/ Newsletter
Third Quarter - July 2016
1Q 2014
Fall Solar Tour Coming to a City Near You
By Theresa Martin, KySES Chairperson
Your KySES Board and active volunteers are well on our way to planning the 2016 Solar Tour. We hope to see you in person at this FREE event coming to 6 cities in Kentucky (see below for cities and dates). Each tour will offer in-depth information and direct perspectives from homeowners, businesses and solar installers about the costs, processes and economic and environmental benefits of going solar. You will have an opportunity to toursolar homes and businesses harnessing the power of the sun, interact with solar installers and learn more about how to put solar to work for YOU!
We are in the process of updating our website to include detailed information on each city's plans so check back in the next few months to view the solar tour route, presentations, installer meet and greet and more by clicking on the tour location nearest you to discover what Solar Tour 2016 has to offer.
In addition, this year KySES is partnering with Clean Power Planet, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity and the Kentucky Housing Corporation on a project called Solar Kentucky. It's a campaign of community events across the state in conjunction with the solar tours. Each event will feature a tour of solar homes and businesses, educational programs, and a benefit concert. Proceeds from the concerts will be used to finance solar panels for low-income homes. For more information go to SolarKentucky.org or email .
Tour Locations, Dates and Contacts
Berea - Saturday, September 10 (Contact:Josh BillsandCheyenne Olsen)
Bowling Green- Saturday, October 8 (Contact:Tim Taylor)
Elizabethtown- Saturday, October 8 (Contact:David Gomez)
Lexington/Richmond- Saturday, October 8 (Contact:David Butler)
Louisville - Saturday, October 8 (Contact:Robert Chatham)
Northern Kentucky - Saturday, October 8 (Contact:Don Adams)
25th Annual InterSolar North America
By Robert Chatham inSan Francisco: July 11-14, 2016
InterSolar North America is the most attended solar industry event of the year. This year the conference attracted more than 18,000 attendees from over 80 countries. The conference was co-located with ees North American, which is focused on energy storage (i.e., batteries). More than 550 companies exhibited with over 260 speakers at the Moscone Center, which is located in downtown San Francisco. I was honored to have the opportunity to represent KySES and provide a presentation on developing utility-scale solar projects.
What a year for the US solar market as it is projected to install over 14.5 GWs of new PV capacity (in 2016), 91 GWs of storage (in 2016) and the federal investment tax credit was extended through 2021. It was great to listen to and speak with experts about the rising interest in bridging solar with storage. For example, ees forecasts that solar-plus-storage will become a $5 billion industry by 2021 -
ees also expects the U.S. solar-plus-storage market will be an annual 1.2 GW market, a 70X growth from 2015, with half the installs in California. Note that today the average costs for storage is ~$300/kWh dc for 4 hours of storage with the expectation that costs will be half that in 2017-18. With that said, the Chatham’s will add to our current 5.4kW solar array and be off the grid by 2018.
Speaking of storage, I should probably mention that Karen and I toured the Tesla car factory in Fremont as part of the conference. In 2010, Tesla purchased this $1.2 billion factory from GM for $40 million as part of GM’s Chapter 11 process. Prior to Tesla, the facility was home to GM and Toyota’s joint venture that ended in 2009 as a result of the bankruptcy. At the height of this joint venture, the facility produced 500,000 units per year, which means Tesla has the capacity to go from the current 50,000 units per year to approximately half a million. We were not allowed to take photos while inside the plant, but we did witness over 1,300 robots building Model Ss and Xs. We also learned that the Tesla Giga battery factory is located in “Sparks”, NV.
Another hot topic and interesting panel discussion was Net Metering – present and future. I found this presentation by EQ Research to be a very good overview on some utilities’ perspective.
While the US solar market has installed 6 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2015 and PPA prices on new utility-scale projects now compete with new fossil-fuel projects, these are things to celebrate. However, these milestones only represent less than 2% of the energy market, we can and must do more! Therefore, talk to your local officials and utilities about installing more solar in the Commonwealth. Solar does work in KY!
Solar Economic Development
ByRachel Norton
In the last 10-15 years, we have seen significant growth in the solar market in the United States. This growth is largely attributed to the addition of the solar investment tax credit, which is a 30% tax credit on all solar installations – both commercial and residential. (Visit more details on Federal andKentuckyincentives). Since its inception in2002 for businesses and2005 forresidential,solar installation in the U.S. has grown by over 1600 percent which has allowed for a drastic reduction in pricing.
Average cost for installed system (utility-scale and residential combined) for PV decreased from $7.50 per watt in 2009 to $2.25 per watt in 2015. Average cost for residential solar only is $3.20 per watt in 2015.
If we look back even further and look only at the module equipment price, we find in 1977 the average cost of a solar cell was $76.67 per watt, and as of July 15th 2016 the cost is $0.26 per watt.
It’s amazing how quickly solar energy has advanced. It is clear that the resources that we have relied on for energy in the past are becoming decreasingly environmentally, economically, or socially friendly. Solar, along with a combination of other renewables, is an excellent solution to this problem, and a huge source of jobs. Currently, more than 209,000 Americans work in the solar industry. This number has doubled since 2010 and is projected to reach more than 420,000 workers by 2020.
So what’s next? Prices are still predicted to continue dropping as solar installations are predicted to rise to a 20 GW annual solar market by 2020. Decreases in cost will be very obvious for residential energy users, as much of what they currently pay are considered soft costs.
These prices include labor, supply chain and overhead. Streamlining the installation process and simplifying the technology will greatly cut down on these costs.
Solar Technology: DC to DC Converters
By Don Adams, KySES Vice Chairperson(Special thanks to Josh Bills for his contributions and supplemental information)
Even 100 years after Tesla and Edison had their “little” war over which power distribution method was better, the AC (Alternating Current) [think wall outlet] versus DC (Direct Current)[think batteries or solar panels] there are still arguments. Bad news is there still is no clear winner in sight and all of the new technology out there keeps “blurring the lines” even further. Neither Tesla nor Edison could have envisioned where we sit now and that we have now also proven Edison and Tesla BOTH right and BOTH wrong at the same time.
Jump back 100 years ago...
Edison was the DC guy. He believed that DC was the way to go. The very first power generating stations were DC, provided power mostly for lighting, and serviced only a small number of homes or businesses within a small area around the “power plant”. The problem here was that Edison was dealing with low voltage DC which could not be distributed efficiently over a long distance. There was no way at the time to “transform” DC from one voltage to another.
Tesla was the AC guy (and a true genius). He came up with ability to “transform” AC voltages back and forth to allow for long distance hauling of power that was reasonably efficient. His first power generating plant (Niagara Falls, NY with George Westinghouse) became the model for the method of power distribution that we use to this very day. Every day when you plug into your “wall outlet” in your home, you should be thanking Tesla.
But what AC power distribution ultimately created was a highly centralized system of power distribution run by large corporations who would provide the large capital investment needed to build these large and very expensive power plants and distribution systems.
Jump forward to present time...
We are now heading back to a decentralized ( and highly localized) method(s) of power generation through the use of Renewable Energy such as Solar Power, Wind Power, Thermoelectric, Fuel Cells, etc. Given the fact that almost all of these methods of localized power generation are DC NOT AC, I, for one, can see a change coming.
Now also through a “mashup” of DC /AC technologies with Solid State Devices operating at high frequencies, [Again, we can thank Tesla for his work with high frequency] we have the ability to finally “transform” DC voltages back and forth to make things efficient even in the DC world.
Things have improved so much on the DC side of things, that DC long distance power distribution is now even more efficient than AC power distribution (hysteresis loss) [See Intermountain Power Project, DC Distribution, Utah]
The use of Solid State electronics has given us a range of products/devices that can easily get us from either sides of the DC and AC technologies and back again which were not available during the time of Edison and Tesla: Rectifiers, Inverters, DC to DC Converters, Frequency Converters, etc. are now available and cost effective.
Now, given the fact that most of our modern electronics operate with DC voltages, (LED lights, TV's, computers, etc.) maybe it is time to reevaluate the whole AC and DC power generation and distribution thing?
I can see a future with DUAL AC and DC power distribution networks in a home that will allow for BOTH systems to stay in it's own most efficient form and role.
Most of our “off grid” stuff actually produces DC (Direct Current). Things like solar panels and batteries all produce DC, but most of the time, we have to convert it to AC (using an inverter) to do anything useful. But could we do something instead with the DC and not bother with the AC conversion? The answer is, of course, yes! Things like DC motors exist, and even LED's can be run off of DC! But we need to match the DC from the source to the required DC to operate something. This is especially important from a solar panel where the output voltage will vary with the amount of sunlight hitting it's surface, and then that some devices do not tolerate over voltage conditions that could be produced. Some devices will literally blow up with high over voltage conditions!!
So, how do we control the amount of voltage? The easiest is with a brute force voltage regulator. The problem is that voltage regulators are not that efficient. The excess voltage and power is turned into heat.
But there is another way to get a match of input versus output DC voltages. A DC to DC Converter can do this with good efficiency. With a wide range of input voltage, a constant voltage output can be produced.
It takes the DC in at any voltage in range, chops it at a very high frequency (in this case 100kHz) and converts it to AC, puts it through a small transformer, and then rectifies it back to DC. By using a very high frequency, the components can be kept to a small size. Here's one device that can produce 2 amps of current at a set voltage and cost was $3.25!
So, here's what can be done: 25.3 volts in, 12.0 volts out. The 12 volts out is held even with the input voltage varying.
Here's output of Solar Panel on a partially cloudy day: over 30 volts.
But by using a DC to DC converter, we were able to use to 12 volt output to safely drive the LED strip ( an earlier project) If we would have put the full 30 volts into the LED strip, it would have fried! So, the DC to DC converter let us use a lower voltage device on the higher voltage solar panels. Minimum electronics and no expensive inverter involved!!!
Here's the Solar Panel operating at 30 volts directly driving the LED lamps at 12 volts using the DC to DC converter.
The DC to DC Converters can come in all sizes. High wattage to low wattage, and come in various types: step up (converts low voltage to higher voltage) step down (converts higher voltage to a lower voltage) and combination step up/step down that can take in a wide range of input voltages and produce a set voltage somewhere in between the lowest and highest incoming voltage points.
We have found the combination step up/ step down DC to DC Converters really useful with Solar Panels whose own output varies from a minimum of OFF to full output across the day, but all we need is one stable voltage to operate a device.
Ultimately what we have done is use these small and cheap DC to DC Converters all over the place in our system to stabilize the voltage for individual devices on our internal DC network.There are many devices /appliances that can run directly (and moreefficiently ) on DC power. Things like pumps, refrigerators, motors, andelectronics. There is much more that can be explored on this topic area.
One important point is thatDC to DC converters are NOT the same as battery charge controllers andshould NOT be used as battery chargers. Batteries require specific chargeconditions that are better met with MPPT / PWM circuitry. (Maximum PowerPoint Tracking / Pulse Width Modulation) The MPPT / PWM stuff is a muchbetter match of technology and more efficient for battery charging. However,the DC to DC converters are a good fit AFTER the batteries, once again toprovide a stable /set voltages even as the batteries discharge.
And if you haven't gotten enough of DC to DC Converters, here are some articles fromBackwoods Solar, which in the last few years has expanded from being primarily off-grid focused to some on-grid. They have some relevant resources around DC appliances, pumping and such.
Finally, what can I say, but DC to DC Converters work...day in and day out! Place them and even forget they are there doing the job. NICE!
SunWind Power Makes Last Wishes Come True /
/ Solar Over Louisville Making Strong Progress
By Patricia Coxon, President of SunWind Power Systems, Inc.
The Louisville Zoo solar project was conceived from the last wish of the late Sharon M. Kremer, a former middle school science teacher in Jefferson County. An environmentalist, with a deep knowledge of the effects of climate change, Sharon's bequest of a solar array and display monitor allowed her to play a role in educating the public posthumously. This was aligned with the Zoo’s mission statement “to better the bond between people and our planet” by leadership in conservation education as one of the avenues to achieve this mission.
Kremer’s wish has evolved into an 8.5kW P.V. system installed by SunWind Power Systems and located on the Zoo’s administration building and can be seen by visitors from the courtyard, just inside the main entrance. The system consist of SolarWorld black frame (with black back sheet) mono crystalline panels. The monitor display will aide in educating the public by allowing the +900,000 annual visitors to observe the amount of energy off-set from solar system and bring awareness to the important role of solar in our present and future energy solutions. The annual environmental impact of the system is estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 20,234 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle and CO2 emissions equivalent to 9009 pounds of coal burned.
/ By Wallace McMullen,Chair-Solar Over Louisville/RE Team, LSC;Group Co-Chair, Sierra Club; KY Solar Energy Society Board Member
The Solar Over Louisville (SOL) campaign continues to go forward with multiple events and good participant energy.
We held four workshops in June at branch public libraries with the title “Is Solar Right for Me?” These events were intended to provide community education and information for people who are actively considering a solar installation for themselves. Each featured one or two installers talking about aspects of solar installations in a fairly hands-on way for residential consumers. They were generally well attended, 25-30 people, and the audiences were actively engaged. Lots of questions were asked and answered. More workshops are planned in additional areas of the city.
We are organizing a tour of the first utility scale solar installation at the E.W. Brown plant in Harrodsburg. We will visit the 10 MW installation on August 26. We will organize car-pooling from Louisville, or a bus if we can find one. Folks from other communities are quite welcome, but there is almost no parking at the plant, so please get in touch with the SOL group to coordinate ahead of time. Contact Paul Brooks, , 502-836-1216.
Also, Solar Over Louisville has received a grant to do a solar art project with teenagers, a project which we expect will come to fruition next summer. Hope to have more news on this in future issues.
Having the KYSES Annual Meeting in Louisville was good for Solar Over Louisville, as we gained some additional participants from people who came to the Annual Meeting and heard about the SOL activities, and we enjoyed touring the Solar Decathalon house along with everyone else.
New Solar Permitting Web Page for Louisville /
/ Welcome
New Members!
By Nancy Givens,Solar Over Louisville Planning Team,KY Solar Energy Society,Avery and Sun Solar Installations
As part of the recently-submitted SolSmart application, the Metro Office of Sustainability has created a new Installing Solar In Louisville web page. The web page is an online tool that provides a quickly accessible summary of permitting regulations, steps in the permitting process, tips for installing solar, and other resources.
The SolSmart program is sponsored by the Solar Foundation and SPARC, and was set up to encourage cities around the country to develop expedited solar permitting processes. The city has a twofold interest in applying to SolSmart: (1) to bring national recognition to Louisville for its steps already taken to advance solar in the city, and (2) to qualify for free technical assistance to further streamline and expedite the permitting process.
The application was created through the collaborative efforts of Maria Koetter and Andrea Webster, with the Metro Office of Sustainability; David Marchal, with Develop Louisville Division of Construction Review; and myself, with Solar Over Louisville. A huge thank you to Andrea Webster for designing and implementing the web page and the Office of Sustainability for hosting it. / Since our previous newsletter, the followinghave joined KySES:
- Daily Green Power LLC, David Gomez- Contributing Member Level
- Ramesh Bhatt
- Jennifer Edelen
- Ronald Krisher
- Jeff Richardson
- Keith Sharp
- Martin Senn
- Thomas Wirasakti
You can join both KySES and ASES, including a subscription to Solar Today magazine, for just $60 annually. Click here for this special offer, and pick Kentucky as your chapter in the check-out process.
Board of Directors
The following individuals are KySES board members. Feel free to contact any of us with suggestions and feedback.
- Theresa Martin, Chair
- Don Adams, Vice-Chair
- Amy Waters, Treasurer
- Theresa Martin, Secretary
- Richard Levine
- Wallace McMullen
- Dave Butler
- Nicholas Johnson
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
(For details, go toEvents) /
/ Support Solar with a License Plate!
September 10- KySES and ASES Solar Tour in Berea, KY
October8- KySES and ASES Solar Tours in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Lexington/Richmond, Louisville, Northern Kentucky
October 18-19- Building a Stronger Kentucky 2016 Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference - Lousville, KY / As a solar advocate, would you like to show your support with a solar themed license plate? We need your help to make this available to everyone. We have gathered over 300 signatures and need just 600 more to be able to petition for our very own Kentucky solar plate! Sign up here!
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Contact email: / KySES Memberships are very affordable!
$20 for individuals or $10 for students.
Business memberships are $100 to $500.
Visit for details!
Thanks to our Sustaining Partner Members
Copyright © 2015 Kentucky Solar Energy Society. All rights reserved.
KySES is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society ( promoting efficiency, conservation and renewables in Kentucky.
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