New Building-Integrated PV: Solar Windows

Skyscrapers like Chicago’s Willis Tower consume huge amounts of energy but have so far been unable to install solar panels because of the comparably small amount of roof space they have. However, solar technology company Pythagoras Solar has now found a way of using the massive amount of sunlight that hits the tall building walls every day.

Pythagoras’s new solar windows are now being tested on a few buildings, including the Willis Tower. The product is the world’s first transparent photovoltaic glass unit, and is used in place of regular windows, which do nothing to offset energy use. The typical window is also a huge burden in the summer; all offices want natural lighting, but that invites more heat for which we then need more air conditioning. The solar window allows light to come in, but can also use it to generate electricity, all in the same product. The panel, like traditional solar panels, still has grids on it, but they resemble a set of open venetian blinds. Other than that, it is also clear, just like an ordinary window. Its silicon PV cells sit between two panes of glass.

Pythagoras Solar’s new product combines the ideas behind self-tinting windows and thin film solar windows, which also tried to control the amount of light let in and generate power. The added aesthetic value of not actually looking like solar panels makes the product more attractive to architects and homeowners, as well. Prices have not been revealed yet, so interested residential customers may have to wait to install them. However, Founder and CEO Gonen Fink estimates that the typical consumer will recoup the cost of the windows after three to five years.

The unit, which has already won GE’s Ecomagination Challenge, joins other BIPV products like solar shingles and solar façade modules in using buildings themselves to generate energy.

With SB1 passed, what has been implemented? Great incentives for CT!

The Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) is going to be offering a residential solar incentive program which aims to build at least 30 megawatts of solar by 2023. A third of their funds, which is $10 million dollars a year, will now be used toward this new program. CEFIA can structure this incentive in two ways, as an upfront rebate or as performance-based incentives. As funding diminishes over time, so must the incentives and CEFIA plans to keep us updated on the status of their budget via their website.

Taking effect on January 1, 2012 the electric utilities must solicit 15 year contracts with developers for zero-emission Class I renewable energy credits for non-emitting Class I renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, and micro-hydropower. The budget for this program starts at $8 million per year and will go up to $48 million a year by 2018. These projects must be customer-sited and less than 1 megawatt in size. This project will make it possible for municipalities to install far more solar power than ever before on town buildings and schools, and will be benefit those interested in powering town facilities with wind.

A reform has also been made to the CT Energy Efficiency Fund. The electric and natural gas utilities have been removed as voting members of the Efficiency Fund board, although they are still kept as paid program administrators. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s commissioner/designee is now the chair of the Efficiency Fund’s board. This change in the CT Energy Efficiency Fund board will allow the fund to be more transparent and responsive to outside input.

Speak Your Mind—That’s Wind Power |EMagazine.com

Speak Your Mind—That’s Wind Power EMagazine.com

Let the Sun Shine On Your Face & Power Your Bike While Going For a Ride!

Electric bikes are already a greener way to get around, getting riders about 1,000 miles per gas gallon, but what about riding an electric bike powered by solar energy?! This trend has been gaining popularity in recent years. There are different ways to go about using solar energy to power your electric bike. You can either use a mounted solar panel from your house and/or work to charge the bike’s battery, or mount a solar panel to the bike itself. Electric bikes are actually pretty powerful, requiring 200-500 watts of energy to be stored in their batteries in order to travel a desirable range. Although they may be less efficient than normal solar panels, roll-up solar panels are an easier and more transportable way to acquire solar energy for your electric bike. These roll-up solar panels can come with 25-75 watts of output, they can be put out on your bike while riding, and rolled up to be stored away once you reach your destination. An even newer and upcoming way of traveling on solar energy is the solar electric bike that has photovoltaic panels built in to its wheels! I’ve provided a picture with this blog post to show how unique this bike looks! This particular bike is called the E-V Sunny Bicycle and can go up to 19 mph from its 500 watt motor. It may be a little pricey, but it sure looks cool!  The company who made this bike called it the “first of all solar electric bicycles driven completely from power derived from the sun’s rays”! Would you consider a solar electric bicycle to replace your gas guzzling car??

PurePoint Energy is attending the CT Farm Energy Fair & so should you!!

We will also be giving a presentation between 5-6pm during this event! Don't miss it!

U.S. Solar Market Trends of 2010

While 2008's Great Recession put a damper on the solar market in 2009, steady growth since then meant a boost for the solar market in 2010. This boom, expected to carry into this year, was facilitated by increased capital through recovery after the economic meltdown, in conjunction with financial stimulus and higher consumer demand.

The U.S. Treasury Grant, for example, was enacted by Congress in early 2009 as part of the stimulus package. The program gives the option of a cash grant for installations-this in lieu of Investment Tax Credit, which was a weaker incentive for consumers. The Treasury cash program, which was originally meant to expire at the end of 2010, was later renewed for 2011. It provided $410 million, funding about 40% of non-residential PV installations in 2010, the tax credit levels of which are set to continue until 2016 (cash grants are up for renewal on a yearly basis). Many federal and state government solar installations were also funded by ARRA, while capital markets recovery for 2010 contributed to the growth of non-residential solar installations by 63%. Prices for PV modules decreased as well, by between 14 and 20 percent, providing a stimulus for areas without local policies already; however, financial incentives will continue to determine where the most solar installations are happening.

The number of installations in the residential sector in particular has grown a lot in the past decade. It increased by 64% and accounted for 91% of the grid-connected PV installations in 2010, but only 29% of the capacity; non-residential systems are, on average, ten times as big as residential ones. The overall PV capacity installed in 2010 doubled compared with 2009 and was over eight times the capacity of PV installations in 2006.

California stayed the state with the most installations, largely thanks to a 10 year, $3 billion program called "Go Solar California" that started in 2007. The state also has a steadily increasing RPS requirement mandating that a certain fraction of the electricity supply be provided by renewable energy. It is planning for 20% by 2013, and 33% by 2020 (Connecticut will be requiring 27% by 2020). In contrast, states like Kentucky with no solar RPS policy or few incentives also have relatively few installations.

In 2011, analysts expect there to be continued growth for the solar market, especially for grid-connected PV systems. Installations doubled in nine states, and will spread to more. As in the past, growth for this market will be predominantly determined by federal and state incentives.

Click here for the entire report and additional information.

Recent Research Confirms That Homes With Solar Sell For More!

     Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California has conducted a study comparing 2,000 homes equipped with photovoltaics to comparable homes without solar. The Lawrence Berkley lab is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and was conducted by the renewable energy research group, which conducts public-interest studies on renewables, including policies, costs and financing.

     Their research suggests that a house with a 5 kW solar system sells for $19,500 to $32,000 more than comparable homes without solar systems. This is useful and hopeful information for those looking to invest money into PV systems and are worried about being in their homes long enough to earn back the money that they put into their solar investment. This study also found that new homes with PV systems had a lower premium than existing homes, $2.30 to $2.60 per W compared to over $6 per W value.

     This study proves that there can be great financial benefit in more ways that just one when you invest in solar, however local market conditions do vary from state to state. Electricity prices and installation prices do affect the financial benefit of solar, so the next step to take is to apply this study to other states and see if the results coincide with those from California. Overall, the results of this study are very positive for the solar industry. Not only do solar consumers save on their electricity bills, but they can see money coming back to them if they decide to sell their homes.

Are PV trackers worth the extra expense? Once thought not, but times are changing.

To determine whether it is more beneficial to consumers to install regular modules in order to boost site production or to install a tracker it is important to look at the geography of the project at hand. Depending on how much solar radiation an area receives or how much space you have to install the modules will make or break your decision to go with trackers. If you are located in an area with lower levels of solar radiation installing a tracker may not be as beneficial compared to areas that receive more sunlight. However, if you are limited on space for a project, a tracker would be a more efficient way of receiving solar energy. Trackers are also beneficial when working with problematic terrain.


According to Frank A. Middleton, vice president of marketing and chief operating officer at OPEL Solar Inc. based in Shelton, CT choosing to install trackers is typically expected to increase the costs of a project by 4-5%. Middleton believes that the yield increases, which usually reach up to 15-20%, justify the use of trackers for nearly all PV projects. 20 years ago due to the lack of technology that we now have trackers were known to be unreliable, but now with GPS chips trackers require so much less maintenance. The belief that trackers have higher costs than fixed systems is now virtually gone, and in the end you are producing more energy which would make up for any of the equipment that is slightly more expensive.

Today’s trackers follow the sun by using one of two technologies, according to Middleton. The first uses astronomic tracking algorithms, which is tracking the sun by using mathematical equations to determine exactly where it is at all times, while the second is searching for the brightest spot in the sky and adjusting for clouds, reflections from objects, and is more difficult. The first seems to be the preferred technology among many. With new technologies we are now able to track and control our trackers wirelessly! Maintenance, problem solving, and monitoring can all be performed remotely with this new network.

Of course every project is different and it depends on many factors what the best option is for your installation. Taking all these factors into account can help to determine whether it is beneficial to choose trackers versus fixed modules. Trackers, once thought to be too expensive and a hassle, is finally gaining acceptance in the industry as technologies are improving and being perfected.

SB1: An act concerning Connecticut’s energy future. A bright future for CT!

With the vote from the state Senate being 36-0, all Democrats and Republicans agreed, SB1, supported by Governor Malloy, was finally passed last Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The bill will become effective on July 1, 2011. The general statutes of SB1 are amended to establish policies, programs and procedures to reduce electricity costs, promote renewable energy, and create financing mechanisms for energy improvements that Connecticut has been in need of.

From 2008 to 2010 Connecticut fell from 8th to 18th in the nation for solar power installations. Kind of pathetic considering that at its peak Connecticut was in the top three! Luckily, its been realized that action must be taken to change this! The solar provisions made in this bill are to help Connecticut move back towards renewable energy sources. Connecticut is losing in the race against other states in providing clean energy and losing business to its surrounding states, such as New Jersey and Massachusetts.

With SB1 being passed, there is now a greater hope for expanding Connecticut’s future in renewable energy. For Connecticut ratepayers SB1 means reduced rates and decreases in costs, and the creation of what is called a “Green Bank”. The new funding model of the “Green Bank” allows for leveraging the ratepayer fees the fund already gets, private capital and other money. The legislation also dramatically expands the fund's purview beyond the solar rebate and other limited clean energy projects to include things like electric and natural gas infrastructure projects. Among the provisions is the commercial solar program to become part of a renewable energy credit system that includes other types of zero-emission energy sources and utilities are required to buy energy from them through long-term contracts. Municipalities may establish a Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program to do energy efficiency and renewable energy work that is repaid through an assessment on property taxes. This also authorizes municipalities to do energy retrofits through performance contracts that use the money from energy savings to pay for the work. The provisions set forth for this bill are in the best interest for the consumer and for the government in a desperately needed movement towards renewable energy sources.

Economic Benefits of Commercial Buildings Using Solar Power

In the past, commercial building owners had to pay large upfront sums of money to install solar arrays and it was not economically viable for most people.  However, solar power has become much more affordable for commercial buildings due to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.  They are offering a DG grant for commercial buildings, which will award $2.00 per watt up to a 100 kW system and $1.25 per watt beyond that.  This will reduce the price by nearly a third!

An average 30 kW system size could produce approximately $6,000 worth of electricity in the first year.  The electric savings combined with the DG grant and tax incentives could produce a payback in 5 years or less.  In other words, it will take 5 years or less until the savings equal the cost.  Beyond that, the solar panels will result in raw savings especially since electricity costs average an increase of 5% each year.

In addition to cutting down utility costs, solar panels increase property value tremendously.  According to a study published in The Appraisal Journal, a property’s value is increased by $20 for every $1 reduction in energy costs.  On top of that, the US Department of Energy’s renewable energy office has found that property with solar panels will sell twice as fast as property without solar panels.  There are various renovations that commercial property owners could make in order to save money, but it’s hard to argue that solar power isn’t the top priority.

Insuring your Solar Panels

When deciding whether to go solar, insurance is sometimes not the first thing on someone’s mind. However you will be reassured to know that unlike the scare stories of customers once being punished for going green, it is now very straight forward*.

Residential properties: For roof mounted systems an installation attached to a property would be included under any existing dwelling coverage policies. The new installation however should be declared to the insurance company and may require the coverage amount to be raised to cover the value of the new installation.

Ground mounted residential systems would also be covered within the residential policy under ‘Other Structures’ (usually 10% of the main dwelling cost). As above, an insurance company should be notified about the installation, to ensure the Property cover is suitable to include the new installation. Wind turbines, not attached to a house would also fall within this classification.

Commercial Properties: Like any building owned by a company, solar installations would be classed as building property and therefore covered under existing commercial insurance policies. All Solar PV systems should be declared, and coverage increased to incorporate the value of the new installation.

* This blog contains only general information, and should be used as reference only. PurePoint Energy encourages anyone considering solar PV to contact their own insurance company for specific details before completing any installation.

PurePoint Energy UGE Training

PurePoint Energy's Team visited the Big Apple on Monday to attend the Urban Green Energy distributor training session. UGE was ready and able to answer all the questions we had regarding their products and to discuss in detail their product line including the new Sanya Hybrid Street Lamp. Along with other distributors from across the country, we were able to get hands on experience with assembling the Eddy 600 watt wind turbine. Their other turbine sizes include the 1kW Eddy GT, and 4kW UGE-4k  which are all available through PurePoint Energy, a certified Urban Green Energy distributor.

Part 4: Costs of Owning Solar Panels; What You Should Expect

What's New with Renewable Energy? Part 4

One great aspect of solar panels is that they don't require much maintenance. A lack of moving parts can be credited for the generally low maintenance costs along with well made materials. Lets talk about some costs that a solar panel owner may run into.  On the lower end of the scale there are items such as wiring, nuts, bolts, frames etc. that may need replacement or repair over the panel’s lifetime. Items that may need to be replaced before the end of the panel’s lifetime that is more on the expensive side are the inverters. The two types of inverters are  central inverters and micro inverters. Central inverters are usually located in a central area where the panels, which are wired in a series, are connected and the power is converted from DC to AC. They usually come with a 10 year warranty.  Micro inverters are located on the back of  each solar panel where the conversion takes place. If one panel is not producing power, lets say because of an obstruction, the rest of the panels can still function independently where as with a central inverter if one panel is not working, the rest will most likely be effected as well due to their series setup. The micro inverters usually have  a 15 year warranty. The downside to the micro type is they are more expensive and there is a chance multiple inverters may need maintenance or replacement where as central inverters would only have one. The price of replacing an inverter can range from approximately $1200-$2000. Other than the parts mentioned there is little to no possible cost, making solar panels an even more appealing investment.

Maintaining Your Solar Investment (Part 3)

Can a Homeowner Maintain a Solar System?

There's one question that every homeowner looking to make a long term investment in solar power will be asking. Can I maintain what I'm buying? To people who are not familiar with solar systems the technical jargon and futuristic appearance may be slightly intimidating. But in reality you, as homeowner, will have little to worry about once everything is installed. After finding a qualified installer the next step is maintaining your investment. What's great about solar systems is that they are built to last. They are made to withstand harsh conditions and have no moving parts. So your only task is to allow the panels to keep producing electricity. In order to do that you need to keep them clean and free from any obstructions that can block the all important sun. In most cases you will only need to rinse down the panels a few times a year. If you live in an area that doesn't recieve much rain this may need to be done more frequently. In our February 4th article "Cleaning your Solar Panels" we give you the list of tools and strategies you may need to keep your panels performing at their best.

A service contract can usually be purchased along with your solar panel purchase although it may not be necessary depending on your ability to DIY. Most solar panels systems come with a warranty from 5-10yrs, so within that time span any issues that may arise with be fixed. However basic up keep is very minmum and can easily be done by the homeowner. If an issue does come about after the warranty, there are companies that can be hired to come and fix it. Other than cleaning, inspections should be done by the owner to look for hanging wires, animal nests or anything else out of the ordinary. (PurePoint Energy offers maintenance as well as installation for both ground mounted and roof mounted systems.)

(picture from- http://www.brockbuildersinc.com/422/residential-solar-panels-save-money-and-energy/)

Ground Mount Vs. Roof Mount

  So you decided to invest in solar panels for your home, and why wouldn't you its a great way to save money and do your part to help the environment simultaneously. You have a good grasp of the technology used and how it all works but now its time to decide where your going to put them. When most people think of solar panels they automatically picture them on roofs. But what they don't realize is that there are also ground mounted systems, each having their own pros and cons.

  

  Their are a few things that need to be looked at in if a roof mounted system is what you have in mind. The first and probably most important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration is, whether your roof will allow your panels to have the optimal southern sun exposure while also not being obstructed by shade form other nearby objects like buildings or trees.  Also does your roof provide enough space  for the solar panels. A 1000 watt system may need 100 – 200 square feet of area, depending on the type of PV module. If you did the measurements and your thinking your roof has the square footage needed, keep in mind the design of your roof as well as any  extras it may have (chimney, sky lights etc.) that can potentially affect the amount of usable space and cost of your system. Now if everything checks out and your roof is suitable for a roof mounted PV system then you can now move on to the next step, but if you find that it isn't or the cost is too high given the above conditions (or lack there of) a ground mounted system may be your future. 

(image:http://kissmyface.typepad.com/photos/green_power/sun-powering-our-solar-panels.html)

  Ground mounted systems make panel orientation much easier because they can be built to face any direction to maximize sun exposure. Cooler temperatures are ideal for solar panel use. If you have the space for a ground mounted setup air flow is much greater under the panels in comparison to their roof counter parts so there is a slight performance increase, although not significant. It does take more materials to build a ground system because it needs a place to be mounted and the wiring needs to be trenched to connect the panel(s) to the house. 

Lets review the pros cons:

Roof-Mounted

Pros :

• Depending on the pitch and orientation of your roof, it may be possible to install the solar panels out of view.
• Beyond standard equipment, rooftop solar energy systems typically don’t require a lot of additional racking and other mounting hardware that's needed for ground-mounted systems.
• Solar roofs make productive use of space that would otherwise go unused, as noted above.
• Related to the previous point, solar roofs don’t eat up land that could otherwise be productively put to use. This consideration is particularly important when it comes to larger commercial and utility-scale projects, which can take up multiple football fields’ worth of space. 

Cons:

• Shade, from trees or nearby buildings, can be a real problem.
• Sometimes a roof is too small to accommodate enough solar panels to suit the family’s energy needs.
• Roofs with lots of contours or other funky shapes can see increase costs associated with solar energy system design and installation. In the worst case, oddly shaped roofs don’t have enough uninterrupted area to accommodate the panels.
• It can be a bit more expensive to install solar panels on some kinds of roofs (like clay tile and wood shake shingle roofs) than it is on others (asphalt shingle).
• It can be kind of a pain to clean/rinse off the panels. Usually a rain shower does the trick. But if you live in a low-rainfall area that gets a lot of dust, this may be a consideration.

Ground-Mounted 

Pros :

• It’s relatively easy to optimize the placement of the solar panels in order to maximize their electricity output. Unlike a roof -- the pitch and orientation of which is already set -- a ground-mounted array can be built so that it captures the most sunlight possible throughout the year.
• While unusual for residential projects, it’s possible to install a tracking system with a ground-mounted system. (Note, too, that tracking systems increase the cost of solar installation.) 
• Solar panels perform best in cooler temperatures. More air tends to circulate behind the solar panels of a ground-mounted array than those of a rooftop system. Because ground-mounted panels manage to stay cooler, they often outperform their solar roof counterpart. (The difference in performance, however, is admittedly not that noticeable.)

Cons:

• Ground-mounted solar systems typically require additional racking and mounting equipment, which can increase the cost of solar installation.
• There may not be enough usable room on your property to accommodate a ground-mounted solar energy system.
• It may not be possible to find an inconspicuous area to install the solar panels on your property, which may prompt aesthetic objections by you (or your family members). Usually, however, a solar installer can work with you to design an array that addresses these concerns. 
• Ground-mounted solar energy systems may come with added costs for trenching. “Trenching” means digging a trench to bury the electrical wiring that runs from the solar panels to your home. If you live in an area with really rocky soil, or there would be a long distance between the solar panels and your home, the added costs for trenching and burying conduit could be substantial. 

(getsolar.com)

Maintaining Your Solar Investment

Part 1 Cleaning Your Solar Panels: One obvious yet often overlooked cause of a decline in the efficiency of your solar panel is the presence of dirt. Depending on your location, pollen, sand and other debris could be the culprit. When dirt accumulates on the solar panels it decreases the amount of solar radiation available for use, so in order to get the most out of your solar panels, frequent inspection and cleaning should be done. Tilted panels can be cleaned less often dueto rain runoff, a benefit flat panels do not have. Photo courtesy of naturalturn at Flickr.com Tools You’ll Need: Ladder, Warm Water, Soft Rags, Dish Washing Soap or Chemical Free Cleaners. Warm water can initially be used to remove the majority of the dirt. If there are still spots on the panel a combination of water and dish soap or natural cleaners can be used along with a soft rag to gently wipe away the remaining debris. Other options include auto cleaning systems which make it easier to keep panels clean in harder to reach areas. One obvious yet often overlooked cause of a decline in the efficiency of your solar panel is the presence of dirt. Depending on your location, pollen, sand and other debris could be the culprit. When dirt accumulates on the solar panels it decreases the amount of solar radiation available for use, so in order to get the most out of your solar panels, frequent inspection and cleaning should be done. Tilted panels can be cleaned less often due to rain runoff, a benefit flat panels do not have.   Google Proves the Benefits of Cleaning Your Solar PanelsGoogle’s headquarters located in Mountain View, CA has the largest corporate installation of solar panels in the United States with a 1.6 megawatt system. They decided to do an experiment to find out how much dirt actually affected their solar panel’s efficiency. The study began by comparing the two different sets of solar panels in Google campus - the flat ones in carports and the tilted ones on roofs. Understandably, dirt accumulates on top of the flat panels, while rain washes away most dirt atop the tilted ones, leaving some accumulation in the corners. A full 15 months after installation of the panels, the Google crew cleaned them up as part of this study. For the flat panels, the result was astounding -energy output doubled overnight. For the tilted panels though, the difference in output is "relatively" small. After this first experiment, the Google crew waited another eight months and cleaned the panels again, with the flat panels exhibiting in a 36 percent improvement in efficiency. Taking these results into account, the Google crew decided to clean the flat panels regularly, leaving the tilted ones out because the difference in output is negligible.   Rains Cleaning Affects: Tilted solar panels -Visual inspection indicates that rain does clean them quite well. -However, dirt does accumulate in the bottom most corner of the solar panels Non-tilted solar panels -Rain does not clean dirt off horizontal, non-tilted solar panels. -Rain, mixed in with dirt that had settled on the solar panels, does not drain well due to the solar panel’s frame structure. -3 millimeter depth between the solar module metal frame and the glass surface where dirty water can accumulate B47 Parking and B45 Parking PV 0utput doubled after B45 Parking & B47 Parking solar panels were cleaned for the first time in 15 months represented by their peaks on between 8/11/2008 to 9/11/2008 Output increased by 36% after these solar panels were cleaned again 8 months later represented by their spikes in after 5/11/2009. Next Week in Part Two Of the Series We Will Look at Ground Mount Vs. Roof Mount What's the Best Choice for Your Project?