Solar Thermal Heating Systems for South Central Alaska

Andy Baker, P.E.

Independent Clean Energy Consultant

YourCleanEnergy LLC

Your Clean Energy

Finding affordable alternatives to fossil fuels is now one of the great challenges of our times

Viable energy projects must meet realistic criteria:

We seek out projects that will capture the imagination and interest of clean energy advocates in government, business

and the public; projects that can remain sustainable through the expected design life.

AFFORDABLE RELIABLE SAFE

Overview Introduction to Solar Thermal Heating

KTUU Film

YCE Solar Project: Seth Down’s Triplex

YCE Solar Project: Ionia Community

YCE Solar Project: Statewide Village Clinic

YCE Solar Project: Gakona Energy Center

Questions + Answers

oct

nov

dec

2005

jan

feb

mar apr

may jun jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

2006

jan

feb

mar apr

may jun jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

2007

jan

feb

mar apr

may jun jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

2008

jan

feb

mar apr

may

june july

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

2.14

2.65 2.72.82

3.04

3.62 3.63

3.81

4.04

2.4

2.55

2.82.75

2.4 2.45

2.69

3.23

$2.61

4.12

4.63

Propane & Heating Oil #1 Unit Price/Gallon - Oct 2004 - July 2008

Prices from Suburban Propane & Homerun Oil, Homer, Alaskaprepared 7/10/08 by Andy Baker, PE YourCleanEnergy LLC

Watt hrs/ sq meter

Solar Elevation Angle - Anchorage, Alaska

Solar Thermal Heating

SSolar Noon2pm

EW

N

11 am

8 am

5 am

2 am

11 pm

8 pm

5 pm

Anchorage’s Solar Compass

FLAT PLATE COLLECTORS WORK IN ANCHORAGE

EVACUATED TUBE (or heat pipe) COLLECTOR

The best performance for low sun & cold temps

Heat loss from tube is only from radiation (@2%)

KTUU Film

Seth Downs Triplex

October 26, 2008

P P

M

DomesticHot Water

City Water In

6 x Gobi 406 Solar Thermal Panels

Heat Exchanger

Storage Tanks3 x 80 Gal

Indirect HW Heater and Natural Gas

Boiler

50% Prop. Glycol

Seth Downs TriplexSolar Thermal System

P P

M

City Water In

Seth Downs TriplexSolar Thermal System

Datalogger

Webpage

DomesticHot Water

Seth Downs Triplex

Seth Downs Triplex

9:3

29:5

010:0

810:2

610:4

611:0

411:2

211:4

111:5

912:1

712:3

712:5

513:1

313:3

113:5

014:0

814:2

614:4

515:0

315:2

115:4

015:5

916:1

716:3

616:5

417:1

217:3

017:4

918:0

718:2

518:4

419:0

219:2

019:3

919:5

720:1

520:3

420:5

221:1

021:2

821:4

722:0

522:2

322:3

722:5

523:1

3

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0March 20, 2009 - Seth Downs Triplex

Time (hr)

Tem

pera

ture

(F)

East +

West

Colle

ctors

Tank Top

Tank Botto

m

November 12, 2008

Seth Downs Triplex, Nov 12, 2008, 1pm

December 11, 2008

January 4, 2009

January 7, 2009

February 1, 2009

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

-$20,000

-$10,000

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000Net Present Worth of Seth Downs Solar

Thermal System

Fuel Saved (PW)

Net Present Worth

Initial Invest-ment

Years

Initial Investment = $14,000

30% Tax Credit = $4,200

Net Initial Investment = $9,800

30yr Net Present Worth = $39,691

Internal Rate of Return = 4.8%

Years to Payback= 15 yrs

District Heating with Solar at Ionia Community,

Kasilof

Ionia CommunitySolar Thermal System

P P

DomesticHot Water

Cold Water In

6 x Gobi 410 Solar Thermal Panels

Heat Exchanger

Indirect HW Heater2 x 80 Gal

50% Prop. Glycol

GarnWood Boiler

2,000 Gal

STATE WIDE VILLAGE CLINIC- For Denali Commission- YCE in association with MCG Architects- Solar Thermal & PV – 75 deg tilt

GAKONA DETACHED ENERGY CENTER

- 20% of annual heat load met by solar thermal- 12 arrays of evacuated tube collectors + 4,000 gal storage- 80% of annual heat load met by wood boiler

GAKONA DETACHED ENERGY CENTER

INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS

FEDERAL TAX CREDIT

– RESIDENTIAL

30 % Tax Credit , no cap limit

Solar water heating property must be certified by SRCC or by comparable entity endorsed by the state in which the system is installed. At least half the energy used to

heat the dwelling's water must be from solar.

FEDERAL TAX CREDIT – COMMERCIAL

30% Investment Tax Credit – no limit

The credit is equal to 30% of expenditures, with no maximum credit. Eligible solar energy property includes equipment that uses solar energy to

generate electricity, to heat or cool (or provide hot water for use in) a structure, or to provide solar

process heat.

IRS FORM 3468

SOLAR HOT WATER - 30 YEAR LIFE CYCLE PAYBACK EVALUATION

Compared To CurrentFossil Fuel Payback

Propane: 9 years

Heating Oil: 10 years

Natural Gas: 15 years

Alaska Solar TourCome and Explore the Solar Projects in

your own backyard!

www.alaskasolartour.org

Saturday, May 8th

10am – 4pm

Visit website for details

Questions + AnswersCome and Explore the Solar Projects in

your own backyard!

www.alaskasolartour.org

Saturday, May 8th

10am – 4pm

Visit website for details