Power from Space

Bob BruningaWB4APR

April 2011

www.aprs.org/alternative-energy.html

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2010

Solar Cost!

Home Solar - I was so wrong!

I’ve been interested in solar power all my life

But never had a real need other than just-for-fun

No way was it cost effective* (even if electricity was free!)

I hate maintaining batteries, especially a house full

--------

*Unless you have no other access to power…

I was so wrong!

• My concept of solar power was this:

Battery Storage (off Grid)

I was so wrong!• The problem is the Batteries!

– 30% loss of all power in charge/discharge losses– 50% loss of all summer solar excess– 50% or less power available in winter

• Economical solar power has NOTHING* to do with batteries.

* Unless you are off grid

It’s a Whole New World!

• Get rid of the Batteries!

• Look AGAIN at the new economics!

Grid-Tie

Solar and Emergency Power

This talk will cover: Home SolarElectric VehiclesBackup / emergency power

AND a whole new world of Power!

Training vs Abstinance This talk will cover: High Voltages

Dangerous IdeasSelf sufficiency and reliance

AND a whole new world of Power!

We used to have cub scouts build 2 tube radios with 150 volts circuits

Now? Don’t touch it, its too dangerous

Home Solar

My Solar Experience:(unique due to Critical Area)(Variance Required)

It’s a whole new world of Power!

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Typical Ham Approach

But… Why?

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$500

8 cents

Solar Power – What Kind?

Clean Environmental Economical Energy

Power Outages

Armageddon

24-7-365

99.95%

4 hrs / year?

00.05%

?

$25,000 (net)

$250

?These all have completely different solutions!

Type Availability Cost

When the Grid Goes Down?Whole House

Off Grid System

$50,000

Cost per KwH during outages

$2400.00/KWH

With Battery$250

60 cents/KWH

On Grid 15 cents/KWH

OR! Backup =

Is $6,000 of batteries worth it for $2 of power a year for 4 hour outage?

Clean Energy,SOLAR

You Betcha!

1 House, 1 Year4 Tons of Coal

Yes, we have 100 years of coal, but there won’t be anything left!

Solar Off Grid ?

Perfect when you have no access to the Grid.

Or Armageddon is near

Or you’re a Battery salesman

Or you like throwing away $2 out of every $3 you invest

System Losses – Battery vs Grid

Battery Systems are typically 60% energy efficient

Compared to Grid-tie Inverters which are 95% efficient

Grid

* 5 kW system

40% 5%

Seasonal Losses - Battery

Summer: Battery systems must find a way to use (or waste) half their excess summer Energy*

Winter: With only half the solar energy available, a 50% Lifestyle Change is required.

* Users with modest AC usage

- 50%

Storage Capacity

This sketch shows the number of batteries you would need to equal grid storage of seasonal energy.

3240 batteries

Seasonal Balance* – Grid-Tie

Summer: You Bank-up excess Summer energy into the grid

Winter: You draw it out in the winter.

Result: Life style does not change* Users with modest AC usage

100% free storage year round

Angles - less important with Grid-Tie

-3%With Battery System, – 17%

180 150

Angles - less important with Grid-Tie

Amazing, even due East, you still get 85% effectiveness!

Angles - less important with Grid-Tie

Amazing! Increase power by 60% to 100% on other side!

Angles - less important with Grid-Tie

Why Angles don’t matter so much? Summer Sun Rises in NE and sets in SWSo ideal South facing misses much of summer sunSummer gains make up for most of winter loss

Grid Tie Inverters2.8 kW Inverter

Import 500W GTI

$2000

$80UL ApprovedSolar Grants and rebates

Not UL Approved

EnPhase $250

UL approved

Electric Meters

Current

KWH

Mechanical Net Meter

$

usefeed

$

Current

KWH

Electronic Meter

$$

usefeed

Shack Sized Grid TiesGet full energy value

from every watt

Without the acid and maintenance!

Or… Best of Both: Transfer Relay when battery is fully charged.

250W Grid Tie

It’s a Whole New World!

• Cost effective in EVERY state now!

Grid-Tie

Prices as low as $3, $2, $1/w

Harbor Freight$150 on sale45Watt = $3/w

But … Produces 45W in same area as 180W home panel of same cost/w.

Home Power GenerationHome Solar 4 kW

Prius 50 kW peak (10 kW average)

Wind 5 Kw

Gas 4 kW

It’s a Whole New World!

• Cost effective in EVERY state now!

Grid-Tie

Grid-Tie Economics!

• The problem of off-grid is the Batteries – (Only 70% EFFICIENT)!– Grid-tie IS 95% EFFICIENT! Improvement (factor of 1.35)– No battery replacement costs -$1000 per year (factor of 2)– No Solar credits (+ $1000 Income per year)

• Economics in 2010 compared to 2007– Electricity cost has doubled! Factor of 2.0– Solar panels cost has halved! Factor of 2.0

• Therefore It’s 11 times better NOW to go Solar

• But Wait, there’s more!– Government Incentives!

Grid-tieinverter

Government Incentives!

• Federal gives 30% tax credit. No limit– As much as $15,000 right into your pocket– Factor of 1.43!

• State of Maryland Grant – For my 8kW system that’s a $7000 check in my pocket– $1.25 / W for first 2 kw, $.075 / W for next 6 kW– Factor of 1.3

• AA County Real Estate Tax credit– up to 50% of total remaining after above (Maybe $3000)– Factor of 1.13

• Total Gov’t Incentive Factors = 2.0

• Grid-Tie versus no Batteries– Better effectivness by Factor of 2.7!

• Economics of Electricity and Solar – X 2 (for higher rates) X 2 (for lower costs) = Factor of 4

• Tax credits and incentives– Factor of 2

• CONCLUSION: It makes 22 times more sense to go solar now than it did 3 years ago (if you think in terms of Battery Storage systems (typical for hams) like I did).

Total Cost Factors!

But there’s more!(Return on Investment)

• Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC’s)– About $250 income/year /KW 10% return/yr

• Electric Bill– Free Electricity for life 10% return /yr– Cost of 0-net-grid-tie - 5% cost /yr– (you still have to pay about $10 fixed costs even if you use no electricity)– But SREC income pays 10 times as much!

• Maintenance– Practically zero

Total Return on Investment… about 12% per yearCompare that to the banks (2% ?) or stock market (- 30% ?!)PLUS: your 12% only goes up as energy costs go up!

But there’s more!(Do it yourself! ***)

• Commercial system: $25,000 for a 4kW system?

• Cost of solar panels $12,600 (18 at $700 vs $1000)

• Cost of inverter $2100 versus $3000• Cost of wire, disconnects, breakers, etc $200• Cost of Master Electrician to certify system $200• TOTAL about $15,000

Savings (DIY) $10,000Tax credits, Grants, SREC’s etc $ 7,500NET COST TO YOU… $ 7,500Pays for itself in 4 years. Then FREE POWER for LIFE!*** Must hire a Master Electrician for Electrical work ***

But I’m a ham!I want Battery Backup…!

• Why?.... • At what cost? $12,000?

• For 4 hours every year you lose power? (90 cents)

• For 2 days you lose once every 10 years? ($6)

• Makes practically zero economic sense! You pay about $2400 / KWH (compared to 15 cents/KWH) (2000 times more!)

But I’m a ham!I want Battery Backup…!

You can have it!

EASY AND CHEAP!

$ 120

• Spend $120 for a 1200 Watt Inverter• Hook to your car battery• Power Refrigerator and lights in your house for days! • You do use CFL bulbs, right?

But I’m a ham! You do use CFL bulbs, right?

Down to $1 each

25% of the power!

10 times the life

+ Air Conditioning savings of 5%!

= 5:1 savings!

EER of 1-to-1

is 3.412 BTU/ watt. So with EER of 10, 100W bulb takes 30W of AC!

Use of Piers for Solar/Wind prohibited

Blocked by State from putting solar panels on a pier (to avoid shade)…

Then blocked by Country from putting in my yard!

Use of Piers for Solar/Wind prohibited

• This standard pier plan REJECTED by MDE due to no-solar-on-pier Laws

Solar Pier Argument• My house uses

10 MWHrs / yr

• Coal Plant (for me)

produces:•22,000 Lbs CO2

•350 lbs sulfur dioxide

•1 Oz Uranium and Thorium

•.02g of Mercury

With 8 KW Solar Array, pollution would be Zero.

2.8 kW Solar Boat Work-around

• Approved by DNR as Boat under 26’

• Plug into any shore power and feed grid!

• (But I don’t want to maintain it for 30 years)

Efficiency must > 70%

Free Home Estimate includes

sky survey

To get Gov’t Credits

No Shadows allowed for 6+ hours per day

Efficiency using PVwattsGrid-Tie implies surprising results!

100% South 94% SE 96% SW 85% FLAT!

120% 125%

(battery system 65% worse and must be South)

Google it!

Efficiency using PVwattsGrid-Tie implies surprising results!

Winter 55 deg 94% SE 96% SW 85% FLAT!

Summer 25 deg

Changing TWICE per year only gains 2%!

Google it!

Portable Power Generation350 W aux power1200W AC inverter $120

Invert to 115 VACFor distribution 95% efficiencySaves 100:1 in wire losses

Modern Power Distribution

Power Systems have CHANGED!

Switching supply takes up 8% of the space

and only 10% of the mass and works 100-240 VAC

AND 150-330 VDC

9 amp 8 amp 18 amp

Power Distribution 330 VDCNearly ALL modern switching supplies will run on VDC

Double to 230 VAC at source

Rectify to 330 VDC for delivery

Eliminate 75% of

Distribution losses

Power Distribution 330 VDCNearly ALL modern switching supplies will run on VDC

Kenwood 115 VAC only supply

Actually has internal jumper

Eliminate 75% of

Distribution losses

DC Power 220-330 VDC is EVERYWHERE

Advantages:Light-weight and smallAt half the currentAt twice the power

50 kW generator in your car(10 kW average)

In every modern Power SupplyIn your Home Solar Array

DC Power Distribution

Greater distances At half the currentAt twice the power#18 zip cord can do 1000 watts easily

But we need simple, cheap, safe, readily-available connectors

I propose standard 115v $1 plugs and receptacles, Modified with a blocking pin to prevent incorrect use.

Power Distribution ? (the challenge)

Problem: 6 hour ops from hill top 3200’ from car

Power Distribution - SWERSingle Wire Earth Return

Not approved by NEC

Double 120 VAC to 330 VDC at source

3200’ from car to top

Power 3200’ from car - SWERSingle

Wire

Earth

Return

Not

approved

by NEC2 Laptops, 50W dual band, 2 HT’s and APRS – 6 Hours

3200’ from car to top

Power Distribution SWEREmergency Power: Use Single Wire Earth Return

Double 120 VAC to 330 VDC for delivery

Not approved by NEC

Power Distribution SWEREmergency Power: Use Single Wire Earth Return

3200’ system fits in laptop bag Not approved by NEC

Power Distribution – SWER (initial test)

Emergency Power: Use Single Wire Earth Return

Not approved by NEC

Power Distribution SWER

Emergency Power: Use Single Wire Earth Return

Not approved by NEC

My 1st Solar Project

2004 Prius (salvage) with

$4000 of door/frame damage

200 W added Solar Panels

100 LBs of added Batteries

On display at the IEEE PHEV Symposium in Wash DC 2007.

Wash Post: Elex cars nogood for 90%

1970’s view… Detroit’s view!44 car MFR’s

405 models of gas cars

Why Fuel Efficiency?

• Who was key-note speaker to Electric Vehicle Association?– Ex-head of CIA

• Why is government interested in Fuel Economy?– $200,000,000 per day for Middle East Oil– How many Terrorists does that support?– Gas costs us $400/gallon in Afghanastan!

• We *must* cut our dependence on Foreign Oil!– Iraq, Iran, etc– Venezuella, Russia

Why Getting off Gas?

“Peak Oil”

$4

Electric Vs Oil

• 70% of our Oil comes from overseas (bad!)• 99% of our electricity comes from USA! (good!)

• At night we can charge 150,000,000 electric cars for only 7% of the total USA energy grid.

• At night, electricity is cheaper (50% or less) and more plentiful• During Day Peak demand, electricity costs 10 times more

• But those same 150,000,000 car batteries contain more peak power than FIVE TIMES the entire USA power generating capacity!

• V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) could offset $2000 per car in energy savings by letting the power companies buy some back during brief peak demands but still charge your car!

Prius Motors and Generators• 76 Hp Engine• 50 kW Motor/Gen 1• 50 kW Motor/Gen 2• Planetary Gear System• 50 kW Battery (1.6 KWh)

The 50 kW Inverter

• 220 VDC to 500 VDC• 220 VDC to 12 VDC at 100 amps• 220 VDC to any motor voltage as needed

Water cooled

Regenerative Braking

Any Car can Benefit from Electric

• Geo Tracker

• Gains 15% from 26

• to 33 MPG

Disconnect Fan belt (fan, alternator and water pump)

Parting Shots: Salvage Prius Toys

• 2004 in 2007• Cost $10k• 29k MilesP1

Prius Inn

$2000 of solar panels

Other Salvage Prius ToysThe Woodie!A 2005 in 2008$7k, 19k miles

P2

Prius Hotel P3

The next Solar:A 2005 in 2010$6k, 90k miles

P2

Solar Power = Emergency PowerSolar Power = Emergency Power

• COMPLETELY DIVORCE any thoughts of COMPLETELY DIVORCE any thoughts of “emergency power” from Economical power.“emergency power” from Economical power.

• Solar power Solar power is for is for ECONOMICAL POWERECONOMICAL POWER

• Emergency powerEmergency power has two completely has two completely different optimal solutions. different optimal solutions. (Short term and (Short term and armageddon)armageddon)

7171

7272

Solar Power *is* Economical

Look at it this way:

Keep $24,000 in a bank at 1%. Continue to pay $200/m for Electricity* After 10 years, you have paid $24,000 with NOTHING to show for it* And every year you have uncertainty in ever rising prices* And you will keep paying $24,000 or more every ten years

Buy a $48,000 solar system now, ( With incentives, Pay only $24,000)* Have maintenance free electricity for LIFE* It is generating $2400/year return on investment (10%) for LIFE* OWN this $48,000 energy system and all it’s equity for life* After 20 years it is still producing 80% of today’s power! (and will continue)

Or wait another 3 years when the 50% government incentives are all gone, and then pay $48,000 for the same thing