Solar 101 - WordPress.com

Solar 101Solar 101

Presented by:Rich Antonino

Vox Energy Solutions8890 Peebles Road

Allison Park, PA 15101412‐366‐4361

www.voxenergysolutions.com

What we will discuss today:y• What is solar energy?

• How does it work?• How does it work?– Solar panels– Solar placement– Solar in your home or businessSolar in your home or business– Rooftop and ground mount systems– Yes, Pittsburgh has enough sunlight!

Wh d d l ?• Why do we need solar?– Environmental– Infrastructure

Demand– Demand– Economics

• How can solar help you?p y

Vox Energy Solutions ~ 8890 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101 ~ 412‐366‐4361 ~ www.voxenergysolutions.com

What is solar energy?What is solar energy?

Solar energy is energy that is generated from the sun. Otherwise known as photovoltaic, which comes from the

The beginning of solar energy started in 1839 by Alexandre Edmond Becquerel, who observed the

p ,words photo, meaning light and volt, meaning electricity.

photovoltaic effect; the creation of voltage or electric current in a material upon exposure to light.

Albert Einstein furthered the development when he observed the photoelectric effect, which occurs when electrons are emitted from matter as a consequence of their absorption of energywhen electrons are emitted from matter as a consequence of their absorption of energy from electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet radiation (sunlight.)

These observations where put to test by Bell Labs in 1954, when they created the first modern silicon solar cell. At the time, these cells had about a 6% efficiency. In 1954, the New York Times forecasted that solar cells will eventually lead to a source of "limitless energy of the sun.”

Today solar panels that are available to the public have reached an efficiency of up to 22%Today, solar panels that are available to the public have reached an efficiency of up to 22%.


How does solar work?1. Solar Radiation hits the modules, photons bombard and penetrate each cell.

2. The solar radiation knocks off positive electrons from the front side of the silicon cell.2. The solar radiation knocks off positive electrons from the front side of the silicon cell.

3. The positive electrons want to move to the back of the cell which has a negative charge.

4. These electrons flow onto metal contacts creating current and voltage or power (watts.)

5. Each cell can create between 3 to 4.5 watts and there are typically 60 cells in a solar panel.

6 The direct current (DC) electricity passes through wires leading to an inverter6. The direct current (DC) electricity passes through wires leading to an inverter.

7. The inverter, inverts direct current (DC), which flows with a fixed current and voltage, into alternating current (AC), which flows with oscillating current and voltage.

8. From the inverter, the solar-generated power feeds into circuitry of a household, business or power plant and if not used in the facility, it will move onto the region’s electrical grid.

9. When the resident returns home and starts using electricity; the electricity given to the9. When the resident returns home and starts using electricity; the electricity given to the electrical grid, returns back to the customer at no charge (Net Metering.)


Location, Location, Location

• Panels should be placed on the roof with the most southern exposure, however roofs with an east or west exposure are also good candidates for solar.

f• PV Panels should be angled to 30 degrees for best year round production, however other angles will work with a 2-10% decease in output.

• Panels should be free of any shading, which can significantly reduce the output f h i h fi i l f jof a system, changing the financials of a project.


Powering Homes and Businesses with Solar


Does Pittsburgh have enough sunlight?Does Pittsburgh have enough sunlight?


Solar in Pittsburgh?• Pittsburgh has 87% of the same solar radiation as Tampa, Florida.

• Pittsburgh has more solar radiation than Germany, the country leading the world with photovoltaic installations!

• Pittsburgh receives 4.21 kWh/m2/d (meaning 4.21 averaged hours daily solar radiation.) Munich, Germany, receives 3.15 kWh/m2/d of daily solar radiation.) , y, / / y

• Germany would be one of the last countries you’d ever expect to be the overwhelming leader in solar energy production. Yet here it is. Germany alonehas half of the world’s solar installations and is the third‐largest producer ofhas half of the world s solar installations and is the third largest producer of solar cells.

• On midday of Saturday, May 26, 2012, solar energy provided over 40% of the total electricity production in Germany and 20% for the 24th day in a row!total electricity production in Germany, and 20% for the 24th day in a row!

• If Germany can reach goals of solar providing 40% of the total electricity production of Germany, Pittsburgh can too!

• Summary: Yes!!! Solar works perfectly in Pittsburgh! Vox Energy Solutions ~ 8890 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101 ~ 412‐366‐4361 ~ www.voxenergysolutions.com

Why do we need solar?

• Environmental

• Infrastructure

• DemandDemand

• Economic


Environmental Carbon Levels over the last 2000 years


Environmental

November 2012: 392.81 ppmNovember 2011: 390.24 ppm

Carbon Levels over the last 800,000 years

November 2011: 390.24 ppm


InfrastructureVi li i Th U S El i G idVisualizing The U.S. Electric Grid

The U.S. electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated l t d t i i li A i i f t t bi d ith i ipower plants and transmission lines. Aging infrastructure, combined with a rise in

domestic electricity consumption, has forced experts to critically examine the status and health of the nation's electrical systems.


InfrastructureAging Infrastructure – The grid’s power delivery infrastructure suffers from aging across theAging Infrastructure – The grid s power delivery infrastructure suffers from aging across the developed world. Four contributing factors to the current state of the electric grid and its consequences include:

• Aging Power Equipment - Higher failure rates, customer interruption rates affecting the economy and society; also, higher inspection maintenance costs and further repair/restoration costs.

• Obsolete System Layout – Older areas require serious additional substation sites and rights-of-way that cannot be obtained in current areas, therefore forced to use existing, insufficient facilities.

• Outdated Engineering – Traditional tools for power delivery planning and engineering are ineffective in addressing current problems of aged equipment, obsolete system layouts, and modern deregulated loading levels.

Old C lt l V l Pl i i i ti f t i t d d th t• Old Cultural Value – Planning, engineering, operating of systems using concepts and procedures that worked in a vertically integrated industry exacerbate the problem under a deregulated industry.

American Society of Civil EngineersProgress has been made in grid reinforcements since 2005, however public and government opposition and difficulty in the permitting processes are restricting much needed modernization Projected electric utility investment needs

y g

modernization. Projected electric utility investment needs could be as much as 1.5 trillion dollars by 2030.


DemandSince 1990, demand for electricity has grown by 25%:

Mobile phones, computers, internet access, additional TVs, iPads, electric cars, all need additional electricity.


Economics


What can solar do for you?What can solar do for you?


Home Property Values IncreaseFrom the US Department of Housing and Urban Development:

• Homes with solar panels will sell twice as fast as a home without solar panelssolar panels.• Home values rise on average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual electricity ‐ $1,000 savings in electricity can increase your home value by $20,000.

From the Dept. of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

• The property spends less time on the market because it makes the• The property spends less time on the market because it makes the home more affordable to more people.• Solar panels will attract attention in a competitive market and the solar improvement will show documented financial savings (electric bill.)

From the USA Energy Guide:• When it comes time to move solar panels will add to a home’s• When it comes time to move, solar panels will add to a home s resale value, no matter where you live.


IncentivesIncentives Residential and Commercial Projects

For a residential solar energy system:Federal Tax Credit

REC IncomeREC Income

PA Sunshine Rebate Program*

For a commercial solar energy system:Federal Tax Credit

REC Income

Accelerated Depreciation

PA Sunshine Rebate Program*

* PA Sunshine Grant is on a waiting list at this time.Vox Energy Solutions ~ 8890 Peebles Road, Allison Park, PA 15101 ~ 412‐366‐4361 ~ www.voxenergysolutions.com

Estimated Cost for Community Solar ProjectEstimated Cost for Community Solar Project

We are still in the preliminary phase of the project, therefore, there are still many factors that need to be discussed and agreed upon before we are able to give a firm investment price for each h W ti th f ll i ti t t h th il bl i ti t thi ti

5 0 kW Solar Energy System - 20 panels

home. We are presenting the following estimate to show you the available incentives at this time:

5.0 kW Solar Energy System - 20 panels

Investment: $25,000FTC: $7 500FTC: - $7,500*PA Sunshine Grant: - $3,750 Total: $13,750

That’s 45% off of a solar energy installation!

*PA Sunshine Grant is on a waiting list at this time.


Cumulative 30 Year Cash Flow (NPV)

$100,000

$120,000

$140,000

( )

$40 000

$60,000

$80,000

$0

$20,000

$40,000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

‐$40,000

‐$20,000


What we discussed today:y• What is solar?

• How does it work?• How does it work?– Solar panels– Solar placement– Solar in your home or businessSolar in your home or business– Rooftop and ground mount systems– Yes, Pittsburgh has enough sunlight!

• Why do we need solar?– Environmental– Infrastructure– Demand– Economics

H l h l ?• How can solar help you?


Questions?Questions?


Thank you!

Presented by:Rich Antonino

Vox Energy Solutions8890 Peebles Road8890 Peebles Road

Allison Park, PA 15101412‐366‐4361

www.voxenergysolutions.com

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