Tel: (845) 626-2627   Home   Contact  
Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

New York A7557A fixes some of it’s net metering law

30 Jul 10 | Solar Electric, Wind Power

New York legislature has fixed at least one issue with the net metering law (PSL 66) with A7557A, which was signed by the Governor last March.  The law took effect yesterday.  Here are some of the issues addressed:

  1. Removed the requirement that solar generating equipment not exceed customer’s peak load.
  2. Removed the requirement that wind generating equipment not exceed customer’s peak load.
  3. Make certain provisions for commercial customers to pay for the installation of safety equipment

Increasing solar and wind generating capacities are a step in the right direction.  If a customer has a resource that is available to be used to generate power for other electrical customers, there is no reason not to take advantage of it.

The utility companies buy this power at wholesale rates and sell it for retail to the next few customers down the line.  Everyone wins.

Tags: , ,

30 Jul 10 | Solar Electric, Wind Power | Comment (1)

New York to chart a Solar Thermal course

26 Jul 10 | Solar Hot Water, solar thermal

New York state has been providing incentives for photovoltaics  (PV) for several years now through NYSERDA.  Solar Thermal (ST) has relied mainly on tax incentives from the federal and state governments without direct rebates.  On average, about 500 ST systems have been installed per year in NY, vs. 20,000 systems per year for PV.  That is about to change.

According to the Customer Sited Tier Program released on June 29, 2010:

The following guidelines are expected to be incorporated into the solicitation(s):

1. Eligible measures are solar water heating for residential (single and multifamily), commercial buildings, and non-profits that replaces or displaces electric water heating. Equipment and systems must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).
2. Expected performance will be based on the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) estimates or standard industry software such as RETScreen.
3. Incentives will be based on expected performance in $/kWh/yr or $/MMBtu/yr up to a maximum of 40% of installed cost after all other tax credits have been applied, with a set dollar maximum for residential and non-residential systems.
4. The program will be first-come, first-served. The residential program is likely to be implemented as a simple incentive process, as the typical residential system is small and often pre-packaged.
5. Solar Thermal hot water systems will receive incentives as an alternative to electric water heating only. MWhs saved due to electric water heating replacement/supplementation with solar water heating will be calculated and scored towards the RPS goal.
6. Installers will be required to conduct annual follow-up visits for a designated period of time.

Customer Eligibility Criteria:

  • customers must pay into the RPS
  • new or existing homes and buildings will be eligible
  • five-year warranty for the system will be required
  • residential customers must have a New York ENERGY STAR® home or have a “clip board”” or walk through energy audit conducted to determine cost-effective energy efficiency measures related to electricity use. Customers will NOT be required to implement energy efficiency measures to receive an incentive.

The largest cost savings gains can be realized by those who use electric to heat their hot water.  As I discovered first hand, about three years ago, my electric bill dropped by 1/3 when I installed a Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) system.  My electric use went from over 12,000 kWh per year to just under 8,300 kWh per year.  In today’s money, that equates to $600.00 annual savings in electric costs.

The goal of NYSERDA in creating this incentive is to raise awareness of ST and increase installations to the same level as PV, which is about 20,000 installation per year in NYS.   As I have outlined in the past, the benefits of ST are:

  1. Less expensive than PV.  Consumers that use electricity to heat there water can make an apples to apples comparison and find that a SDHW system will cost about 10-15% what a PV system costs for the same energy output.
  2. Faster payback times.  Because of the reduced costs, paybacks range in the 5-6 year time frame with fewer rebates.
  3. Less regulator concerns.  A PV system requires many, many layers of bureaucracy to complete.  A ST system permitting and installation is usually straight forward.
  4. Energy output from ST is stable and does not decline with time.  PV systems age and slowly reduce the power output from individual panels.  ST systems have no such issues.
  5. More tolerant to shading and siting problems.  Not that a system should be intentionally installed in a shaded location, however, they will not drastically reduce their output if subject to some minimal diffused shading such as deciduous trees in winter time.

Not that I want to beat up on PV, that too is a fine system.  Solar Thermal, however, has several distinct advantages over PV, especially for a homeowner on a budget.

Tags: , ,

26 Jul 10 | Solar Hot Water, solar thermal | Comment (1)

Off grid solar system for construction site

18 Jul 10 | Solar Electric

This was a unique and fun project.  A fellow is constructing an off grid home in upstate NY.  His idea, since the house is going to be off grid anyway, why not put in a temporary system to power tools and such while building the structure.  When the house is completed, the system can then be moved inside.  He is also living onsite in a yurt, so having electricity available to charge laptops, run the well pump and other things that most of us take for granted would be a great side benefit.

To start, he purchased a portable saw mill and began clearing the lot.  Using trees he cut down on site, he built this temporary power shed to house the inverter, charge controller and batteries:

Temporary power shed made from onsite harvested and milled lumber

We used a bit of left over rubber roof membrane to water proof the roof prior to installing the PV panels.  The PV panels are Sharp NU-235F1 mounted on Unirac rails.

Power shed with roofing and solar panels attached

The inverter is a Xantrex XW-6048 with a XW-MMPT solar charge controller.  Also used are the XW power distribution panel, the XW control panel and generator start panel.  Since this system is going to be used in the finished house, we choose the larger inverter.  This house has a well that is 380 feet deep and uses a Goulds 1 1/2 HP submersible pump.  This pump is the largest single draw in the entire system, starting surge of about 5,000 watts and using 2,100 watts when running.  The 6 KW inverter is able to handle this without problem.

Balances of system parts, off grid system

The batteries are  16 Surrette S-530 flooded cells.

The wall between the batteries and the inverter has 30 pound roof felt to act as a corrosive barrier between the batteries and the electronics.  Ventilation is copious.  The tarp is placed over the opening when the system is not in use.

The house itself is in progress, with the foundation completed and the floor slab being prepared for pouring soon.

Tags: ,

18 Jul 10 | Solar Electric | Comments (0)

The New York Solar Industry and Jobs act (S. 7093b A. 11004a)

11 Jul 10 | Commentary, Incentives

I have stated before, renewable energy needs to compete head to head with fossil fuels based energy in order for it to thrive.  At the current time, that does not seem likely because of all the corporate welfare being doled out to the big oil, coal and gas companies in the form of tax breaks and subsides.  Those subsides are a hidden cost that we all pay in our income taxes.  The real way to get people to reduce or stop using oil is to raise the prices.  Cutting subsides would do exactly that and lead to reduced government spending at the same time.

In New York State, a move is afoot to increase the RPS standard by increasing an already existing surcharge on all publicly traded NY based electric utilities.  As the report indicates, it would cost the average utility costumer about $0.39 per month additional.  For this amount, it is estimated that 22,000 jobs will be created in the solar power sector and $20 billion in additional economic output will be realized.

I normally cast a jaundiced eye toward job creation claims in pending legislation, those claims are usually highly optimistic and never fully pan out.  Even so, if this proposed bill produced even half the estimated jobs, it would be a good thing.  Further still, when all the publicly traded utility companies in NY ban together in strong opposition of said bill, it is worthy of a second look.  Things that highly agitate the utility companies are likely good for the consumer.

Tags:

11 Jul 10 | Commentary, Incentives | Comment (1)