Facts About Solar

Archive for December, 2009

Most consumers are not aware they could for instance be paying for 200 Watt solar panels while only getting 180 Watt out of those same solar panels! This discrepancy is known as “peak tolerance rating” (PTC Rating) in some cases known as “minimum warranted power “or” negative tolerance rating. When shopping for solar panels, what you want to look for is the highest minimum warranted power rating, the lowest negative tolerance rating or the lowest peak negative tolerance (PTC) rating.
A solar panel manufacturer may claim their panels have a high efficiency rating but their claim maybe worthless if the solar panel has a poor minimum warranted power or a low (PTC) rating. What all this means is that the solar panel manufacturer offers a warranty that states that their solar panel’s actual power rating will not be less than a certain rating out of the box. So, if a 200 Watt solar panel has a negative tolerance rating of 10% then their 200 watt panel is guaranteed not to have a power rating of less than 180 Watts right out of the box.
In my opinion 10% or even 8% isn’t really that great when there are other solar panel manufacturers who produce solar panels with a negative tolerance rating of only 5%. Therefore, remember while shopping for a solar system, you may hear solar dealers boast about their solar panel’s high efficiency or higher PTC rating or better performance in hot weather. Always ask what there panel’s negative tolerance rating is and if theirs isn’t less than 8%, consider another panel manufacturer.

PTC rating of solar modules

Here’s a Smart Tip! When shopping for a solar electric system, always insist on seeing the solar panel’s specification sheet and look for the minimum warranted power rating so you can accurately determine the power that panel is guaranteed to produce on an optimal day of sunshine.

Additional info:  http://solarutilitiesnow.com

In recent years the United States has become a recognized emerging market which is quickly gaining ground as a leading world consumer of solar power. With solar popularity increasing in the US due to rebates and tax credits softening the blow to a sizable cash investment needed for a standard solar system installation. Producers of solar modules have stepped up production to meet the growing demand causing  greater competition for market share which in turn drives prices down. PV systems have fallen an average of 3.6 percent per year over the past decade.

As electricity rates climb steadily from inflation due to the devaluation of the dollar and the artificial manipulation of fossil fuel pricing continues on the world stage resulting in the U.S. PV market growing an average of 71 percent  per annum, out pacing the global PV demand of 51 percent per annum. Fueling this growth in large part is California.

A Brief Explanation of Demand for Solar Energy in California

• California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program requires retail sellers of electricity to increase their sales of eligible renewable-energy resources by at least 1 percent of retail sales per year, so that 20% of their retail sales are served with eligible renewable energy resources by 2010. Governor Schwarzenegger has set a longer-term state goal of 33% by 2020.  All of the major electricity retailers in California are just now meeting the 2010 objective.

• Through the California Solar Initiative (CSI) the state has set a goal to achieve 1,750 megawatts of solar equipment installed by 2017.

• The Los Angeles Department of Power & Water has set a goal of importing at least 500 megawatts of power from third party solar power plants located in the Mojave Desert by 2020.

• California’s 2008 Peak electricity, or hourly demand in the summer months, is approximately 62,000 Megawatts. In 2005, California had an in-state electric supply or peak generation capacity of approximately 55,000 Megawatts. The difference is made up in out of state imports. The Gross (24/7) annual electricity usage for California is approximately 300 Million Megawatts per year. California has led the way with renewable energy mandates.

Obama-Biden New Energy for America Plan Summary

• Establish a 10 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 10 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2012.

• By 2010, clean-energy demand will outpace generation by at least 37% unless a rush of projects is built, says a report due out next week from the National Renewable Energy Lab

• According to a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the increasing demand for renewable energy both as a result of renewable portfolio standards and green power programs may exceed the nation’s capacity.

The current global demand for energy is approximately 15 Terawatts.  The Demand Gap (the difference between demand and supply) by the year 2100 is forecasted to be approximately 33 Terawatts by the California Institute of Technology.   Even if the world could bring on-line one new nuclear power plant every day for the next 20 years it would not come close to meeting the future demand for clean and inexpensive carbon-free power.  In fact, even if we could somehow immediately produce the maximum amount of the other potential renewable energy alternatives such as wind (3TW), biomass (6TW), geothermal (1TW), ocean currents (2TW) and hydroelectric (1TW) combined – for a total of 12 Terawatts, we would still have a significant energy demand gap by 2100.  All of these other alternative energy sources, combined, can account for only a small percentage of the future demand for energy.

Solar energy can generate up to 600 Terawatts (or 600 Trillion Watts) of usable energy and is now clearly the answer to generating massive amounts of large utility-grid power. It is enormously abundant, free, renewable and clean.  Solar energy it is now more cost effective or less expensive to produce than natural gas fired plants or the current leading power plant option.

The world is also fast approaching the electrification of the transportation industry (e.g., electric vehicles) that will require a significant increase in electric power plants.  Hydrogen fuel cell powered automobiles will also soon be deployed in the U.S. market.  Hydrogen burns clean but is not a primary energy source because it requires significant amounts of electricity in its production (approximately 300 kWh of electricity for one tank of equivalent gasoline for a 50 MPG car).

Today, coal-fired power plants produce approximately 50% of the electricity in the U.S. Just one coal-fired power plant emits as much CO2 (carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases) as 1 million cars. For every mile that you drive a gasoline powered vehicle, it is the equivalent of throwing out the window – one pound or a 12 ounce can packed with carbon ash and pollutants. The price of Oil skyrocketed to over $144 a barrel in 2008.  Natural Gas prices tripled from 2000 to 2008.  Oil and Gas will continue to be subject to significant worldwide price swings, but consensus forecasts all agree that fossil fuel pricing will continue to increase over the next 30 years and beyond.

Additional information can be found at the following websites:

California Solar Energy Industries Association: www.calseia.org

Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative: http://energy.ca.gov/reti/index.html

Federal Tax Credit updates: www.seia.org

California Solar Initiative: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/energy/solar/

Feed in tariff: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/electric/RenewableEnergy/feedintariffs.htm

Renewable Portfolio Standard: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/electric/renewableenergy/index.htm

Air Resources Board Climate Change

Many times people ask me what is the best strategy for going solar? Here are some facts to help when considering the purchase of a solar system. This is true for residential or commercial purchases.

First and foremost is this, how much of an electric bill do you pay on average each month? If your bill is less than $100 dollars, solar may not be a good investment at this time. Unless your motivation is simply to go green, or you’re anticipating a major increase in your monthly electric bill due to an increase in occupants or some another condition changes which will more than likely cause your bill to go up.

Once you have determined your average bill warrants the investment or you simply just like the idea, then sizing a system is vital. If you want to just reduce your bill, then all that is necessary is to decide by how much.  If the goal is to eliminate the bill, then your design has to be more specific.

Everyone should have at least some understanding on what it takes to design a system to meet your individual goal. If you leave it up to your solar sales guy, you’re leaving yourself open to paying top dollar for too little or paying for a larger system then you need, in some cases.  Remember a sales guy is just that, he is probably working on commissions and his livelihood depends on maximizing his sales. So, it’s best to learn a bit yourself so you can keep everyone honest.

Once it is determined what you need, then comes the critical part, does your home or place of business have the capacity to hold the desired system, oriented in the right direction without major obstructions?

Why is this important? Well here are some facts to keep in-mind:

1. The closer to a southerly direction if not true south the better your system will perform or a northerly direction if you live in the southern hemisphere
2. Having the ability to angle your system at the optimal angle to maximize direct sunlight throughout the year will maximize the performance of your investment, unless you live near the equator then your system needs to be almost without and angle
3. Keeping your system in direct sunlight without even the slightest shading is also key to maximizing your systems performance  over all
4. Will your system be accessible for maintenance and cleaning at least twice a year

Even if you are installing a solar system to save money or simply to be green, you should consider these important issues before making an investment in alternative energy.

For more information visit Solar Utilities Now