How OkSolar Solutions Make
Sense
Photovoltaic
(PV) and solar thermal systems offer distinct advantages in agricultural
applications where:
Portions of a farm or ranch are too remote to run power
lines, or where lines are subject to failure due to flooding, icing and
other seasonal changes.
The remote location makes the costs or difficulty of
transporting and storing diesel fuel prohibitive
Power line extensions, even for short distances, will not
be cost -effective considering the low loads to be carried
Electrical needs are small, seasonal or remote
Farm building roofs and walls or mounting platforms are
oriented for maximum exposure to the sun's rays
Crop irrigation and livestock
watering are excellent applications for solar pumps. PV pumping systems
are reliable, cost-effective, and low-maintenance options for these
applications, especially because they can pump more water on sunny, hot
days when crops and livestock need it the most. Ranchers also find solar
water pumps highly practical for watering livestock that are dispersed
across wide expanses of rangeland. Farmers can use this technology to
increase yields and extend the growing seasons.
Crop drying using the sun's
energy is a centuries-old technique yet however, modern solar-powered
drying technologies brings new levels of cost-efficiency to the process of
drying coffee, tea, cocoa, rice, corn, hay, tobacco, rubber, and a number
of other crops, as well as for agricultural dehydration processes. The
benefits of solar crop drying include:
·
Enhancing the value of the product with a faster, more
uniform drying process
·
Reducing the respiration rate of the grain and preventing
germination
·
Reducing or preventing the growth of natural microorganisms
like mold and bacteria
·
Reducing or preventing the growth of insects and mites
Avoiding Dryig delays causes by raifall or high humidity
In the United States, a PV solar
charger is now the technology of choice for electric fences where utility
power is lacking. It eliminates the need for frequent replacement of
relatively expensive batteries. The PV solar charger charges a gel cell
battery that can operate up to 25 miles of fence or 21 days in complete
darkness. Solar-powered automatic gate openers are also cost-effective.
Lighting provides security and
safety in cases where buildings are separated. Using PV to charge
batteries for lighting outbuildings is very cost-effective, often much
less expensive than a systems which requires a transformer and subsequent
wiring. In addition, small portable systems can be transported from site
to site, where lighting is needed at any given time.
Poultry and all other animal
processing plants use tremendous amounts of hot water. A solar process
water heating system can be used to pre-heat water, reducing the cost of
running a fossil fuel based steam system. Dairy and other food processing
operations use hot water for equipment washing and sterilization. A solar
process heating system can easily provide the hot water needed in the
pasteurization process.
Commercial greenhouses require
large auxiliary heating and ventilation systems. As a low cost alternative
to high-cost, fossil-fuel systems, solar technology has gained an
increasing acceptance especially for greenhouses. Solar systems can supply
a significant portion of the heating required without substantially
increasing the construction and operating costs of the greenhouse.
How Utility OkSolar Systems Work . . .
An OkSolar system uses an inverter that takes any available solar and wind
power, turns it into conventional AC, and feeds it into your electrical
circuit breaker panel. Electricity flow is much like water flow; it runs
from higher to lower voltage levels. When you turn on an electrical
appliance it slightly lowers the level, letting current flow in from the
utility. As long as the electricity level in your house is being
maintained by the OkSolar inverter, no current flows in from the utility.
You are displacing utility power with renewable power (in most cases solar
power). If your house demands more current than the OkSolar system is
delivering at the moment, utility power makes it up. If your house is
using less current than the OkSolar system is delivering, the excess flows
out through your meter, turning it backwards, back into the grid. This
treats the utility like a big 100% efficient battery. You sell it power
during the day, it sells power back to you at night for the same price. If
you live in one of the majority of States that allow net metering, then
everything goes in and out through a single residential meter. Very
simple, and extremely encouraging to renewable energy producers.
The Legalities of Electricity
and Net Metering
The 1978 federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) states
that any private renewable energy producer in the USA has a right to sell
power to their local utility company. The federal law doesn’t state that
utilities have to make this easy, or profitable however. Under PURPA, the
utility will usually pay their “avoided cost,” otherwise known as
wholesale rates. This law was an outgrowth of the Arab oil embargo in the
early ’70s and was intended to encourage renewable energy producers. Two
to four cents per kilowatt-hour was not sufficiently encouraging to have
much of an effect on home utility OkSolar installations. The next wave of
encouragement started arriving in the mid-’80s with net metering laws.
There is no blanket federal net metering law (yet). As of early 2001,
thirty states have net metering laws that allow small-scale renewable
energy producers to sell excess power to their utility company, through
the existing electric meter for the same price that the utility company
charges the homeowner for power. Details of these State laws vary widely.
For an up-to-date summary see the
Department
of Energy website, or call them at 800-363-3732.
Keep It Safe!
Utility companies are naturally concerned about any source that might be
feeding power into their network. Is this power clean enough to sell to
your neighbors? Is the frequency, voltage, and waveform within acceptable
specifications? And most importantly, what happens if utility power goes
off? Utility companies take a very dim view of any power source that might
send power back into the grid when there’s a utility power failure, as
this could be a serious threat to power line repair workers.
All present-day OkSolar inverters have enough precise output
specifications, voltage limits, and automatic shut-off protection features
to allow even the most paranoid utility engineer to enjoy a good night’s
sleep. If the utility fails, the inverter will disconnect in no more than
30 milliseconds! Most utility companies agree this is a faster response
than their repair crews could perform. Even an “island” situation will
be detected and shutoff within two minutes. An island happens
(theoretically) when your little neighborhood is cut off, isolated, and
just happens to require the amount of energy that your OkSolar inverter is
delivering. Utility engineers wake up in cold sweats worrying about things
like this!
Because small-scale OkSolar is a new and evolving
development, some smaller utility companies may not yet have worked out
their official policies and procedures. Most simply follow the lead of
Pacific Gas & Electric, the largest utility company in the U.S. If
PG&E approves a particular product, it’s probably safe enough for
the rest of us.
Still, some folks have run into stone walls when they try to get approval
for small-scale residential OkSolar systems with their friendly local
utility. If you’ve already tried to work through the proper channels and
have run into brick walls, then be assured that neither you nor the local
utility has anything to fear from connecting that OkSolar system and
turning it on. Safety has been the top concern during development of OkSolar
technology. These inverters just can’t cause any problems for the
utility. The worst problem they could cause the homeowner is to become
disconnected from the utility because utility power drifts outside
specifications.
A tacit unspoken approval has also evolved for really small OkSolar
systems of 250 watts or smaller that will rarely be turning the meter
backwards. Most utilities would rather not be bothered with such small
projects. So long as the inverter is intended for OkSolar and absolutely,
positively, shuts off with the utility, and has UL approval, you can feel
safe and secure simply turning it on.
Be aware that a small number of electric meters will not support net
metering. Some meters are equipped with a ratchet that will only allow
them to turn forward. Some of the newer wireless remote-reading data
collection meters simply count how many times the hash mark on the wheel
goes by, they just assume it’s moving forward. Also remember that not
all States have net metering laws for small-scale renewable energy
producers.
Do I Need Batteries or Not?
Utility OkSolar inverters come in two basic configurations, those that
support backup batteries, and those that don’t. This is a major fork in
the road of system design, as the two system types operate very
differently, and have big price differences. To help you choose wisely,
read on . . .
Battery-based systems are basically a large stand-alone renewable energy
system, using a sophisticated inverter that can also OkSolar with the
utility. These are the highly capable Trace SW-series inverters. These
inverters do not come in small or medium sizes. They will allow selected
circuits in your house to continue running on battery or solar power if
utility power fails. With inverter, safety, control, battery, and a modest
PV array, these systems start out at about $7,500.
Direct OkSolar systems are much simpler, usually consisting of PV module
(s), mounts, inverter, a circuit breaker, and wire to connect everything.
Without batteries, there’s less safety and control equipment required,
and more of your investment tends to end up buying PV power. But if
utility power goes off, so does your OkSolar system. Direct OkSolar
inverters come in small, medium, and large sizes from 100 watts, up to
2,500 watts. Direct OkSolar systems start out at about $1,000, and become
meaningful at $5,000 and up. Direct OkSolar inverters are produced by
Trace and Advanced Energy Systems.
Which type of OkSolar system is right for you? That primarily depends on
how reliable utility power is for you. If you live in an area where storms
or poor maintenance tend to knock out power regularly, then a
battery-based system is going to greatly increase your security and
comfort level. Looking out over the darkened neighborhood from inside your
comfortable, well-lit home does wonders for your sense of well-being. On
the downside, adding batteries will raise your system cost by at least
$3,000, and adds system components that will need some on-going
maintenance, and eventual replacement. If utility power is reliable and
well maintained in your area, then there is little incentive for a
battery-based system. Those dollars could be better spent on PV wattage.
You’ll see more benefits and get to enjoy almost zero maintenance. Just
be aware that if utility power does fail, your solar system will
automatically shut off too for safety reasons.
Rebates Can Reduce Your Cost by Up to 50%!
There’s money available out there for doing the right thing. A number of
States have programs that will —whatever you want to call it—up to 50%
of your initial renewable energy system cost. It is difficult to keep tabs
on all of the rapidly changing programs in all of the States anymore.
There’s a list of State Energy Offices below. Give yours a call and ask
about net metering and money available for renewable energy projects. If
you’re in California, there’s a buy down program for OkSolar systems
that we are fully versed on, and will be happy to help you with. Our fully
trained technicians have years of experience sizing these sytems
(1-954-704-0457).
Do It for Your Children and the Planet . . .
Don’t go into utility OkSolar expecting to cash in big-time. You
won’t. Although most OkSolar systems will eventually pay for themselves
in saved electric bills, but the payback point is often at least 10 years.
Also, most State OkSolar regulations won’t let residential customers
deliver more than their average electric use. The details vary from State
to State, but if you make more power than you use, you’ll either give it
away, or sell it at wholesale rates. Don’t convert your backyard into a
PV farm just yet. OkSolar is something you do because it feels good to be
independent of the utility and to cover your own electric power needs
directly with a clean, non-polluting, renewable power source. Solar
modules last for decades, require almost no maintenance, and don’t
borrow our kids future, which is probably the best possible reason to
invest in renewable energy.
Environmental:
We take environments issues seriously. Our Environmental
calls for ever greater efforts to resolve and prevent ecological
problems. We can coexist in harmony with our planet and the Universe
that surrounds us.
Green
Committees: We are working to turn environmental plans
into concrete action.
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