are critical in areas struck by natural disasteror areas where the only source of drinking water is contaminated.[Photo courtesy Southwest Photovoltaics]

� This installation at Long Tom LookOut on the Bitterroot National Forest,Montana, powers a two-way radio sys-tem for USDA Forest Servicefirefighters. Installed by Sunelco, it uses24 Solarex 60W modules. [Photo courtesyKyocera Solar]

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ome of the greatest human interest storiesrelating to photovoltaics come from theone-on-one impact that PV can make in

the health of people in the developing world:PV is used to refrigerate vaccine, to create safedrinking water, to keep life-saving blood suppliesunder refrigeration, to pump fresh water wherethere was only a polluted stream before.

And PV can have that same impact on the safetyof people, too. Fire fighters use PV in numerousways. PV is used to ensure that test ban treatiesare honored. In fact, the uses for PV are sodiverse that they are limited only by the imagi-nation of the user.

Whatever the future applications of PV may be,it is a certainty that it will continue to make ushealthier and safer.

S� A project undertaken byDirect Global Power, Schenec-tady, and the New York StatePolice, proved the efficacy of aPV power option atop CatheadMountain (shown here) andBlack Mountain, both withinthe Adirondack Preserve.Thirty-six Siemens modulesdesigned to produce about

2kW under peak condi-tions augment existingsystems at both locales.

Reliability and spatial cov-erage of the State Police’sradio communications sys-tems have been increased.[Photo courtesy DirectGlobal Power, Inc.]

� Some perfectly viable applications for photovoltaics mayresult in curiously interesting photographs, but small PV-pow-ered refrigeration units for items such as vaccines is a veryimportant application for PV in developing countries—or in theevent of major weather occurrences or natural disasters whereconventional power is lost here in the United States. [Photocourtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� A PV-fed water treat-ment plant is part of theArmy’s Yuma ProvingGround complex. Shownhere are the plant, the pro-cessing tanks, and the “longline” 12.47KV switch.[Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� In northern California, where wildfires sometimes destroy thousands of acres of land, these deployable PowerPods are used byfire fighting crews in base camps and staging areas. They provide power for integrated flood lighting, ac inverter power for computers,radio battery charging, and communications equipment. [Photo courtesy PowerPod Corporation]

� A PV hybrid system (2.2kW PV array and two dieselgenerators) powers this International Nuclear Test BanTreaty seismic monitoring station in Antarctica. The system,

located at Bull Pass,was designed, manu-factured, and installedby Northern PowerSystems, Waitsfield,Vermont. [Photo cour-tesy Northern Power]

� PV-powered warningsiren at Harris Lake, forCarolina Power andLight’s Shearon Harrisnuclear power plant,Apex, North Carolina.[Photo courtesy NorthCarolina Solar Center]

� PV helps power theOxnard, California FireStation Number Seven,which is a line-tied sys-tem designed andinstalled by SolarElectrical Systems,Thousand Oaks,California. The customer

is SCE, the modules are 12kW AstroPower, with an Omnion inverter.[Photo courtesy Solar Electrical Systems]

� International health organizations usesolar panels to power refrigeration units indeveloping countries and in emergencysituations anywhere in the world. Thisapplication saves lives by refrigerating pre-cious blood and vaccines. [Photo courtesyGeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc.]

� Here a 768 watt Solarex array powersa water chlorinating station. [Photo cour-tesy Atlantic Solar Products]

� This solar-powered water purification and disinfection unit uses thepower of the sun to provide clean, microbiologically safe drinkingwater. Units such as this are critical in areas struck by natural disasteror areas where the only source of drinking water is contaminated.[Photo courtesy Southwest Photovoltaics]

� This installation at Long Tom LookOut on the Bitterroot National Forest,Montana, powers a two-way radio sys-tem for USDA Forest Servicefirefighters. Installed by Sunelco, it uses24 Solarex 60W modules. [Photo courtesyKyocera Solar]

41

P U B L I C H E A L T H A N D S A F E T Y

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ome of the greatest human interest storiesrelating to photovoltaics come from theone-on-one impact that PV can make in

the health of people in the developing world:PV is used to refrigerate vaccine, to create safedrinking water, to keep life-saving blood suppliesunder refrigeration, to pump fresh water wherethere was only a polluted stream before.

And PV can have that same impact on the safetyof people, too. Fire fighters use PV in numerousways. PV is used to ensure that test ban treatiesare honored. In fact, the uses for PV are sodiverse that they are limited only by the imagi-nation of the user.

Whatever the future applications of PV may be,it is a certainty that it will continue to make ushealthier and safer.

S� A project undertaken byDirect Global Power, Schenec-tady, and the New York StatePolice, proved the efficacy of aPV power option atop CatheadMountain (shown here) andBlack Mountain, both withinthe Adirondack Preserve.Thirty-six Siemens modulesdesigned to produce about

2kW under peak condi-tions augment existingsystems at both locales.

Reliability and spatial cov-erage of the State Police’sradio communications sys-tems have been increased.[Photo courtesy DirectGlobal Power, Inc.]

� Some perfectly viable applications for photovoltaics mayresult in curiously interesting photographs, but small PV-pow-ered refrigeration units for items such as vaccines is a veryimportant application for PV in developing countries—or in theevent of major weather occurrences or natural disasters whereconventional power is lost here in the United States. [Photocourtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� A PV-fed water treat-ment plant is part of theArmy’s Yuma ProvingGround complex. Shownhere are the plant, the pro-cessing tanks, and the “longline” 12.47KV switch.[Photo courtesy U.S. Army]

� In northern California, where wildfires sometimes destroy thousands of acres of land, these deployable PowerPods are used byfire fighting crews in base camps and staging areas. They provide power for integrated flood lighting, ac inverter power for computers,radio battery charging, and communications equipment. [Photo courtesy PowerPod Corporation]

� A PV hybrid system (2.2kW PV array and two dieselgenerators) powers this International Nuclear Test BanTreaty seismic monitoring station in Antarctica. The system,

located at Bull Pass,was designed, manu-factured, and installedby Northern PowerSystems, Waitsfield,Vermont. [Photo cour-tesy Northern Power]

� PV-powered warningsiren at Harris Lake, forCarolina Power andLight’s Shearon Harrisnuclear power plant,Apex, North Carolina.[Photo courtesy NorthCarolina Solar Center]

� This BP Solar Apollo® glasspavilion was created for theCooper-Hewitt National DesignMuseum, part of the SmithsonianInstitution, New York City. Thepavilion is now a traveling exhibi-tion showcased in major citiesaround the U.S. as part of “Underthe Sun: An Outdoor Exhibition ofLight,” which focuses on innova-tive solar design and architecture.[Photo courtesy BP Solar]

� Solar-powered golf carts areused at the Mauna Lani Hotel,Kohala Coast, Hawaii. When a cart is at rest, PowerLight’sSunCaddy charges the battery; and an integrated charge controllerensures that the batteries will not be overcharged. SunCaddy workson any golf cart through a simple roof-top installation. It has nomoving parts and is designed for practically maintenance-freeoperation. [Photo courtesy PowerLight Corporation]

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reating beauty. Creating convenience.Creating pleasure. Photovoltaics canchange our lives and change the look of the

world around us. PV can have a powerfulimpact on our everyday lives, whether we’re work-ing or playing.

Solar-powered calculators and watches have morethan two decades of successful history; in fact,that early application of PV is all but taken forgranted today.

Photovoltaics has been incorporated into the totalenergy package at dozens of our national parksand monuments—places where we enjoyAmerica’s vast natural beauty. PV—a quiet, cleansource of energy—is, in fact, used because it keepsAmerica beautiful.

Now solar is being marketed in conjunction withother consumer products as well. Some of thoseare shown here, but only the future will tell whatother uses there may be for PV-powered objects inour daily lives. Some predict that soon automo-biles will all be equipped with PV on car roofs orhoods so that satellite links can supply ‘video ondemand for the back seat.’

The next two double-page spreads are dedicatedto PV for recreational purposes or for enhancingeveryday life.

Take a look around you. The possibilities areendless.

C

� The Sullivan cabin at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has a PV shingle roof array of about 2kW on a ranger cabin. TheUni-Solar PV shingles serve as both a roof shingle and a solar collector, and help maintain the rustic appearance of the cabin.The system was designed and installed by Currin Corporation for the National Park Service. The roof is covered with snow fromDecember to April, so a pole-mounted array is used to maintain a charge on the 48V battery bank. The cabin is unoccupied andinaccessible during the winter months. [Photos courtesy Currin Corporation]

� A 24V solar-powered water pumping sys-tem is located at the picnic area/trailhead atPictured Rocks National Lakeshore, GrandMarais, Michigan. Called the Log SlidePumphouse, the installation was designed byCurrin Corporation and is contained in thekiosk structure that also serves as an informa-tion station and storage building. [Photo courtesyNational Park Service]

� Small arrays such as this one byKyocera Solar provide power wherever you need it—such as on apleasure craft or fishing boat. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� A rather large market exists for small PV arraysto power lights and household appliances in recre-ational vehicles. Shown here are two Uni-PowerUS-21 modules used for battery charging in anRV. [Photo courtesy United Solar Systems Corp.]

� PV is becoming ever more visible. This array by SMUD provides power at the Sacramento,California Municipal Zoo. [Photo courtesy Sacramento Municipal Utility District] and 5kW of thinfilm, amorphous silicon modules by Energy Photovoltaics (EPV) provides both shade and powerover bleachers at the Roseville, California city pool. This was a project installed by UPG (nowKyocera) for SMUD. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV modules are roof mounted (to deter vandalism) onthe General Nathan Twining Observatory located nearBelen, New Mexico. The installation was designed andintegrated by Energia Total, Corrales, New Mexico,through an Enchantment Energy Trust grant from PublicService Company of New Mexico. The array is capable ofproducing 90 watts of power. The AlbuquerqueAstronomical Society owns and operates the facility. [Photocourtesy Michael Pendley]

� This BP Solar Apollo® glasspavilion was created for theCooper-Hewitt National DesignMuseum, part of the SmithsonianInstitution, New York City. Thepavilion is now a traveling exhibi-tion showcased in major citiesaround the U.S. as part of “Underthe Sun: An Outdoor Exhibition ofLight,” which focuses on innova-tive solar design and architecture.[Photo courtesy BP Solar]

� Solar-powered golf carts areused at the Mauna Lani Hotel,Kohala Coast, Hawaii. When a cart is at rest, PowerLight’sSunCaddy charges the battery; and an integrated charge controllerensures that the batteries will not be overcharged. SunCaddy workson any golf cart through a simple roof-top installation. It has nomoving parts and is designed for practically maintenance-freeoperation. [Photo courtesy PowerLight Corporation]

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42

reating beauty. Creating convenience.Creating pleasure. Photovoltaics canchange our lives and change the look of the

world around us. PV can have a powerfulimpact on our everyday lives, whether we’re work-ing or playing.

Solar-powered calculators and watches have morethan two decades of successful history; in fact,that early application of PV is all but taken forgranted today.

Photovoltaics has been incorporated into the totalenergy package at dozens of our national parksand monuments—places where we enjoyAmerica’s vast natural beauty. PV—a quiet, cleansource of energy—is, in fact, used because it keepsAmerica beautiful.

Now solar is being marketed in conjunction withother consumer products as well. Some of thoseare shown here, but only the future will tell whatother uses there may be for PV-powered objects inour daily lives. Some predict that soon automo-biles will all be equipped with PV on car roofs orhoods so that satellite links can supply ‘video ondemand for the back seat.’

The next two double-page spreads are dedicatedto PV for recreational purposes or for enhancingeveryday life.

Take a look around you. The possibilities areendless.

C

� The Sullivan cabin at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has a PV shingle roof array of about 2kW on a ranger cabin. TheUni-Solar PV shingles serve as both a roof shingle and a solar collector, and help maintain the rustic appearance of the cabin.The system was designed and installed by Currin Corporation for the National Park Service. The roof is covered with snow fromDecember to April, so a pole-mounted array is used to maintain a charge on the 48V battery bank. The cabin is unoccupied andinaccessible during the winter months. [Photos courtesy Currin Corporation]

� A 24V solar-powered water pumping sys-tem is located at the picnic area/trailhead atPictured Rocks National Lakeshore, GrandMarais, Michigan. Called the Log SlidePumphouse, the installation was designed byCurrin Corporation and is contained in thekiosk structure that also serves as an informa-tion station and storage building. [Photo courtesyNational Park Service]

� Small arrays such as this one byKyocera Solar provide power wherever you need it—such as on apleasure craft or fishing boat. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� A rather large market exists for small PV arraysto power lights and household appliances in recre-ational vehicles. Shown here are two Uni-PowerUS-21 modules used for battery charging in anRV. [Photo courtesy United Solar Systems Corp.]

� PV is becoming ever more visible. This array by SMUD provides power at the Sacramento,California Municipal Zoo. [Photo courtesy Sacramento Municipal Utility District] and 5kW of thinfilm, amorphous silicon modules by Energy Photovoltaics (EPV) provides both shade and powerover bleachers at the Roseville, California city pool. This was a project installed by UPG (nowKyocera) for SMUD. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV modules are roof mounted (to deter vandalism) onthe General Nathan Twining Observatory located nearBelen, New Mexico. The installation was designed andintegrated by Energia Total, Corrales, New Mexico,through an Enchantment Energy Trust grant from PublicService Company of New Mexico. The array is capable ofproducing 90 watts of power. The AlbuquerqueAstronomical Society owns and operates the facility. [Photocourtesy Michael Pendley]

� Lawnmowers in the U.S. burn nearly 800 milliongallons of gas each year. One response is this SolarMower™. [Photo courtesy The Green Culture]

� This solar-powered lantern is great for camp-ing or emergency use. Have light anywhere youneed it, free of lines, propane tanks, and messylamp gas or oil. A full charge provides 4-6 hoursof light. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility]

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� The IndianPueblo Cultural Center,Albuquerque, NewMexico, integrates aPV awning beauti-fully with itsbuilding. The Ziadesign was cut into thecenter row of panels, creating astunning effect when sunlightpaints the sacred Indian symbolonto the sidewalk below. NativeAmerican-owned DiversifiedSystems Manufacturing designed and oversawthe project. Energia Total, Corrales, installed thesystem, which incorporated AstroPower modules.The solar carport is the largest commercial PV array inthe state. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� Solar takes a happy turn at a seaside parkat the Santa Monica Pier (California) wherea 50kW Siemens Solar system is one of anumber of high visibility demonstrationsthat build public awareness of the environ-mental value of renewable technologies. Thisis the world’s first solar-powered ferris wheel.[Photo courtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� PV provides portable power forcomputers. This SunWize unit meansyou can work away from the electricalgrid as long as the sun is shining topower the portable energy system.[Photo courtesy SunWize]

� This PV-assisted, grid-connectedclock tower is the centerpiece ofSunMicrosystems $200 million campus in Burlington,Massachusetts. Modules were provided by ASE Americas. Theoutstanding design was created by architect Sun-Hok. [Photo cour-tesy ASE Americas]

� PV provides power where youneed it on recreational vehicles ofall kinds—even those on water.[Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV for wireless communications is a wel-come addition. If you’re stranded because of anauto malfunction, car phones—made possibleby solar power—provide security, safety, andrelief. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Everyday life for children of the LagunaPueblo in New Mexico will be enhanced whenthe proposed Laguna Youth Facility at the old Majors Ranch becomes a reality. The existing PV will be augmentedwith 2kW of PV for electricity and a 1.2kW PV system for water pumping to power the main house, a dormi-tory for kids, and other outbuildings. A wind turbine will provide 10kW of electricity. The ranch is 10 miles off-grid.

[Photo courtesy Diversified Systems Manufacturing]

Serenity Studio, Prescott, Arizona, is the first known solar-powered sound recording stu-dio in the U.S. PV power ensures no electrical surges or power outages. The

studio uses about 1000 watts of power in full operation and ispowered by 14 Siemens 75 W panels with a Trace

inverter—tied to PV on an adjoining resi-dence. [Photo courtesy Carol

Hills] �

� The design of this solar-pow-ered fountain integrates PV cellson a curved surface to catch thechanging angles of the sun. Theyare specially sized, configured,and wired polycrystalline cells oncustom-designed modules fromKyocera Solar. The fountain isdepicted among the Cooper-Hewitt National DesignMuseum’s images in their“Under the Sun” exhibit. [Photocourtesy Alt. Technica]

� Solar-powered refrigerators provide thesecurity of foodstuffs in emergency or back-up power situations. Shown here is theSolarFridge by Simpler Solar, Tallahassee,Florida. [Photo courtesy Simpler Solar]

� Lawnmowers in the U.S. burn nearly 800 milliongallons of gas each year. One response is this SolarMower™. [Photo courtesy The Green Culture]

� This solar-powered lantern is great for camp-ing or emergency use. Have light anywhere youneed it, free of lines, propane tanks, and messylamp gas or oil. A full charge provides 4-6 hoursof light. [Photo courtesy Solar Utility]

45

M A K I N G E V E R Y D A Y L I F E B E T T E R

44

� The IndianPueblo Cultural Center,Albuquerque, NewMexico, integrates aPV awning beauti-fully with itsbuilding. The Ziadesign was cut into thecenter row of panels, creating astunning effect when sunlightpaints the sacred Indian symbolonto the sidewalk below. NativeAmerican-owned DiversifiedSystems Manufacturing designed and oversawthe project. Energia Total, Corrales, installed thesystem, which incorporated AstroPower modules.The solar carport is the largest commercial PV array inthe state. [Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories]

� Solar takes a happy turn at a seaside parkat the Santa Monica Pier (California) wherea 50kW Siemens Solar system is one of anumber of high visibility demonstrationsthat build public awareness of the environ-mental value of renewable technologies. Thisis the world’s first solar-powered ferris wheel.[Photo courtesy Siemens Solar Industries]

� PV provides portable power forcomputers. This SunWize unit meansyou can work away from the electricalgrid as long as the sun is shining topower the portable energy system.[Photo courtesy SunWize]

� This PV-assisted, grid-connectedclock tower is the centerpiece ofSunMicrosystems $200 million campus in Burlington,Massachusetts. Modules were provided by ASE Americas. Theoutstanding design was created by architect Sun-Hok. [Photo cour-tesy ASE Americas]

� PV provides power where youneed it on recreational vehicles ofall kinds—even those on water.[Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� PV for wireless communications is a wel-come addition. If you’re stranded because of anauto malfunction, car phones—made possibleby solar power—provide security, safety, andrelief. [Photo courtesy Kyocera Solar, Inc.]

� Everyday life for children of the LagunaPueblo in New Mexico will be enhanced whenthe proposed Laguna Youth Facility at the old Majors Ranch becomes a reality. The existing PV will be augmentedwith 2kW of PV for electricity and a 1.2kW PV system for water pumping to power the main house, a dormi-tory for kids, and other outbuildings. A wind turbine will provide 10kW of electricity. The ranch is 10 miles off-grid.

[Photo courtesy Diversified Systems Manufacturing]

Serenity Studio, Prescott, Arizona, is the first known solar-powered sound recording stu-dio in the U.S. PV power ensures no electrical surges or power outages. The

studio uses about 1000 watts of power in full operation and ispowered by 14 Siemens 75 W panels with a Trace

inverter—tied to PV on an adjoining resi-dence. [Photo courtesy Carol

Hills] �

� The design of this solar-pow-ered fountain integrates PV cellson a curved surface to catch thechanging angles of the sun. Theyare specially sized, configured,and wired polycrystalline cells oncustom-designed modules fromKyocera Solar. The fountain isdepicted among the Cooper-Hewitt National DesignMuseum’s images in their“Under the Sun” exhibit. [Photocourtesy Alt. Technica]

� Solar-powered refrigerators provide thesecurity of foodstuffs in emergency or back-up power situations. Shown here is theSolarFridge by Simpler Solar, Tallahassee,Florida. [Photo courtesy Simpler Solar]

C O N T R I B U T O R S

4746

e’ve shown you PV at work in diverse andcreative ways you might never have imag-ined. And while we’ve developed some

categories to group ideas together, these cat-egories are in no way meant to limit how youthink about PV. On the contrary, expanding theoptions for which we consider photovoltaics isthe whole purpose for this book.

AAA Solar2021 Zearing S. W.Albuquerque, NM 87104505-243-4900www.aaasolar.com

Alt. Technica242 East 19thNew York, NY 10003212-260-0806amon@together.net

Altair Energy, LLC600 Corporate Circle, Suite MGolden, CO 80401303-277-0025www.altairenergy.com

Ascension Technology235 Bear Hill RoadWaltham, MA 02451781-890-8844www.ascensiontech.com

ASE Americas4 Suburban Park DriveBillerica, MA 01821-3980978-667-5900www.asepv.com

AstroPower, Inc.Solar ParkNewark, DE 19716302-366-0400www.astropower.com

Atlantic Solar ProductsP. O. Box 70060Baltimore, MD 21237-6060410-686-6221www.atlanticsolar.com

Atlantis Energy4610 Northgate Blvd., #150Sacramento, CA 95834-1122916-920-9500www.atlantisenergy.com

AvisAmericaHenry StreetAvis, PA 17721570-753-3700www.avisamerica.com

Backwoods Solar Electric Systems8530 Rapid Lightning Creek RoadSandpoint, ID 83864208-263-4290www.backwoodssolar.com

BP Solar, Inc.2300 N. Watney WayFairfield, CA 94533707-428-7800www.bpsolarex.com

Currin CorporationP. O. Box 2006Midland, MI 48641517-835-7387currcorp@tm.net

Dankoff Solar Products, Inc.2810 Industrial RoadSanta Fe, NM 87505505-473-3800www.dankoffsolar.com

Direct Global Power, Inc.P. O. Box 1058Schenectady, NY 12301914-687-2406www.seia.org/cpdgp.htm

Direct Power and Water4000 Vassar Drive N.E., Ste. BAlbuquerque, NM 87107505-889-3585www.directpower.com

Diversified Systems Mfg., LLC2401 12th Street N.W., Suite 215Albuquerque, NM 87104505-247-4604http://hometown.aol.com/dmelton429/myhomepage/business.html

Endecon Engineering2500 Old Crow Canyon Rd., #220San Ramon, CA 94583925-552-1330www.endecon.com

Energia Total, Ltd.451 W. Meadowlark LaneCorrales, NM 87048505-890-1534www.energiatotal.com

Energy Conservation Services of NorthFlorida6120 SW 13th StreetGainesville, FL 32608352-377-8866www.ecs-solar.com

EV Solar Products2655 N. Highway 89Chino Valley, AZ 86323520-636-2201www.evsolar.com

Evergreen Solar, Inc.211 Second AvenueWaltham, MA 02451781-890-7117www.evergreensolar.com

FIRST, Inc.66 Snydertown RoadHopewell, NJ 08525609-466-4495www.solarhome.org

First Solar, LLC1702 N. Westwood AvenueToledo, OH 43607419-534-3377sjohnson@firstsolar.com

Florida Solar Energy Center1679 Clearlake Blvd.Cocoa, FL 32922407-638-1000www.fsec.ucf.edu

GenSun Electric Solar Systems, Inc.10760 Kendall RoadLucerne Valley, CA 92356760-248-2689www.gensun.com

GeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc.2649 N. W. 28th TerraceBoca Raton, FL 33434561-218-3007www.geosolar.com

Hitney Solar ProductsP. O. Box 365Chino Valley, AZ 86323520-636-1001hitneysolarproducts@mwaz.com

Hutton Communications, Inc.2520 Marsh LaneCarrollton, TX 75006972-417-0100www.huttoncom.com

WS T I L L F L Y I N G H I G H

� Pathfinder is a remotely controlled, solar-powered flying wing,designed and built as a proof of concept vehicle for a much largeraircraft capable of flying at extremely high altitudes for weeks at atime. It was built for NASA by AeroVironment, a California com-pany. Current from solar arrays (silicon solar cells developed bySunPower Corporation) provides power during daylight, whilestored energy allows flight after dark. [Photo courtesy NASA]

� The Breitling Orbiter III became the first hot air balloon to cir-cle the globe non-stop. Morningstar’s ProStar controllers wereused to manage the electricity generated by the 20 Solarex PV pan-els hanging under the gondola. Energy for all on-boardequipment—telecommunications and navigation instruments,lighting, and water heater—was stored in five batteries. [Photo cour-tesy Morningstar]

There’s much

in this book

worth repeating,

but one of the

most important

points is that

photovoltaics is a

universal power

source.

There’s much

in this book

worth repeating,

but one of the

most important

points is that

photovoltaics is a

universal power

source.

C O N T R I B U T O R S

4746

e’ve shown you PV at work in diverse andcreative ways you might never have imag-ined. And while we’ve developed some

categories to group ideas together, these cat-egories are in no way meant to limit how youthink about PV. On the contrary, expanding theoptions for which we consider photovoltaics isthe whole purpose for this book.

AAA Solar2021 Zearing S. W.Albuquerque, NM 87104505-243-4900www.aaasolar.com

Alt. Technica242 East 19thNew York, NY 10003212-260-0806amon@together.net

Altair Energy, LLC600 Corporate Circle, Suite MGolden, CO 80401303-277-0025www.altairenergy.com

Ascension Technology235 Bear Hill RoadWaltham, MA 02451781-890-8844www.ascensiontech.com

ASE Americas4 Suburban Park DriveBillerica, MA 01821-3980978-667-5900www.asepv.com

AstroPower, Inc.Solar ParkNewark, DE 19716302-366-0400www.astropower.com

Atlantic Solar ProductsP. O. Box 70060Baltimore, MD 21237-6060410-686-6221www.atlanticsolar.com

Atlantis Energy4610 Northgate Blvd., #150Sacramento, CA 95834-1122916-920-9500www.atlantisenergy.com

AvisAmericaHenry StreetAvis, PA 17721570-753-3700www.avisamerica.com

Backwoods Solar Electric Systems8530 Rapid Lightning Creek RoadSandpoint, ID 83864208-263-4290www.backwoodssolar.com

BP Solar, Inc.2300 N. Watney WayFairfield, CA 94533707-428-7800www.bpsolarex.com

Currin CorporationP. O. Box 2006Midland, MI 48641517-835-7387currcorp@tm.net

Dankoff Solar Products, Inc.2810 Industrial RoadSanta Fe, NM 87505505-473-3800www.dankoffsolar.com

Direct Global Power, Inc.P. O. Box 1058Schenectady, NY 12301914-687-2406www.seia.org/cpdgp.htm

Direct Power and Water4000 Vassar Drive N.E., Ste. BAlbuquerque, NM 87107505-889-3585www.directpower.com

Diversified Systems Mfg., LLC2401 12th Street N.W., Suite 215Albuquerque, NM 87104505-247-4604http://hometown.aol.com/dmelton429/myhomepage/business.html

Endecon Engineering2500 Old Crow Canyon Rd., #220San Ramon, CA 94583925-552-1330www.endecon.com

Energia Total, Ltd.451 W. Meadowlark LaneCorrales, NM 87048505-890-1534www.energiatotal.com

Energy Conservation Services of NorthFlorida6120 SW 13th StreetGainesville, FL 32608352-377-8866www.ecs-solar.com

EV Solar Products2655 N. Highway 89Chino Valley, AZ 86323520-636-2201www.evsolar.com

Evergreen Solar, Inc.211 Second AvenueWaltham, MA 02451781-890-7117www.evergreensolar.com

FIRST, Inc.66 Snydertown RoadHopewell, NJ 08525609-466-4495www.solarhome.org

First Solar, LLC1702 N. Westwood AvenueToledo, OH 43607419-534-3377sjohnson@firstsolar.com

Florida Solar Energy Center1679 Clearlake Blvd.Cocoa, FL 32922407-638-1000www.fsec.ucf.edu

GenSun Electric Solar Systems, Inc.10760 Kendall RoadLucerne Valley, CA 92356760-248-2689www.gensun.com

GeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc.2649 N. W. 28th TerraceBoca Raton, FL 33434561-218-3007www.geosolar.com

Hitney Solar ProductsP. O. Box 365Chino Valley, AZ 86323520-636-1001hitneysolarproducts@mwaz.com

Hutton Communications, Inc.2520 Marsh LaneCarrollton, TX 75006972-417-0100www.huttoncom.com

WS T I L L F L Y I N G H I G H

� Pathfinder is a remotely controlled, solar-powered flying wing,designed and built as a proof of concept vehicle for a much largeraircraft capable of flying at extremely high altitudes for weeks at atime. It was built for NASA by AeroVironment, a California com-pany. Current from solar arrays (silicon solar cells developed bySunPower Corporation) provides power during daylight, whilestored energy allows flight after dark. [Photo courtesy NASA]

� The Breitling Orbiter III became the first hot air balloon to cir-cle the globe non-stop. Morningstar’s ProStar controllers wereused to manage the electricity generated by the 20 Solarex PV pan-els hanging under the gondola. Energy for all on-boardequipment—telecommunications and navigation instruments,lighting, and water heater—was stored in five batteries. [Photo cour-tesy Morningstar]

There’s much

in this book

worth repeating,

but one of the

most important

points is that

photovoltaics is a

universal power

source.

There’s much

in this book

worth repeating,

but one of the

most important

points is that

photovoltaics is a

universal power

source.

49

C O N T R I B U T O R S

48

Kyocera Solar, Inc.P. O. Box 14670Scottsdale, AZ 85267602-948-8003www.kyocerasolar.com

Live Oak Solar232 Anacapa Street, Ste. 1BSanta Barbara, CA 93101805-966-9034www.liveoaksolar.com

Morningstar Corporation1098 Washington Crossing Rd., #3Washington Crossing, PA 18977-1342215-504-8901www.morningstarcorp.com

NASA Dryden Flight Research CenterPublic Affairs OfficeEdwards, CA 93523805-258-3449www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo

National Park ServicePictured Rocks National LakeshoreP. O. Box 40, Sand Point RoadMunising, MI 49862906-387-2607www.nationalparks.org/guide/parks/pictured-roc-1813.htm

National Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole Blvd.Golden, CO 80401303-275-3000www.nrel.gov

Navajo Tribal Utility AuthorityP. O. Box 170Ft. Defiance, AZ 86504520-729-5721www.ntua.com

North Carolina Solar CenterCampus Box 7401, NCSURaleigh, NC 27695-7401919-515-3480www.ncsc.ncsu.edu

Northern Power SystemsP. O. Box 999Waitsfield, VT 05673-0999802-496-2955www.northernpower.com

Pacific Northwest SeismographicNetworkUW Geophysics ProgramBox 351650Seattle, WA 98195-1650www.geophys.washington.edu/SEIS/

Pacific Solar Company1725 E. Bayshore Road, #103Redwood City, CA 94063650-556-9450www.pacificsolar.com

Parker McCrory Manufacturing2000 Forest AvenueKansas City, MO 64108816-221-2000www.parmakusa.com

Planergy, Inc.Barton Oaks Plaza Two, Ste. 495Austin, TX 78746512-327-6830www.texpvc.org

PowerLight Corporation2954 San Pablo AvenueBerkeley, CA 94710510-540-0550www.powerlight.com

PowerPod CorporationP. O. Box 321Placerville, CO 80430970-252-1978www.powerpod.com

PVI Photovoltaics International171 Commercial StreetSunnyvale, CA 94086408-746-3062www.pvintl.com

Real Goods Trading555 Leslie StreetUkiah, CA 95482707-468-9292www.realgoods.com

Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictP. O. Box 15830Sacramento, CA 95852-1830888-742-7683www.smud.org

Sainsbury’sSouth East Regional Office50 Lombard Wall, CharltonLondon SE7 7SH0181-225-5335www.sainsburys.com

Second Nature SystemsRoute 1, Box 163Lake Creek Cemetery RoadKennard, TX 75847409-638-4263schelldc@lcc.net

Serenity StudioHC 30, Box 890 Prescott, AZ 86305520-717-2471www.solarpioneers.com

Siemens Solar Industries4650 Adohr LaneCamarillo, CA 93012805-388-6519www.siemenssolar.com

Simpler Solar Systems3118 W. Tharpe StreetTallahassee, FL 32303850-576-5271www.simplersolar.com

Solar Depot, Inc.61 Paul DriveSan Rafael, CA 94903415-499-1333www.solardepot.com

Solar Design AssociatesP. O. Box 242Harvard, MA 01451-0242978-456-6855www.solardesign.com

Solar Electric Power Company7984 SW Jack James DriveStuart, FL 34997561-220-6615www.sepco-solarlighting.com

Solar Electrical Systems2746 W. Appalachian CourtThousand Oaks, CA 91362805-373-9433ses@pacificnet.net

Solar Outdoor Lighting3131 S. E. Waaler StreetStuart, FL 34997561-286-9461www.solarlighting.com

Solar Utility, Inc.6160 Bristol ParkwayCulver City, CA 90230310-410-3934www.solarutility.com

Solarex Corporation989 Corporate Blvd.Baltimore, MD 21090301-698-4200www.solarex.com

Southern California Edison2244 Walnut Grove AvenueRosemead, CA 91770626-302-8946taylors@sce.com

Southwest Photovoltaic Systems, Inc.212 East MainTomball, TX 77375281-351-0031www.southwestpv.com

Southwest Technology DevelopmentInstitute1505 Payne StreetLas Cruces, NM 88003505-646-1049http://swtdi.nmsu.edu/

SunWize Technologies, Inc.90 Boices LaneKingston, NY 12401914-336-0146www.sunwize.com

The Solar ConnectionP. O. Box 1138Morro Bay, CA 93443805-772-8601solar.connection@thegrid.net

Tucson Coalition for Solar3220 E. Lester StreetTucson, AZ 85733520-326-3195

United Solar Systems Corp.1100 West Maple RoadTroy, MI 48084248-362-4170www.ovonic.com

U. S. ArmyCERL217-398-5222r-ducey@cecer.army.mil

U. S. ArmyYuma Proving GroundYuma, AZGeorge.fischbach@yuma-exch1.army.mil

U. S. Marine CorpsYuma Proving GroundYuma, AZ520-341-2734durfeyrj@ex.yuma.usmc.mil

U. S. NavyNaval Air Weapons StationTri-Service Renewable EnergyCommitteeChina Lake, CA 93555760-939-0048combscc@navair.navy.mil

Zomeworks1011 Sawmill Road N.W.Albuquerque, NM 87104-2151505-242-5354www.zomeworks.com

Special thanks to Mike Howell, VanessaMorris, Kate Chernyshor, JimStevenson, Evelyn Bennett, MoneerAzzam, Miles Russell, Chris Larsen,Kristina Allen, Ann Parnigoni, DanShugar, John Hoffner, Lisa Harkins,Carol Hills, Ron Kenedi, TinaNickerson, Clay Aldrich, GregJohanson, Chuck Marken, Bill Kanzer,Windy Dankoff, Dan Schellenberg,Ced Currin, Chris Case, JenniferHarrison Lane, Jessica Gleich, MarilynStrong, Marianne Walpert, CindyAxline, Ron Tovella, Nancy Grossman,Hal Post, John Heald, Steve Robbins,Susan Robbins, Chuck Luders, KerryKalarney, Bill Brooks, Steve Willey,Becky Brandborg, Steve Secrest, AnooshMizany, Jimmie Daniels, Rose Rickels,Mike Stern, Jim Wollam, Ron Durfey,Laurie DuBois, Ben Mancini, DavidPanico, Jeff Fahey, Rob Spotts,Meredith Ellingrud, Monte Haddix,John Stevens, Roger Locke, DennisScannell, William Steele, Jito Coleman,Jennifer Berry, Chuck Combs, Andres

Borasino, Roch Ducey, Ron Orozco,Gus Palmisano, Shirley Chavez,Michael Pendley, Ted Jenzen, JohnThornton, Kevin Goodreau, SteveSchumacher, Dick Walsh, DavidMelton, Bill Peterson, Angela Palmieri,Bill Young, Amelia Amon, LucyFellows, Mike Thomas, Jack Nixon,Ben Givens, Vikki Kourkouliotis, LyleRawlings, Ruth Starr, GeorgeFischbach, Steve Glidden, DonGwinner, Phillip Block, ChuckWhitaker, Rick Lewandowski, CarolynLewandowski, Cynthia Bermudez, SteveKettlewell, Amir Abtahi, KennethTurner, Lee Gordon, Tom Lane, ChrisCameron, Shirley Lane, MichaelOrians, Steve E. Taylor, Ward Bower,Bevan Walker, Laurie Tyson, YolandaMoreno, Kevin Beedy, Joe Morrissey,Angela Reidling, Al Simpler, Bill Roush,Jeff Schmitt, Ray Kosanke, Bud Beebe,Steve McKenery, Qudrat Delawari,Robin Silke, Valerie Rauluk, HowardWenger, and Ed Begley, Jr.(www.edbegley.com)

49

C O N T R I B U T O R S

48

Kyocera Solar, Inc.P. O. Box 14670Scottsdale, AZ 85267602-948-8003www.kyocerasolar.com

Live Oak Solar232 Anacapa Street, Ste. 1BSanta Barbara, CA 93101805-966-9034www.liveoaksolar.com

Morningstar Corporation1098 Washington Crossing Rd., #3Washington Crossing, PA 18977-1342215-504-8901www.morningstarcorp.com

NASA Dryden Flight Research CenterPublic Affairs OfficeEdwards, CA 93523805-258-3449www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo

National Park ServicePictured Rocks National LakeshoreP. O. Box 40, Sand Point RoadMunising, MI 49862906-387-2607www.nationalparks.org/guide/parks/pictured-roc-1813.htm

National Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole Blvd.Golden, CO 80401303-275-3000www.nrel.gov

Navajo Tribal Utility AuthorityP. O. Box 170Ft. Defiance, AZ 86504520-729-5721www.ntua.com

North Carolina Solar CenterCampus Box 7401, NCSURaleigh, NC 27695-7401919-515-3480www.ncsc.ncsu.edu

Northern Power SystemsP. O. Box 999Waitsfield, VT 05673-0999802-496-2955www.northernpower.com

Pacific Northwest SeismographicNetworkUW Geophysics ProgramBox 351650Seattle, WA 98195-1650www.geophys.washington.edu/SEIS/

Pacific Solar Company1725 E. Bayshore Road, #103Redwood City, CA 94063650-556-9450www.pacificsolar.com

Parker McCrory Manufacturing2000 Forest AvenueKansas City, MO 64108816-221-2000www.parmakusa.com

Planergy, Inc.Barton Oaks Plaza Two, Ste. 495Austin, TX 78746512-327-6830www.texpvc.org

PowerLight Corporation2954 San Pablo AvenueBerkeley, CA 94710510-540-0550www.powerlight.com

PowerPod CorporationP. O. Box 321Placerville, CO 80430970-252-1978www.powerpod.com

PVI Photovoltaics International171 Commercial StreetSunnyvale, CA 94086408-746-3062www.pvintl.com

Real Goods Trading555 Leslie StreetUkiah, CA 95482707-468-9292www.realgoods.com

Sacramento Municipal Utility DistrictP. O. Box 15830Sacramento, CA 95852-1830888-742-7683www.smud.org

Sainsbury’sSouth East Regional Office50 Lombard Wall, CharltonLondon SE7 7SH0181-225-5335www.sainsburys.com

Second Nature SystemsRoute 1, Box 163Lake Creek Cemetery RoadKennard, TX 75847409-638-4263schelldc@lcc.net

Serenity StudioHC 30, Box 890 Prescott, AZ 86305520-717-2471www.solarpioneers.com

Siemens Solar Industries4650 Adohr LaneCamarillo, CA 93012805-388-6519www.siemenssolar.com

Simpler Solar Systems3118 W. Tharpe StreetTallahassee, FL 32303850-576-5271www.simplersolar.com

Solar Depot, Inc.61 Paul DriveSan Rafael, CA 94903415-499-1333www.solardepot.com

Solar Design AssociatesP. O. Box 242Harvard, MA 01451-0242978-456-6855www.solardesign.com

Solar Electric Power Company7984 SW Jack James DriveStuart, FL 34997561-220-6615www.sepco-solarlighting.com

Solar Electrical Systems2746 W. Appalachian CourtThousand Oaks, CA 91362805-373-9433ses@pacificnet.net

Solar Outdoor Lighting3131 S. E. Waaler StreetStuart, FL 34997561-286-9461www.solarlighting.com

Solar Utility, Inc.6160 Bristol ParkwayCulver City, CA 90230310-410-3934www.solarutility.com

Solarex Corporation989 Corporate Blvd.Baltimore, MD 21090301-698-4200www.solarex.com

Southern California Edison2244 Walnut Grove AvenueRosemead, CA 91770626-302-8946taylors@sce.com

Southwest Photovoltaic Systems, Inc.212 East MainTomball, TX 77375281-351-0031www.southwestpv.com

Southwest Technology DevelopmentInstitute1505 Payne StreetLas Cruces, NM 88003505-646-1049http://swtdi.nmsu.edu/

SunWize Technologies, Inc.90 Boices LaneKingston, NY 12401914-336-0146www.sunwize.com

The Solar ConnectionP. O. Box 1138Morro Bay, CA 93443805-772-8601solar.connection@thegrid.net

Tucson Coalition for Solar3220 E. Lester StreetTucson, AZ 85733520-326-3195

United Solar Systems Corp.1100 West Maple RoadTroy, MI 48084248-362-4170www.ovonic.com

U. S. ArmyCERL217-398-5222r-ducey@cecer.army.mil

U. S. ArmyYuma Proving GroundYuma, AZGeorge.fischbach@yuma-exch1.army.mil

U. S. Marine CorpsYuma Proving GroundYuma, AZ520-341-2734durfeyrj@ex.yuma.usmc.mil

U. S. NavyNaval Air Weapons StationTri-Service Renewable EnergyCommitteeChina Lake, CA 93555760-939-0048combscc@navair.navy.mil

Zomeworks1011 Sawmill Road N.W.Albuquerque, NM 87104-2151505-242-5354www.zomeworks.com

Special thanks to Mike Howell, VanessaMorris, Kate Chernyshor, JimStevenson, Evelyn Bennett, MoneerAzzam, Miles Russell, Chris Larsen,Kristina Allen, Ann Parnigoni, DanShugar, John Hoffner, Lisa Harkins,Carol Hills, Ron Kenedi, TinaNickerson, Clay Aldrich, GregJohanson, Chuck Marken, Bill Kanzer,Windy Dankoff, Dan Schellenberg,Ced Currin, Chris Case, JenniferHarrison Lane, Jessica Gleich, MarilynStrong, Marianne Walpert, CindyAxline, Ron Tovella, Nancy Grossman,Hal Post, John Heald, Steve Robbins,Susan Robbins, Chuck Luders, KerryKalarney, Bill Brooks, Steve Willey,Becky Brandborg, Steve Secrest, AnooshMizany, Jimmie Daniels, Rose Rickels,Mike Stern, Jim Wollam, Ron Durfey,Laurie DuBois, Ben Mancini, DavidPanico, Jeff Fahey, Rob Spotts,Meredith Ellingrud, Monte Haddix,John Stevens, Roger Locke, DennisScannell, William Steele, Jito Coleman,Jennifer Berry, Chuck Combs, Andres

Borasino, Roch Ducey, Ron Orozco,Gus Palmisano, Shirley Chavez,Michael Pendley, Ted Jenzen, JohnThornton, Kevin Goodreau, SteveSchumacher, Dick Walsh, DavidMelton, Bill Peterson, Angela Palmieri,Bill Young, Amelia Amon, LucyFellows, Mike Thomas, Jack Nixon,Ben Givens, Vikki Kourkouliotis, LyleRawlings, Ruth Starr, GeorgeFischbach, Steve Glidden, DonGwinner, Phillip Block, ChuckWhitaker, Rick Lewandowski, CarolynLewandowski, Cynthia Bermudez, SteveKettlewell, Amir Abtahi, KennethTurner, Lee Gordon, Tom Lane, ChrisCameron, Shirley Lane, MichaelOrians, Steve E. Taylor, Ward Bower,Bevan Walker, Laurie Tyson, YolandaMoreno, Kevin Beedy, Joe Morrissey,Angela Reidling, Al Simpler, Bill Roush,Jeff Schmitt, Ray Kosanke, Bud Beebe,Steve McKenery, Qudrat Delawari,Robin Silke, Valerie Rauluk, HowardWenger, and Ed Begley, Jr.(www.edbegley.com)

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AAA Solar 12, 34, 47AeroVironment 15, 46Alabama Power 31Alameda Bureau of Electricity 30AllEnergy 30Allied Signal 20Alt. Technica 44, 47Altair Energy 4, 8, 11, 22, 37, 47Applied Power Corporation 4, 16, 36Arizona Public Service 33Ascension Technology 1, 8, 30, 34, 47ASE Americas, Inc. 4, 5, 9, 30, 34, 45, 47AstroPower, Inc. i, 7, 10, 14, 15, 25, 39,

40, 44, 47Atlantic Solar Products 4, 7, 15, 20, 21, 23,

25, 26, 35, 40, 47Atlantis Energy 6, 9, 14, 47AvisAmerica 9, 47Backwoods Solar Electric Systems 12, 47Begley, Ed Jr. 13, 23Bentley Mills 4Besicorp Ltd. 15, 27, 36BP Solar, Inc. 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 37, 43, 47Breitling 46Brooks, Bill 11Bureau of Land Management 24C & D Batteries 37Carolina Power and Light 41Concorde 10, 15Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

43, 44Cubic Corporation 28Currin Corporation 15, 25, 42, 47Daniels, Jimmie 13Dankoff Solar Products 14, 37, 47Davies, Richard 23Deka 16, 28, 36Direct Global Power, Inc. 39, 40, 47Direct Power and Water 16, 29, 36, 47Diversified Systems Manufacturing 44, 47Endecon Engineering 47Energia Total 9, 12, 43, 44, 47Energy Conservation Services of North

Florida 37, 47Environmental Protection Agency 34EPV 5, 43EV Solar Products 13, 47Evergreen Solar 8, 35, 47Exide 12Federal Aviation Administration 24Fetzer Vineyards c, i, 7FIRST, Inc. 9, 47First Solar, Inc. 35, 47Florida Solar Energy Center 11, 47Forest Service (see USDA Forest Service) Foster and Partners 23General Services Administration 19GenSun Electric Solar Systems 12, 47GeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc. 14, 40, 47Hills, Carol 13, 44Hitney Solar Products 13, 47Hutton Communications 26, 27, 31, 47IBE 13, 32Interface Group 4Kyocera Solar, Inc. 13, 17, 23, 27, 32, 33,

39, 40, 42-45, 48Live Oak Solar 36, 48Lockheed Martin 2Macgillivray-Freeman 39Million Solar Roofs Program 4, 8Morningstar Corporation 46, 48National Aeronautics and Space

Administration 20, 26, 35, 46, 48National Center for Photovoltaics 1National Park Service 16, 17, 37, 42, 48National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1,

2, 36, 48Native Americans 12, 13, 44Navajo Tribal Utility Authority 13, 48North Carolina Solar Center 19, 23, 38, 41,

48Northern Power Systems 24, 28, 29, 41, 48Northern States Power Company 8Northwest Rural Public Power 14Omnion 34, 40Pacific Gas & Electric 7

Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network39, 48

Pacific Solar Company 10, 30, 48Parker McCrory 14, 48Pendley, Michael 43Peterson, Bill 36Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center c, i,

36Planergy, Inc. 5, 15, 48PowerLight Corporation 5, 7, 43, 48PowerPod 17, 38, 41, 48Public Service Company of Colorado 4Public Service Company of New Mexico

31, 43PVI Photovoltaics International 6, 48PVUSA 8, 31Real Goods Trading Company 7, 8, 48Reynolds Aluminum 36Sacramento Municipal Utility District 6,

10, 33, 43, 48Sainsbury's Supermarkets 23, 48Sandia National Laboratories c, i, 1, 5, 15-

17, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 36, 44Second Nature Systems 37, 48SEPCO (see Solar Electric Power

Company) Serenity Studio 13, 44, 48SCI 32Siemens Solar Industries 6, 7, 12-15, 17,

27, 28, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 48Simpler Solar Systems 36, 45, 48Smithsonian Institution 43Solar Depot 28, 29, 39, 48Solar Design Associates, Inc. 3, 9, 48Solar Electric Power Company 17-22, 24-

26, 32, 37, 48 Solar Electrical Systems 5, 40, 48Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc. 19, 20, 22,

34, 38, 48Solar Utility, Inc. 5-7, 45, 49Solar Works 4Solarex Corporation 4, 5, 9, 13-16, 19-21,

23, 30, 32, 35, 36, 39, 40, 46, 49

Southern California Edison 6, 7, 17, 32,40, 49

Southwest Photovoltaic Systems 15, 40, 49Southwest Technology Development

Institute 7, 49Southwest Texas Solar Services 15Springer Electric Cooperative 16StatPower 36Sun Power Electric 30Sundance Solar (see PowerPod) Sunelco (see Kyocera Solar, Inc.) SunPower Corporation 46Sun Power Electric 30SunWize Technologies, Inc. 15, 27, 36, 38,

45, 49Tennessee Valley Authority 24Texas PV Coalition 15The Green Culture 45The Solar Connection 12, 37, 49Trace Engineering 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16,

30, 37, 39, 44 Trace Technologies 17, 37Trojan 10, 12, 13, 37Tucson Coalition for Solar 11, 49UPG (see Kyocera Solar, Inc.) USDA Forest Service 40U.S. Air Force 28, 29, 34U.S. Army 21, 34, 35, 41, 49U.S. Coast Guard 2, 24, 34U.S. Department of Defense 1, 34U.S. Department of Energy c, i, 1, 6, 29,

34U.S. Department of Transportation 23U.S. Marine Corps 20, 34, 49U.S. Navy 29, 34, 35, 49United Solar Systems Corp. 7, 18, 35, 42,

49Utility PhotoVoltaic Group 30Western Area Power Authority 5Zomeworks 12, 14, 37, 49

I N D E X O F P L A C E S

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I N D E X O F N A M E S

50

AAA Solar 12, 34, 47AeroVironment 46Alabama Power 31Alameda Bureau of Electricity 30AllEnergy 30Allied Signal 20Alt. Technica 44, 47Altair Energy 4, 8, 11, 22, 37, 47Applied Power Corporation 4, 16, 36Arizona Public Service 33Ascension Technology 1, 8, 30, 34, 47ASE Americas, Inc. 4, 5, 9, 30, 34, 45, 47AstroPower, Inc. i, 7, 10, 14, 15, 25, 39,

40, 44, 47Atlantic Solar Products 4, 7, 15, 20, 21, 23,

25, 26, 35, 40, 47Atlantis Energy 6, 9, 14, 47AvisAmerica 9, 47Backwoods Solar Electric Systems 12, 47Begley, Ed Jr. 13, 23Bentley Mills 4Besicorp Ltd. 15, 27, 36BP Solar, Inc. 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 37, 43, 47Breitling 46Brooks, Bill 11Bureau of Land Management 24C & D Batteries 37Carolina Power and Light 41Concorde 10, 15Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

43, 44Cubic Corporation 28Currin Corporation 15, 25, 42, 47Daniels, Jimmie 13Dankoff Solar Products 14, 37, 47Davies, Richard 23Deka 16, 28, 36Direct Global Power, Inc. 39, 40, 47Direct Power and Water 16, 29, 36, 47Diversified Systems Manufacturing 44, 47Endecon Engineering 47Energia Total 9, 12, 43, 44, 47Energy Conservation Services of North

Florida 37, 47Environmental Protection Agency 34EPV 5, 43EV Solar Products 13, 47Evergreen Solar 8, 35, 47Exide 12Federal Aviation Administration 24Fetzer Vineyards c, i, 7FIRST, Inc. 9, 47First Solar, Inc. 35, 47Florida Solar Energy Center 11, 47Forest Service (see USDA Forest Service) Foster and Partners 23General Services Administration 19GenSun Electric Solar Systems 12, 47GeoSolar Energy Systems, Inc. 14, 40, 47Hills, Carol 13, 44Hitney Solar Products 13, 47Hutton Communications 26, 27, 31, 47IBE 13, 32Interface Group 4Kyocera Solar, Inc. 13, 17, 23, 27, 32, 33,

39, 40, 42-45, 48Live Oak Solar 36, 48Lockheed Martin 2Macgillivray-Freeman 39Million Solar Roofs Program 4, 8Morningstar Corporation 46, 48National Aeronautics and Space

Administration 20, 26, 35, 46, 48National Center for Photovoltaics 1National Park Service 16, 17, 37, 42, 48National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1,

2, 36, 48Native Americans 12, 13, 44Navajo Tribal Utility Authority 13, 48North Carolina Solar Center 19, 23, 38, 41,

48Northern Power Systems 24, 28, 29, 41, 48Northern States Power Company 8Northwest Rural Public Power 14Omnion 34, 40Pacific Gas & Electric 7

Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network39, 48

Pacific Solar Company 10, 30, 48Parker McCrory 14, 48Pendley, Michael 43Peterson, Bill 36Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center c, i,

36Planergy, Inc. 5, 15, 48PowerLight Corporation 5, 7, 43, 48PowerPod 17, 38, 41, 48Public Service Company of Colorado 4Public Service Company of New Mexico

31, 43PVI Photovoltaics International 6, 48PVUSA 8, 31Real Goods Trading Company 7, 8, 48Reynolds Aluminum 36Sacramento Municipal Utility District 6,

10, 33, 43, 48Sainsbury's Supermarkets 23, 48Sandia National Laboratories c, i, 1, 5, 15-

17, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 36, 44Second Nature Systems 37, 48SEPCO (see Solar Electric Power

Company) Serenity Studio 13, 44, 48SCI 32Siemens Solar Industries 6, 7, 12-15, 17,

27, 28, 33, 36, 37, 40, 41, 44, 48Simpler Solar Systems 36, 45, 48Smithsonian Institution 43Solar Depot 28, 29, 39, 48Solar Design Associates, Inc. 3, 9, 48Solar Electric Power Company 17-22, 24-

26, 32, 37, 48 Solar Electrical Systems 5, 40, 48Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc. 19, 20, 22,

34, 38, 48Solar Utility, Inc. 5-7, 45, 49Solar Works 4Solarex Corporation 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19-

21, 23, 30, 32, 35, 36, 39, 40, 46, 49

Southern California Edison 6, 7, 17, 32,40, 49

Southwest Photovoltaic Systems 40, 49Southwest Technology Development

Institute 7, 49Springer Electric Cooperative 16StatPower 36Sun Power Electric 30Sundance Solar (see PowerPod) Sunelco (see Kyocera Solar, Inc.) SunPower Corporation 46Sun Power Electric 30SunWize Technologies, Inc. 15, 27, 36, 38,

45, 49Tennessee Valley Authority 24The Green Culture 45The Solar Connection 12, 37, 49Trace Engineering 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16,

30, 37, 39, 44 Trace Technologies 17, 37Trojan 10, 12, 13, 37Tucson Coalition for Solar 11, 49UPG (see Kyocera Solar, Inc.) USDA Forest Service 40U.S. Air Force 28, 29, 34U.S. Army 21, 34, 35, 41, 49U.S. Coast Guard 2, 24, 34U.S. Department of Defense 1, 34U.S. Department of Energy c, i, 1, 6, 29,

34U.S. Department of Transportation 23U.S. Marine Corps 20, 34, 49U.S. Navy 29, 34, 35, 49United Solar Systems Corp. 7, 18, 35, 42,

49Utility PhotoVoltaic Group 30Western Area Power Authority 5Zomeworks 12, 14, 37, 49

Alabama 31Alaska 27Antarctica 26, 38, 41Arizona 7, 11-13, 20, 21, 33-35, 39, 41, 44California 3-10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 22, 23, 28, 30-33, 35-38,

40, 41, 43, 44, 46Colorado 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17, 35Delaware 25District of Columbia 1, 26Florida 11, 14, 17, 18-20, 22, 25, 26, 36, 37, 38, 45Georgia 21Hawaii 5, 43Idaho 12, 13, 32Illinois 36

Maine 9Maryland 4, 7, 20, 25Massachusetts 3, 8, 9, 30, 45Mexico 15, 18Michigan 15, 22, 25, 42Minnesota 8Missouri 14, 24Montana 14, 23, 40Nebraska 14Nevada 28, 29New Jersey 34New Mexico 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 29, 31, 34, 36, 43, 44New York 6, 22, 27, 36, 40, 43, 44North Carolina 19, 23, 38, 41

Ohio 7, 35Oklahoma 27Pennsylvania 15, 28Puerto Rico 19Rhode Island 4South Carolina 34Tennessee 24Texas 5, 15, 20, 26, 36, 37United Kingdom 23Vermont 41Virginia 1, 7, 23, 34Washington 4, 24, 25, 39Wyoming 36, 37

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52

NOTICE

Published by Sandia National Laboratories, a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation,a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. The United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, worldwidelicense to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for UnitedStates Government purposes.

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any oftheir contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumesany legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, appa-ratus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights.Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, man-ufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, orfavoring by the United States Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors or subcon-tractors. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the UnitedStates Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors.

Printed in the United States of America.

This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy.

This report is available electronically at www.sandia.gov/pv

To learn more about this technology, log on toSandia National Laboratories

Photovoltaics Program web site:

www.sandia.gov/pv

T O L E A R N M O R E A B O U T P H O T O V O L T A I C S

52

NOTICE

Published by Sandia National Laboratories, a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation,a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. The United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, worldwidelicense to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for UnitedStates Government purposes.

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, nor any oftheir contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumesany legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, appa-ratus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights.Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, man-ufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, orfavoring by the United States Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors or subcon-tractors. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the UnitedStates Government, any agency thereof or any of their contractors.

Printed in the United States of America.

This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy.

This report is available electronically at www.sandia.gov/pv

To learn more about this technology, log on toSandia National Laboratories

Photovoltaics Program web site:

www.sandia.gov/pv

Printing History

Printed May 2000

Printed with renewable-source ink on papercontaining at least 50% wastepaper, including20% postconsumer waste.