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on December 8th, 2011% ![]()
Advancements in technology have simplified the lives of people around the world, while also making many processes more efficient. not only has this new type of technology changed many people’s lives, but it has also helped keep our environment cleaner by saving energy and being more resourceful with what energy we do use. Roofing is no exception to this rule. for many years, there have been solar panels that are placed on top of roofs to help recharge energy back into the user’s home. These panels have always been large and unpleasant to the eye, but recent advancements in solar technology have led to the creation of solar shingles. These new shingles not only help save you energy, but also blend in with your current roofing pattern for a seamless look.
Solar shingles are designed to have the look of normal asphalt or tar shingles, but provide the advantage of energy conservation. Just like their regular counter parts, solar shingles come in a variety of sizes as well as set ups. There are single panels that are large, but still are incorporated into the regular look of the roof. the panels take the place of a large number of regular shingles, and are in a long strip across the roof. Another name for these newer types of shingles is photovoltaic shingles. although this is the main type of solar shingle, there are even newer forms that use a thing solar film that is very consistent to current shingle size and shape.
The history of solar shingles is not that extensive as they were only commercially introduced in 2005. Dow Chemical Company was one of the first manufacturers to enter the market, helping to push the future of solar roofing.
The way the shingles work is that they capture the sun’s energy and remit it back to the home in the form of electricity. Photovoltaic shingles work in many climates, but work best in sunny areas such as Houston. the original size of the shingle was about 12 inches by 86 inches, making them much larger than normal roof shingles. although their size was a major difference, they could be attached right to the roof cloth, unlike their panel predecessor, which sat above the roof. once they are attached, the dimensions that are exposed become smaller as the shingles around the solar section cover parts of the exposed area. for many homeowners who have standard asphalt shingles, the solar ones blend in nicely as they are usually a deep, dark blue to purple color.
For more information on roofing setups of all types, contact your local Cypress Roofing Company today.
on December 6th, 2011% ![]()
FRANKLIN TWP. — David den Hollander of Garden State Growers has submitted plans to put up solar panels on the 201-acre “golf course” property that he recently purchased. The panels would occupy 97.3 acres, with most of the rest of the property consisting of wetlands and set-back buffers.
The property is zoned for agricultural and residential use, so den Hollander will be seeking a use variance and site-plan approval when he appears before the township Land Use Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the Municipal Building. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.
The acreage, called the golf course property because there had been a plan to build one there, is on the west side of Croton Road (Route 579) between Route 12 and Oak Grove Road.
Den Hollander had applied for a massive greenhouse installation on Croton Road similar to his operations on Locust Grove Road, but apparently has changed his mind. His application says that the 23-megawatt facility would provide an “alternate energy source for agricultural use.”
According to the plans, the solar panels would be set back 218 feet from Croton Road and screened from the road by 8-foot evergreen trees. The panels would be 7 feet high. The property would be surrounded by a 4-foot electric fence.
On the sides and rear of the property, there would be a 65-foot setback.
on December 4th, 2011% ![]()
Home solar panels are the desirable solution for anyone willing to substitute the polluting energy created by fuel-supplied energy plants with green and renewable source of energy. they have the ability to change sun energy to electrical energy and give the best outcome if not put under full sun daily. Nowadays changing them has become much easier. Home solar panels can provide all the energy and heat requirements in your house and provide some to other users. they are best installed on the roof of the house or built in the roof in the course of the construction of the house.
Home solar panels can either turn sunlight into electricity or hot water. However, if your home solar panels are used to produce electricity, they cannot heat water or the air in your house. they should work well both in summer and in winter, although, in some instances, you may have to change the position of the panels. these changes should be included in the technical features in the installation instruction manual you get on buying the home solar panels.
Home solar panels are smaller and inexpensive nowadays, while the rewards have grown exceedingly. Installation of home solar energy systems has become its own licensed specialty performed by licensed home solar contractors. these solar panels are the most consistent source of harvesting energy for residential solar power generation, doing better than the solar cells of previous decades. Marine and RV solar panels and specialty items, such as Powerflex flexible and portable solar panels, are also available.
Questions like how much energy you use in your home and what appliances or areas you want to power with your home solar panels have to be well thought-out before home solar panels are installed. you will require less home solar panels to collect the necessary energy if the sun is shining often. still, if you have enough panels you can power your home from the sun anyway from where you live.
Home solar panels are generally designed for high voltage grid-connected systems, although they can be used for battery-based systems too. Because of the cost of batteries for solar panel systems, the controller has become quite useful. Batteries can only save an individual percentage of the energy created by your solar array, so you will save more energy if your utility company uses it.
Conventional voltages are more sensible purely because they are standard, which makes compatibility into the future more guaranteed. Always check with your local authority concerning planning issues before you have a system put in. Some local authorities call for planning consent to allow you to fit a PV system, mainly in conservation areas or on listed buildings. the positive aspect to this system is eliminating the need, expense and hassle of a bank of batteries but the negative is that you have no store of energy should there be a blackout.
Conductive energy collection grids are silk-screened on to the outside of these wafers and a solar cell is produced. Solar panels that use single crystalline solar cells offer among the record efficiencies obtainable on today’s commercial market. Great for power outages and life outside the power grid.
on December 3rd, 2011% ![]()
Personal Electric Generation with Home Renewable Energy
Article by Gary Ashby
In a time of such economic downturn, where prices for things, we’ve taken for granted, have begun to rise, we seek alternative means to replace them. Instead of purchasing food from the supermarket, we can grow our own in the garden. Instead of driving to work, we can cycle. One of the major turns many people are taking is the one towards renewable energy.Removing their dependence on fossil fuels, they’re looking towards easily obtained electric generators to provided the power for their home, whether it’s large scale for the entire house or just to charge a few batteries for everyday appliances. To satisfy these needs, there are two major forms of electric generation: solar power and wind power. Personal electric generation with both of these methods can provide a great return and take hardly any time to set up. In the case of solar power, the can potentially last several decades if well looked after.Solar PowerPeople have been using solar power for centuries, though not as we think of it today. It’s primary use has been to purify and heat water, though with the advent of the semi-conductor silicon, we’ve started using solar power to generate usable electricity. The photons in the sun’s rays bounce off the negative electrons in the silicon and force them to flow through the material, creating a current. This can then be harnessed and put towards a good use.The varying sizes of solar panels can be used for different purposes. Large scale, several hundred watt panels can be used for the entire home, powering appliances for the entire day. The small, double digit watt panels can perhaps power a single appliance or some lights or just charge batteries.Wind PowerWind power has been in use for even longer than solar power and for many different purposes. from pushing boats and ships to turning windmills to grind wheat. It’s even been used for ancient ventilation systems for housing and the 19th century saw its first use as a means of generating electricity. The thousands of fans all over the world can provide a lot of electricity for many homes, but for single homes, they’re a little less useful.Their size and efficiency makes them somewhat less manageable than solar panels and they require wind, whereas solar panels can function even on a cloudy day. I have personally managed to build my own home DIY renewable energy system by following an online system which you can find out more about at my website link below.
Do you want to learn how to build Electricity Generation Systems at home? Do not do it because the author has found many useless guides online. Download the Best Step-By-Step Home Energy Guides at renewableenergysystemreview.com/download.htm!
on December 3rd, 2011% ![]()
Since time immemorial, the energy from the Sun has been considered as the principal source of life more particularly by the earlier inhabitants during ancient civilizations that worshiped it like their god. Earth’s main source of energy is derived from the Sun which, with human’s ingenuity, is transformed into various forms of energy. in learning how to make solar panels with DIY construction guide, you will be able to harness and enjoy sufficient power supply to run in your entire home.
It is important to know the manner how solar energy reaches the surface of the Earth so you can harness sunlight in a way most convenient to your DIY style of building an alternative power generator. Solar energy may come in the forms enumerated below.
As visible radiation or light
Light frequencies are responsible in producing variance of spectral colors. Visible radiation in its various spectral hues is seen with the aid of a prism. These colors range from violet to red according to light frequency in their respective wavelength:
Color:
(1) Violet; (2) Blue; (3) Cyan; (4) Green; (5) Yellow; (6) Orange; (7)Red
Frequency (THz):
(1) 668-789; (2) 631-668; (3) 606-630; (4) 526-606; (5) 508-526; (6) 484-508; (7) 400-484
Wavelength (Nm):
(1) 380-450; (2) 450-475; (3) 476-495; (4) 495-570; (5) 570-590; (6) 590-620; (7) 620-750
Take note of the following as (1) THz is for terahertz; (2) Nm stands for nanometers; and (3) Cyan represents the color range for blue-green.
As heat or invisible radiation
This invisible radiation is also referred to as the infrared. Infrared is from the Latin word that literally means below red which pertains to an electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than the visible light, though shorter than terahertz and microwaves radiation. You can feel the presence of infrared radiation, but cannot see it with the naked eye.
As high-frequency or UV radiation
UV stands for ultra-violet which refers to invisible rays which are part of the energy from the Sun. These rays can tan or burn the skin and even cause cancer of skin after prolonged UV exposure. So why not expose solar panels instead to these rays? in doing so, you get enough energy for your renewable power generator and enjoy the benefits rather than harm
Why is it important to learn how to make solar panels?
In building DIY style energy catchers, you can obviously harvest the Sun’s energy. Solar cells have the inherent characteristic to transform the sun-harnessed energy into electricity. The process of converting the captured energy in solar cells to electricity is known as the photovoltaic effect.
In order to let electricity to flow and run in your entire household, you have to assemble the necessary electrical circuits from you solar panels. You can either do it yourself if you know basic electrical circuitry, or simply hire an electrician to do the job. make sure you have a storage battery to ensure undisturbed enjoyment of FREE power supply at home.
You may find a transformer useful to ensure electrical voltage. if you are a meticulous person, you can install an electric meter for measuring the amount of electricity generated by your DIY alternate power source. make an assessment how much saving you have made while enjoying the benefits of learning how to make solar panels.
Building on your own these energy-catchers is more economical than buying those professionally assembled photovoltaic frames. By this time, you have certainly considered the importance of learning how to make solar panels. You may search online for DIY construction kits with an easy-to-follow video guide and an instructional manual which is very easy to read and understand.
Feel free to post your questions, comments, suggestions or recommendations. thank you for reading this energy-saving article.
on December 1st, 2011% ![]()
Since time began, the sun was seen as a source of energy. Suprisingly only about 10% of solar energy is actually used. maybe if we become more aware of its possible uses and its capacity as a sustainable power source we would promote and use more solar energy.
It may surprise you to find out that solar energy is in reality the source of various sustainable powers such as radiation, wind and waves. Solar energy has many uses – it can give us light, heating and cooling. it can be deployed through technology to power countless things, such as cooking equipment, distillation, hot water systems, and disinfection.
Technology and Sunlight
The sun produces immeasurable amounts of energy. this energy needs to be captured using technology to turn itself into something that can be used by mankind. There are two types of solar energy, passive or active solar energy. the distinction between them depends on how the heat from the sun is gathered and channelled to power things that run on electricity.
Active solar technology uses solar energy (photovoltaic or PV) panels, combined with solar thermal collectors, and then channels it using mechanical or electrical equipment. Passive solar technology is simply a system to capture the sun’s useful rays, such as a skylight.
Creating Electricity From the Sun
We are all familiar with the term “solar panel”; solar panels change the heat from the sun into the electric power by means of what is called the photoelectric effect. using concentrated solar energy is not new. it was used to perform useful tasks as far back as ancient China.
To concentrate solar power, a series of mirrors and lenses is used to focus light to one area which creates a single beam. Legend has it that Archimedes used polished shields to concentrate sunlight and repel in invading army. There are several technologies used today to concentrate solar energy to produce power. three of the more common are: Solar tower, solar trough and parabolic dish.
The most apparent obstacle to the use of solar energy as a sustainable power source is that there is no sun at night. Modern times require constant supply. this is the reason that the capability to store solar energy is an fundamental part of solar technology. Thermal storage systems can store solar energy. new scientific discoveries also paved the way for thermal mass storage systems, varying storage capacity and function by storing energy during off peak hours and varying supply at peak consumption hours.
It usually takes a crisis for people to really look at other possibilities, and solar energy began getting attention again after the 1979 oil crisis and the 1973 oil embargo. Solar technology made it’s first ‘modern’ appearance in the 1800s with the inventions of the first solar powered steam engine.
Now, with the growing costs of electricity, the volatile cost of oil, and its declining supply have paved the way for solar power to come to the fore. A greater awareness of environmental damage done by traditional power sources has led companies to create affordable solar energy solutions and make them commercially available. Purchasing a commercial system is still an pricey initial outlay, but the maintenance costs are usually low and the life of the system is usually about 20 years.
Tags: concentrated solar energy, energy photovoltaic, hot water systems, pv panels, types of solar energy
on November 30th, 2011% ![]() 29. November 2011 | top News, Industry & Suppliers, Markets & Trends | by: Becky Stuart
Gestamp Solar is a Spanish-based developer and operator of utility-scale photovoltaic plants across 25 countries. to date, it has installed around 300 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics. However, as senior engineer, Rusty Sage tells pv magazine, the company is ambitious in its goal-setting and plans to implement over 1.5 gigawatts (GW) worth of projects over the next five years.
In the following interview, Sage discusses Gestamp’s U.S. solar plans until 2015, outlines the company’s competitive strategy in light of the current turbulent market conditions, looks at the falling installation costs, and provides his take on why the microinverter industry still has some way to go in terms of its commerciality.
What is the current status of Gestamp’s U.S. photovoltaic project pipeline?
Our U.S. pipeline is actually over 1.5 GW, to be implemented over the next four to five years. we have a strong presence in Fresno, California, as well as on the East Coast, in southern California, and in the Inland Empire of California.In order to achieve our goal, we’ve opened a project development office in Fresno and have a lot of greenfield pipeline. we have contracts and leased land tied up for around 400 MW in Fresno County. we like to think that all of it will go through. we feel that we’re going to get a very strong market out of Fresno. We’re continuing to work with utilities in getting power purchase agreements negotiated and signed.we also have a development team that we’ve partnered with called 8minutenergy. With them, we have 355 MW with all the land tied up and interconnection agreements in place down in the Imperial Valley of California. it just depends on the timeline of getting the power purchase agreements (PPAs). Some of them are a little bit longer range forecast, because it takes a while to upgrade transmission systems for utilities. We’re hoping to get one 50 MW project online by 2013 down in Imperial Valley, however.
Can you discuss the permitting process?
Each U.S. county is different in the way that they permit, and how we have to go about permitting. but in general, like for Fresno County, we’ve had good communication with their building and planning department from day one, and now have projects that are getting to the final stages of approval with them, in terms of site plans and decommissioning reports.several communities are a bit sensitive to companies’ development plans for solar plants, they want to make sure that there is a plan in place for it to be torn down at the end of the life cycle. Fresno, for example, has a 20 year old solar project from PG&E that’s just been sitting there non-operational for years, and it’s a bit of an eyesore for some of the residents. So they’re extra sensitive when it comes to that, and we have to work with them and make sure that they know we are going to take care of it.
Have they been responsive to Gestamp’s efforts?
Fresno has been very responsive. We’ve got some conditions of approval for a couple of projects right now that we’re finalizing and should be going into construction here, hopefully by the end of the year, or the first quarter of 2012. we do have purchase agreements in place and also interconnection agreements, so we’re working with them from the ground level, all the way up.then in southern California, we’ve got some conditions of approval where we have to take into account environmental aspects, such as burrowing owls. Here, we have to have environmental mitigation reports and work with the Department of Fish and Game. As long as you have a plan in place, and work with, ideally, local environmental consultants, they work with you, but it is costly, and that’s just to get your grading and building permits to start mobilizing. there are a lot of unknowns that present themselves that we have to take care of.
What about permitting timelines?
The length of time to get conditions of approval is roughly three months, from really starting the plan of your project. then you can start detailed engineering. From the start of engineering to receiving building permits – that can take, from when you submit your engineering plans to when you get a building permit from a county, about four to six weeks. There’s a lot of back and forth discussions, and almost all counties are understaffed.However, the project needs to keep going. we have timelines as far as financing. At the end of this year, for example, we’re looking at the end of the 1603 federal tax grant and, as has been reported, for Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantees, there are timelines to get good and cheap money, and to have a better value for your project.For us, we’ve partnered with a couple of different people. I can’t go into specifics, but for quite a few of the projects, we’ve taken over ownership, so we do a lot of the financing ourselves on our balance sheets and so that allows a little bit of flexibility in terms of some timelines. also, at the end of a project, we work with a bank or financial institute to wrap the project up.
What are installation costs like?
As we know panel prices have dropped significantly. the overall cost to install has dropped as well, because all the smaller component costs are dropping, and the installers are becoming increasingly educated with the installation process. Percentage wise, costs have fallen by between 15 and 20 percent easily, taking out panels.we also continue to push for lower and lower costs, because we’re fighting against strong competitors. I just saw in Germany that they’ve got rooftop installations down to USD$4 per watt, and that’s just because of their experience and the time that they’ve been installing those systems, – they’ve perfected the materials and the labor. I feel that that same thing is happening in the U.S. As we get more installations, and as we export more solar, overall costs continue to drop.
Can you give me a concrete example of current costs?
Not really! what we do is send out requests for proposals (RFPs). For example, we sent out a RFP for a 50 MW project in 2010, and we were getting costs back, from strong companies, that were for between USD$3.70 and $5 dollars a watt, including panels and everything. now we’re seeing those prices being significantly beaten by two MW projects.
How has Gestamp dealt with the turbulent market conditions this year?
It’s been a trying year. we had lofty goals for Gestamp Solar USA to get megawatts in by the end of the year and it’s been difficult. We’ve faced several challenges with the permitting process, working with utilities and the recent news of a couple of the DOE guarantees that have gone awry. However, for the most part, we’ve been very solvent in continuing our support and financing for several projects across the board.
Will the company be affected by the end of the 1603 treasury grant?
It’s been on our radar: we’ve definitely recognized its effect and we’re doing everything we can to safe harbor projects. we planned and anticipated this last year and we got the fortune to get one more year, so it’s nothing new. but of course like everybody, we have to be that much more diligent and aware of projects that we look at acquiring.
How important is it to obtain an extension?
It’s nice to have that extra capability and depreciation benefits, but I strongly feel that the solar industry can survive without it. I mean, we’ve seen such a drop in prices for solar modules and equipment, so there’s been an adjustment already.
What about technological development? what is Gestamp’s main focus?
We’ve been mainly focusing on single axis trackers, and some double axis trackers, in order to maximize the benefit from the sun. We’ve been working with manufacturers, like Opel Solar, Hiasa and Ercam, on improving the installation process, and making sure the trackers meet all of the counties entitlement requirements, as far as base flood elevation goes. We’re additionally looking at some of the details on the motors and how they operate, and in their flexibility in different size and type of parcels.In terms of panel manufacturers, we’ve been working with a company called Solaria, which has a low concentration CPV panel, but with only a tracking device. It’s been interesting working with them and we’re starting to get some data back from an installation and seeing how the modules are performing. the installation is in medium solar radiation and we’re going to see how it works directly compared with a standard polysilicon type panel, and see how the output correlations are going.
Microinverters: are they set to take over the inverter industry?
We’ve been evaluating them, but we haven’t used them on any of our projects. I have two concerns: one is cost – they’re still pretty costly compared to centralized inverters; and two is the mean time between failure (MTBF). if we have a plant with 20,000 panels, which is about a four MW plant, then we’re going to have 20,000 inverters out there. There’s more chance that you are going to have of one of those failing in a shorter time than you are going to be with having eight inverters out there, for example.We’re doing test cases right now with AC to DC converters, which is interesting, but we have to drive the costs down for balance of plants. therefore, microinverters are a technology to look at in the future and it looks really good for smaller installations with shading concerns, but for bigger ones, we’re sticking with the standard inverters.
Do you have specific equipment manufacturers you always use?
We’ve worked with long term industry players such as Trina, Yingli and Hanwha SolarOne within the U.S. and Europe, but a lot of our equipment comes from our long-standing relationships from our base headquarters in Spain. For panel manufacturers, we work with several in the form of a bidding process and then with other manufacturers, such as with combiner box and transformers, we work with them in a technical bidding process, and a financial bidding process.
What are the key strategies for moving forward into 2012?
Utilizing our experience, executing our timelines, and leveraging our long-standing relationships with equipment suppliers. Understanding all the challenges that are unique to the U.S. market is also crucial.
Rusty Sage has worked for Gestamp Solar since 2009. Before taking on his current role, he worked as both a system engineer, and civil engineering consultant. having studied Mechanical Engineering at CSU Chico, he is also a four time world champion kayaker.
on November 28th, 2011% ![]()
What most people don’t know is that solar energy can be used anywhere in the world because the only thing it needs is sunlight.
If you are looking for cheap solar power, then what you need to do is to get a good DIY solar kit that will make it easy for you to build your own solar power system with a step by step guide. you can save a lot of money with an investment of under two hundred dollars by making your own home solar panels. Building the home electricity power system is easy, fun and also gives you a great experience in DIY.
How you can get cheap solar power for your home
If you are considering in using solar electricity as one of the most reliable renewable energy sources, then you should check out the best solar guide Earth4Energy.you don’t have to be worried about the cost of solar power. This is the best solution on how to get a cheap solar power. With the Earth4Energy you can easily learn with the basic steps how to build your own solar panels or wind turbines and say goodbye to your power bills.
What is the cost of solar power
Most people who have tried not only buying a solar panel, but also getting professional installations of a solar energy system have been shocked by the amount of money it costs. It could take more than 10 years for you to repay all of that money invested.
This forced a huge amount of people to search for different guides in order to make their own solar electricity panels in their backyard.
Most would think that it is really difficult to make your own home-made solar energy system or wind turbine. But it isn’t as it may seem. in fact, it is really easy
The most important thing that needs to be done is to find the best full detailed instructions with pictures and flyers that will make it much easier for you to build your own solar power system.
Learn how to build a solar power for your home with solar powered kits
In this time it is really hard to find good solar powered kits that will help you make your own home electricity. The main reason is because not all of the guides will teach you how to make it properly as it is supposed to be.
That is why we have searched the net and picked out the best selling guides in the market that are available. All you have to do is chose one of these easy guides and learn the basic steps. The easiest and best is the Earth4Energy solar kit along with the easy video instructions that will guide you through to make your own solar panel. No need to stress because anybody can do it
With the good quality guide you are able to make your own home made solar energy panel step by step. It usually takes approximately about a day to build a 100-watt panel. This is the amount of energy (electricity) that is required to operate some electrical machines or even a small workshop if you had some other guide, it would probably take much longer to build. Meaning that with this guide you could have your own electricity power with one weekend and save a huge amount of cash.
Once you install it, you will own a solar panel running for 25-40 years or more. Don’t run around emptying your pockets on solar power panels. DIY and just sit back and relax.With this cheap solar power you can save a fortune, cut your power bills – or eliminate them forever
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
Rooftop solar owners and installers in the San Diego Gas & Electric region are up in arms over recent proposed hikes in electricity costs. In a case before the California Public Utilities Commission, SDG&E is proposing a monthly “transmission and distribution” surcharge for solar panels connected to the electrical grid.
This, of course, is in addition to the big investment that solar owners have already made.
This request highlights a stark disparity between a large utility company that has a monopoly over the grid infrastructure and power market, and a homeowner who produces the same product, electricity, but gets nowhere near the same compensation.
It is time for California to evaluate the real value of rooftop solar if we are serious about reducing pollution, creating jobs in one of the only growing sectors and meeting California’s ambitious clean energy goals.
To highlight the current disparity, SDG&E currently charges its residential customers from 14 to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour. Yet, if those same consumers have rooftop solar and sell energy back to the grid, SDG&E pays them less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
SDG&E is not alone. Pacific Gas and Electric’s residential rates range from 14 to 34 cents per kilowatt-hour. PG&E customers who generate excess solar energy are also paid less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Since it is based solely on the average cost of purchasing energy in the wholesale spot market, this low rate ignores the many benefits of rooftop solar generation. SDG&E’s more recent request to charge rooftop solar owners money to connect to the grid only exacerbates the current disparity.
California agencies that are examining what solar energy producers will be compensated should reduce this disparity. Pursuant to decisions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, small rooftop solar energy generators should be compensated for the utility’s savings, or avoided costs, when small local renewable resources, such as rooftop solar, generate power for the system.
Reliance on local renewable resources has many concrete advantages for the operation of a grid, which should be taken into account to fairly value their contribution.
Power purchased from rooftop solar is clean energy that can benefit public health by reducing pollution, and it saves the utility from having to control pollution, and possibly buy pollution credits, due to the operation of a dirty fossil-fuel facility.
Rooftop solar also has the benefit of producing energy during the hottest part of the day, which also tends to be the period of highest energy demand and highest electricity value.
As SDG&E’s website admits, small solar projects are “clean, renewable power closer to the areas of greater demand.” due to this, reliance on rooftop solar can reduce the need for building new expensive and polluting fossil fuel facilities to meet this peak demand. none of this is taken into account when rooftop solar owners are paid less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour for the surplus energy they produce.
Furthermore, the utility actually saves money on transmission by relying on rooftop solar. this reality is completely at odds with SDG&E’s proposed transmission and distribution charge on rooftop solar owners. due to the good match of rooftop solar output with the electricity demand, as the Public Utilities Commission has found, it can allow a utility to “defer or avoid the need for network transmission infrastructure development.”
SDG&E’s recent request not only has this issue backward, it demonstrates a disregard for the key benefits that local, or distributed, solar offers.
California has embarked on a goal to produce 33 percent of its energy by 2020 from renewable resources, and Gov. Jerry Brown has announced a goal of installing 12,000 megawatts of that energy in the form of distributed generation. to meet this goal, California needs to acknowledge all the economic benefits of local renewable generation by not deferring to utility resistance that is driven by parochial financial interest.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. all rights reserved.
Deborah Behles is an associate professor and staff attorney at Golden Gate University School of Law’s Environmental Law and Justice Clinic. bill Powers is a professional engineer with decades of experience in the energy sector.
on November 26th, 2011% ![]()
The Western Herald recently published an article highlighting WMU student outrage in response to the installation of solar panels and fifteen electric car-charging stations that resulted in the destruction of nine trees. I am disappointed and saddened by the shortsightedness of this project’s dissenters. Construction and maintenance projects all over Kalamazoo often result in the destruction of living trees. I find it ironic that this project, a true “green” initiative, has been targeted as a point of concern.
While the passion demonstrated for the livelihood of trees is honorable and commendable, it’s disheartening that there has been an obvious failure to carefully consider the raw facts of the situation. it is additionally discouraging that local media sources have failed uncover this information and present a balanced view of the story that represents more than the opinion of small sample of the campus community.
The reasoning behind the car-charging stations is to incentivize the use of electric cars and the spaces near Miller Auditorium since they are prime parking real estate. the area is central, high traffic, high visibility, contains highly preferred parking spots, and happens to have housed nine trees. if the stations were in an unseen, distant spot, they would be much less likely to be used. the project requires that the solar panels be located in close proximity to these stations with the intent to demonstrate a clear connection between solar-power and the electric car-charging stations. Alternative locations for the panels were considered, including rooftops. however, in order to avoid snow accumulation, the panels must be oriented vertically during winter months resulting in excessive wind pressure in elevated locations.
The trees that were removed to clear space for the panels were nine Honey Locusts, an exotic and dangerously invasive species in Michigan. the trees were already threatened because of snow and road salt that was piled on them every winter.
Assuming that they had been healthy, all nine trees would absorb up to 400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year combined. this is approximately equal to the carbon emissions from 20 gallons of gasoline. More importantly, WMU has a long-standing policy that requires two trees to be planted for every one taken. Meaning that 18 trees will be planted in the spring and this project results in a net gain of nine healthy,well-located, non-invasive campus trees.
The planned solar panels will help provide electric car owners with substantially cleaner energy than what they would use at home. the panels will also be part of the campus electrical grid, normally powered by WMU’s natural gas plant. during the campus’ highest electricity demand periods, WMU purchases additional energy that is created mostly from coal. When the car charging stations are unoccupied, the excess energy produced by the panels will first go to offset the purchase of the additional energy. the panels will generate about 65,000kwh/year, translating to the reduction of up to 145,600lbs of carbon dioxide from purchased electricity annually. this is equal to the emissions from 7,280 gallons of gasoline. the bottom line is that the solar panels will be more than 350 times more effective at reducing carbon dioxide than the nine trees.
This project’s overall payoff is obvious. it will ultimately result in more trees, a campus with a smaller carbon footprint, and a community with infrastructure to support the purchase and use of electric vehicles. I commend WMU for actively demonstrating a true commitment to campus and community sustainability by supporting this project. I hope that in the future, the campus community and local media leaders will take time to thoughtfully consider the facts, costs, and benefits of well-planned projects like this before inciting emotions.
-Katherine Binder,WMU Graduate Student, Behavior AnalysisGraduate Assistant , WMU Office for Sustainability
Short URL: westernherald.com/?p=28524
AJ Coop
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