Getting the Most out of Your Solar Panels – Maximum Power Point Tracking

Traditionally, it was expected that a solar panel, lets say one rated at 130 watts, would only produce a portion of those watts (say only 88 watts) due to inadequate voltage levels between the panel and the battery in off grid systems. Most panels are designed to put out 16 to 18 of actual volts, while a typical battery produces somewhere around 12 volts. A standard charge controller transfers the current from the panels directly to the battery resulting in the panel voltage being dragged down to sync with the battery. Up until relatively recently this was the norm. However, with the creation of the Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), solar panels have been able to produce power much closer to their optimal electric load. A MPPT is a high efficiency DC to DC converter that uses inverter technology to convert the voltage that the panel wants to work at for maximum power and turns that into more current at the voltage level of the working battery. A MPPT works to track what is called the maximum power point, which changes based on weather conditions and the time of year. Without a way of tracking this power point, it won’t be reached. Nowadays, on-grid inverters use MPPTs to maximize power from the solar panel array. For off grid systems, an MPPT charge controller is utilized to generate maximum power. More recently, MPPT charge controllers have become more affordable making it a very wise investment for any off-grid battery supported solar energy system.

To find out more information about solar energy please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com/

Costs of a Solar Energy System Cheaper than Ever Before and Poised to Fall Further.

One of the major challenges that people face when considering a solar energy system for a residence or business can be the initial cost of the installation. It’s an unfortunate reality, but many a business and family have had to forgo their dreams of generating their power from a renewable energy source. Until now.

Since 2008 both individual states and the federal government have been stepping up their efforts to provide incentives that dramatically reduce the cost of a solar energy system. The federal government now offers a 30 % tax credit for the first year of installation. Across the nation, states have been passing legislation that decreases the upfront cost of solar energy systems. In fact, both Connecticut and New York offer some of the best incentives in the country. State incentives often come in the form of rebates passed onto customers through particular state programs. These rebates vary based on the size of the solar system and sometimes based on the area you are located in. To find a complete breakdown of the incentives in your area please follow the link and click on your state. http://www.dsireusa.org/.

And that’s not all the good news for consumers. Recently, the price of solar panels has been steadily declining since 2008, and by some estimates the price will drop as much as 40 % by 2010. The main cause of this price drop is due to the increased supply of the main ingredient in solar panels, polysilicon. This coupled with a decrease in demand for solar panels due to a shrinking economy in parts of Europe has helped drive the price down. With decreasing costs and great monetary incentives, now is the time to look into solar.

For more information on solar energy systems please visit http://www.purepointenergy.com.

PurePoint Energy Installs a small wind Turbine for the Green Light Academy and thePenfield Lighthouse

PurePoint Energy and Torrefaction

Biomass is organic material that contains stored energy from the sun. Examples of biomass are wood, plants, garbage, alcohol fuels, and landfill gases. Deriving energy from biomass will help reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce waste management problems.

There are many roadblocks when extracting energy from the typical biomass. Most unprocessed biomass are low in energy, moist, and expensive to transport. These obstacles prevent biomass fuel from growing in the renewable energy world.

Torrefaction is a new, feasible method for improving the properties of biomass fuel. It consists of slowly heating a biomass at a max temperature of 300 degrees Celsius. The end product is a solid, uniform product of low moisture content and higher energy content. This allows transportation costs to decrease, while increasing energy yield.

PurePoint Energy is continuously seeking ways to work with other organizations to create customized solutions using biomass technologies. If you would like to learn more about renewable energy, please feel free to send us an email at info@purepointenergy.com.

Please visit our website to learn more about biomass, solar energy and wind power.

PurePoint Energy and The Completion of our First Wind Project

On Wednesday, August 12, 2009, the PurePoint Energy team and about a dozen students attending Greenlight Academy worked together in installing one of two wind turbines at Penfield Lighthouse in Fairfield, Connecticut.

"We're trying to show you can use solar, you can use wind, to create electricity economically, especially in remote locations," said Tom Wemyss, co-founder of PurePoint Energy.

The lighthouse is far in proximity from the shore, which rules out the possibility of a power line. With the addition of it’s new 24 volts turbine and solar panels, Penfield Lighthouse is completely green, and a prime model of how renewable energy can make sense financially and environmentally.

Working with the students of Greenlight Academy and Beacon Preservation has proven to be a valuable learning experience. We view this relationship as a microcosm for things to come, as we strive to work with others in developing a cleaner, sustainable future.

If you believe you have a windy site and are interested in being part of a wind project please call or send us an e-mail to learn how we may be able to work together.

Please visit our website at www.purepointenergy.com for more information.

PurePoint’s Connecticut Post coverage: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_13008501

PurePoint’s Fairfield Citizen News Article: http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/local/ci_13012265

PurePoint Energy and Meteorological Towers 101

PurePoint Energy and our partner Alternity Wind Power have installed two 190' Meteorological towers in Clearwater County, MN. This is a big milestone in our pathway to developing a 100 MW wind farm that should provide enough electricity for up to 30,000 homes.

Meteorological (MET) towers are used at potential wind energy project sites. Attached to the towers are equipment that assess the wind resource and other environmental factors that are important to determine the viability of a wind project. Important equipment include an anemometer, wind direction vanes, and temperature and pressure sensors.

Dependent data is usually statistics recorded over a minimum of one year. Wind date is taken every 10 minutes and stored at the tower base, which contains a recording and memory device called a data logger. The data collected is resourceful prior to installing a wind turbine. Educated knowledge on a site is vital for optimal wind turbine performance and getting financial great electrical generation statistics.

PurePoint Energy is currently working to educate others on renewable energy and sustainable technologies. If you believe you have a windy site are interested in being part of a wind project please call or send us an e-mail to learn how we may be able to work together.

Please visit our website at www.purepointenergy.com for more information.

PurePoint Energy and Tips on How to Save Energy

As a renewable energy consultant and developer, PurePoint Energy values positive environmental leadership. A key solution to preserving our environment is renewable energy. This is why PurePoint Energy is focusing our efforts in educating consumers and citizens on the benefits of going green. There are small adjustments you can make to save energy and use electricity right now!

• Turn off unneeded lights/use energy efficient light bulbs
• Turn off your computer at night.
• Use microwave instead of oven for cooking meals.
• Use laptops instead of desktops- Laptops draw 15-25 watts when used. This is compared to an astounding 150 watt of a PC.
• Use thick curtains- Thick curtains provide better insulation, which can make a huge noticeable difference in comfort and electric bills.
• Showers instead of baths- More hot water is used when taking baths, which results in more energy use.
• Unplug devices from electrical outlets- Most devices still draw up to 90% of their power usage when turned off.

There are currently generous rebates and incentives to get a residential energy audit in Connecticut. Please contact PurePoint Energy 203-642-4105 to learn more on how we can help you or your organization go Green. Please visit our website at http://www.purepointenergy.com to learn more.