Shifting Solutions

Kathleen’s electrical utility, walked her through all the necessary paperwork to get her system signed up for production

The other major equipment choice was the grid-tied inverters that would convert this homes solar-generated DC electricity into AC electricity. In turn, this renewable electricity would be used to power household appliances and charge the Zenn, with any excess sent to the utility grid. While there are several reputable manufacturers of grid-synchronous inverters in the market these days, two Fronius IG 2000 units were deemed a good fit. The east and south-facing arrays would have different numbers of modules and different voltages at maximum power-221.2 and 276.5 volts, respectively.

As such, one inverter would not have dealt optimally with these mismatched input voltages. Instead, two 2,000-watt inverters were installed side by side (one for each array) and paralleled on the AC output side.

NOTE:

This topic will continue on till Sat. chronicling one persons journey installing home solar Power systems. Please tune in tomorrow for more information on this subject.

Where Kathleen had hired a company at a fair great expense and even with the many rebates and tax breaks she used ( see chart on sat. blog) I still think it was a lot of money to spend. I’m here to inform you that if you are just the least bit handy you can build one yourself. To underline the point, I’m a girl who previously new just of the existence of screwdrivers, hammers and drills. My husband used to always handle repairs that needed those tools. Well, with him being sick, I had to finish what he started. Granted, it took me about a week and half, where I am sure my husband could have done it in a few days. But the point is I did it!

You can buy kits that show you how to build your own solar panels, and with the easy to follow vedeo’s and written instructions, detailing every little detail, from where to buy the materials cheaply in your neighborhood, to putting them together and where and how to install them on your roof. ( I did need the hand of a helpful neighbor to help me lift them on the roof!) as well as how to connect the whole thing up to the homes grid or battery packs if that is what you will use. I broke a few nails, but the thing now offsets a good portion of our electrical bills each month.

A few more panels, next summer should take care of the entire homes needs. Click the link above to learn more on how to build solar panel systems.

AND TO THINK, IT’S ALL FREE!

Earth receives more solar energy each every single day then we could ever use in many many lifetimes.

The Photovoltaic technology has been improving rapidly and will soon reach critical mass, or in other words the mass market, ie: the consumer. Companies like Nanosolar will soon start to sell their cheap efficient thin film solar cells to the public.

However there’s a solar technology available now that relies on a different, more familiar, method of generating power.

What all this means to you, is any bodies guess. But I know what it means to me. Though this Nano technology, stuff may soon be available to us at better prices than ever before, there is one thing I do know for sure, and that is, it will still be too expensive for me.

That is why I like the DIY ( do it yourself) way of doing things. I bought a DIY home solar kit that taught me in very simple language and with videos and all, just how to build solar panels for myself, and cheaply at that! It even showed me how to find all the items necessary, locally, and so well priced that I could build my own solar panel for UNDER $200.00. On top of that, it gave me complete instructions on how to install it myself, once I had it built.

Soon I’ll build a couple more, and sell the extra energy I’ll produce back to the utility company through net metering. Sweet revenge, I think for all the years I paid them all these high fees.

I live and work in Arizona, and this peace of legislation I just had to share on this blog!

The following is a copy of an article sent to me by the Arizona Solar Association. This is great news.

Arizona is always one of the last states to get on any bandwagon. So now that Arizona is offering ” net metering” than most STATES ALREADY DO.

If your interested at all in installing your very own home solar power systems read the article below, do your research for your state incentives and with your power company to see that you do qualify a well, then get to building your own solar panel systems. Attache dis a link, if you follow it, will show you how you too can build and install your own solar or wind power systems

Today’s article”

“Arizona Corporation Commission Approves APS’ Net Metering Plan

PHOENIX, AZ (June 23, 2009) -The Arizona Corporation Commission today approved a plan filed by APS to provide net metering so that customers who generate their own energy through solar, wind, or other renewable technologies, can be compensated for the excess energy they produce. The APS net metering tariff is the first to be approved by the Commission under the state’s new net metering rules.

APS customers with renewable energy generation capabilities such as solar panels will have twoway meters installed that will measure both the electricity coming in to a property, and the energy going back to the grid. This allows customers to be credited for the excess energy. As part of APS’ plan, once each calendar year, the company will issue a check or billing credit for the balance of any energy generated in excess of the customer’s usage.

The net metering rules, which are required of all Arizona electric utility companies, give consumers a key tool to help offset the costs of installing renewable energy systems or combined heat and power (CHP) co generation in their home or business, primarily through the use of solar technology. For a facility to qualify under this plan it must be operated by a consumer and located on his or her property-whether it is residential or commercial- and be intended to provide all or part of a consumer’s energy needs. A facility’s size is capped at 125 percent of the customer’s total connected load.

The Commission approved the net metering rules on October 23, 2008. After certification by the Arizona Attorney General, the rules became effective on May 23, 2009. Each public electricity utility company in the state will file a net metering tariff for approval by the Commission, describing how it plans to implement the rules.

The net metering rules are an important part of the Commission’s requirement that utilities generate 15 percent of their total energy from renewable energy and CHP technologies by 2025. The Commission’s Renewable Energy Standards promote the generation of “clean” energy to power Arizona’s future.

The net metering rules can be viewed at: http://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000088991.pdf ( copy and paste in browser)

“This net metering tariff will ensure that Arizonans who produce excess electricity from their solar panels will be fairly compensated by APS,” Chairman Kris Mayes said. “Arizona’s net metering rules will boost our chances of spreading solar to every rooftop and help turn the state into the solar energy hub of the country.”

“Having the cutting edge net metering program in place will let customers become net producers of energy and will incentivize them to invest in renewable energy, such as wind and photovoltaic systems,” said Commissioner Paul Newman.

“Today’s decision is a victory for the environment, our economy, but more importantly a victory for the APS customer,” said Commissioner Sandra Kennedy.

“The approval of this net metering tariff is the fruition of an effort that began years ago,” said Commissioner Gary Pierce. “I am happy to vote for its approval.”