Renewable Energy Implementations

By Ken Clifton

Topics:Solar Photo VoltaicMicro InvertersSolar ThermalBiomass

Visit http://www.kenclifton.com then click Renewable Energy

Overview Why? Why Not PV? PV the Only Way I Was Interested... My Process

Sealed Air Leaks, Improved Insulation, Radiant Barrier LED Bulbs, High-Efficiency Heat Pump

Biomass Solar Thermal Solar Photo-Voltaic

Why?

Sealed Air Leaks Added Insulation Converted to LED Lighting Compared Power Bills Same Month,

Previous Year, with Current Year... Used 100 kWH less, but guess what?

Why (cont.)?

2010 Electric Bill was still more, Even though used 100 kWH less !!!

In 2010 Duke added many new ridersAND upped the rate...

Conclusion: If you can't beat them,– JOIN THEM !

Feb 2011 Power Bill

Feb 2011 Power Bill

Your First Generation Should Always Be: ....

Solar thermal The most bang for the buck! 65 Percent Tax Credit (not deduction!)

FULL 65 PERCENT OF COST BACK New technologies... I went with evacuated tubes for the

most performance in the winter.

Your First Generation Should Always Be: Solar Thermal

Your First Generation Should Always Be: Solar Thermal

Your First Generation Should Always Be: Solar Thermal

Why NOT PV?(I would not do this because...)

Why NOT PV?(I would not do this because...)

Solar Panels in Series (like XMAS lights) Shading Issues Manufacturing tolerance differences Sunrise/ Sunset DANGEROUS!!! (high DC voltage)

? How can you work on this in the daylight...? What about troubleshooting a prob w/ 24 panels

Big Expensive Wire Cost to Expand System Average Service Life of String Inverters

(10 years the norm)

PV the Only Way I Was Interested...

PV the Only Way I Was Interested...

PV the Only Way I Was Interested...

Wall Street Journal TechnicalExcellence award: Enphase Energy

Parallel system (invert at each panel and wire in parallel)

No single point of failure AND 119 year MTBF Every inverter runs flat-out!

(no manufacturing tolerance issues) Shading affects 1 module only (not whole string) Sun rise/sunset performance much better Small AC wire, less dangerous voltage Easy to troubleshoot – look at the browser!! Can work on wiring in the day Cost to expand system is much less!

PV the Only Way I Was Interested...

PV the Only Way I Was Interested...

My Process...• Caulk is $2 tube versus $800 per panel w/ inverter, insulate, radiant barrier, LED lighting

• Biomass for heat (might go evac tubes now)

• PV: NC Utilities Commission Rpt of Proposed Construction

• Duke Interconnection Application

• Approval to construct

• NCUC: Rpt of Construction

• Building Permits

• Construct

• Duke Permission to Energize

• Went through the whole process TWICE!

• 1st time completed Nov of 2010

• Watched 1st Array run, worked so well did same thing again!

• 2nd time completed Jan 2011

My Process (cont.)

My Process (cont.)

100,000 BTU Forced-Air with 14 day fuel supply in hopper

Questions? Visit: www.kenclifton.com, then click Renewable Energy! Coming April 8th @ RCCC: Free Seminar:

“Going Green with Ken Clifton

More Links... Solar Panels Plus (Virginia) Duke Energy Interconnection Checklist Enphase Energy Ken Clifton's Solar PV Production Ken Clifton's Solar Thermal Production