How Stuff Works: How a solar roof works [BC-HOWSTUFFWORKS:MCT]

(McClatchy-Tribune News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) If you ever travel to Charlotte, N.C., there is an amazing facility there called U.S. National Whitewater Center. The facility is essentially an artificial river where humans have complete control over the flow rate, up to Class IV rapids. People from all over the country travel to Charlotte to train and compete.

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On the roof of one of their buildings they have another amazing facility. They have installed a 5,000 watt photovoltaic solar roof system that is able to generate electricity directly from sunshine. This is the kind of system, and the size of system, that you would need if you wanted to generate all of your home’s electricity using sunshine. Therefore it is a great way to understand how a residential solar power system works.

In addition, the system at the U.S. National Whitewater Center has a real-time monitor that allows you to see exactly what the system is doing right now. You can find it here: http://www.usnwcsolar.com. If you go to that Web site on a sunny afternoon, you will find that the Whitewater Center is producing four or five kilowatts of electricity using free sunlight.

This solar roof system is remarkably simple, and that is one of the things that makes it so appealing. There are three parts: 1) The framework on the roof, 2) the solar panels, and 3) an inverter.

Depending on the type of solar panels you are using, the framework on the roof can be simple or elaborate. There are manufacturers who have integrated solar cells right into shingle-like products. In that case, you nail the product onto the existing roof structure just like ordinary shingles. Sometimes you have to attach an aluminum or wooden framework for the panels.

The solar panels contain the equipment that converts sunlight to electricity. At the U.S. National Whitewater Center they are using lightweight, flexible solar panels that are 15 inches wide. They look like 18-foot-long rolls of flashing. To create a 5,000 watt system, they use 36 panels that produce 136 watts each. Panels like these can be glued to smooth plywood or metal roofs like big stickers.

The more traditional solar panel is made of individual silicon solar cells. The silicon cells are fairly fragile, so they are placed in a frame made of aluminum, plastic and glass. A typical panel produces 100 to 200 watts. These panels tend to be thicker and heavier, and typically mount to an aluminum frame.

The electricity coming out of the solar panels is like the electricity that comes out of a battery. This is called DC or Direct Current electricity. To use the electricity in your home you need to convert it to AC or Alternating Current. A device called an inverter does the conversion. You can use the electricity immediately. Or, if the panels are producing more power than your home needs, you can send the electricity out onto the grid and sell it to the electric company.

This certainly sounds promising. The sunlight is free. The electricity coming out of the panels is therefore “free”. There are no moving parts so the system should last for decades. And a 5,000 watt system will produce all of the electricity a typical home would need. The only question left is, “how much does a system like this cost to install?” The reality is that these systems are still fairly expensive. The 36 panels cost $700 each, and the inverter is $3,000. By the time you add wiring, installation and roofing modifications, a system like this runs in the ballpark of $30,000. If you assume you can produce an average of 30 kilowatt-hours per day, and the electricity is worth 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, that works out to a 10,000 day payback period. And that is about 27 years. If you live in a bright, sunny area, and if electricity is more expensive, and if you can get a big tax credit for doing it, it might make sense. But for the average homeowner, a system like this is hard to justify at today’s prices.

___ (Looking for more? For extra info on this or the scoop on other fascinating topics, go to HowStuffWorks.com. Contact Marshall Brain, founder of HowStuffWorks, at marshall.brain@howstuffworks.com.) ___ (c) 2009, How Stuff Works Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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IN OUR OPINION, THE solar industry is poised for growth.

Project development and financing trends have likely bottomed. Following our trip to Munich in March, our expectations for an improving solar market were reaffirmed at the trade event Intersolar 2009. The harsh winter is no longer an excuse, and the industry is entering a seasonally strong period for solar installations. We believe the photovoltaic (PV) market in Europe is now improving, rather than deteriorating, and that investors should take notice of the reversing and/or improving trends in project finance and large-project development.

In our view, First Solar (FSLR), Continued

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has signed two new solar energy bills into law. The first, AB 522, extends tax abatements for renewable energy power plant development. The second, SB 358, increases the state’s renewable electricity targets and makes some improvements to the SolarGenerations rebate program.

Summary of primary solar provisions in AB 522:
* Extends and enhances sales and property tax abatements for wholesale renewable energy projects in Nevada above 10 MW in size.
* Establishes a fund for low interest loans to build renewable energy projects authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Summary of primary solar provisions in SB 358:

* Requires that the state’s investor-owned utility generate 25 percent of its energy from renewables by 2025 (increased from 20 percent by 2015).
* Requires that 6 percent of the RPS come from solar resources beginning in 2016, an increase from 5 percent.
* Establishes a 30 day application approval process for the state’s SolarGenerations rebate program. Eligibility capacity and categories for the program remain at 1 MW for schools, 760 kW for public buildings, 1 MW for residential and small commercial under 30 kW).
* Establishes additional rebates for 2 MW of solar at schools.

Solar advocates from the Vote Solar Initiative, the Solar Alliance and the Large-scale Solar Association (LSA) said that AB 522 represents a great step forward for Nevada, but the groups said improvement need to be made to SB 358 before Nevada can take full advantage of solar energy.

“Through the process of passing SB 358, Senator Horsford, Senator Schneider, Assemblywoman Kirkpatrick and Assemblyman Conklin demonstrated that building a new solar economy in Nevada is a clear priority,” said Julia Curtis of Sharp Solar, elected Solar Alliance’s lead for Nevada.

“Unfortunately, the bill in its final form falls short of creating a robust rooftop and small scale solar market. The 5 percent distributed solar carve-out we supported would have created upwards of 6,700 jobs in the state by 2020. We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure a more comprehensive solar program in the future.”

Reprinted with permission from Renewable Energy World

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Reply to:job-8vuvv-1202652462@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-02, 8:24PM PDT

Craigslist Source:

Solar retailer seeks photovoltaic installer. Must be licensed, bonded and insured.
Experience in ground mount and roof mount systems as well as for commercial and residential PV systems.
Great customer relations skills

Location: San Luis Obispo
Compensation: Bid Basis

Reply to:billy@thegreenoutlet.net [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-06-02, 9:39PM EDT

Craigslist

We are providing Solar Powered Stand Alone Generator. We are looking for licensed electricians to drop individual outlets to point of use location, returning back to generator. Permitting may be required.

Please send resume to billy@thegreenoutlet.net

Location: Treasure Coast
Compensation: Contract work
This is a contract job.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Reply to: job-7uasu-1202028838@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-02, 4:34PM EDT

Craigslist:

Residential remodeling and solar company looking to hire a license plumber. We are looking to place a license plumber on staff for residential work and solar hot water installation. Please call Jeff 410-557-0555

Craigslist

SolarTec USA is seeking talented, enthusiastic & committed people to join its expanding operation for:
SOLAR INSTALLERS: must be Licensed Installers with C10 or C46 preffered. We also have solar installation training for other contractors. Our state of the art training school will start by last weekend of June. For more info Contact: Fred@SolarTecUSA.com This job will be for both, residential, commercial and government sales representatives to pursue a lucrative professional solar sales carrier also.
All contractors must have own tools and trucks & be willing to pass background check, legally be able to work in the United States under 1099 independent contractor status. Must be skilled in electrical, plumbing.
All applicants must: possess a good time management skill, have a strong work ethics and extremely meticulous and detailed with the quality and craftsmanship of their work.
Fax resume to: (818) 708-0909
or
Email: fred@SolarTecUSA.com

Okay, it’s not exactly a cure for cancer, but any initiative that does cut down on fossil fuel reliance still resonates with me. So, I was pretty excited to see that the Jalousie Plantation has adopted a hybrid solar-powered golf cart to move guests around on its 192-acre property … with no carbon emissions! This is among the first of these environmentally-friendly golf carts in the Caribbean, and the goal is for this quirky little vehicle to replace the oil-dependent carts and minibuses that currently carry passengers around Jalousie.

This measure is reflective of Jalousie parent company Kor Hotel Group’s “Second Nature” program, which consists of several eco-friendly measures across its holdings. Kor’s properties are encouraged to source local produce, arts and other supplies to cut down on food-miles (or other “product-miles”) in an effort to reduce carbon emissions while contributing to economic growth in the community.

“We want to play our part at The Jalousie Plantation in supporting the environmentally-conscious initiatives of Kor and the new hybrid solar-powered golf cart is seen as a first step in helping us to do this,” Jalousie’s General Manager, Rodrigo Caldeira said.

The golf cart has a photovoltaic cell on its roof, which takes St Lucia sunshine and turns it into the electricity that makes the cart move. In the event of rain, the cart can be plugged into an electrical outlet to have its battery charged.

“Eventually all of the vehicles we use at Jalousie will be gasoline-free and this will help us to lessen our emissions of greenhouse gases which are having a tremendous impact on eco-systems around the world and contributing to climatic change and global warming,” Caldeira said. “The new cart also significantly reduces noise pollution and makes a great contribution in our efforts to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and in ensuring our operations are environmentally sustainable.”

Source

Updated: 05/26/2009 10:04:59 AM EDT

A new program opened today that will allow Pennsylvania homeowners and businesses to install solar technologies at up to 45 percent off the price.

Outlined by Gov. Ed Rendell in Philadelphia today, it is called the PA Sunshine Solar Program, and it will provide $100 million in rebates to help fund solar electric and hot water projects. This will reimburse up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs.

When combined with existing federal tax credits for alternative energy projects, homeowners and businesses can cut the price tag of solar power by 45 percent, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

A five-kilowatt solar system could cut in half the electric bill of the typical household, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. That’s a savings of about $620 per year.

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The money had been budgeted to renovate public housing.

The announcement is expected at a meeting of President Barack Obama’s Middle Class Task Force in Denver.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will announce that $500 million from the stimulus will be made available to train workers for green jobs making the public housing improvements. That includes $50 million for communities hit by job losses in the auto industry.

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