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Andy Cochrane
Certification No. 031508-18


SolarWashington.org


NW Eco Building Guild

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does solar work in the “rainy” northwest?

2.  How does net metering work?

3.  How do I find out if solar will work for my home or business?

4.  What if my roof isn’t sunny.  Can I mount solar panels on the ground?

5. How much energy can I expect my solar electric (PV) system to produce?

6. How do I determine my power usage?  What are the economics of energy conservation?

7.  How much will a grid-tied solar electric system cost?

8.  How long do these systems last?

9.  I’ve heard that pv solar modules require a lot of energy to manufacture.  How long does it take for a solar module to generate the same amount of energy (output energy) that was required to create it (input energy)?

10.  Do grid-tied solar electric systems require maintenance?

11.  What happens when the power goes out?  Should I invest in back-up batteries?
12.  What are the environmental benefits of PV?

13.  How does renewable energy help our local economy?

14.  What happens when I call Power Trip Energy?  What steps will you go through to evaluate my home or business?

15.  Ok, I’m sold, I want to buy a solar pv system.  How does the process work?

 

Will Solar Work for You?

 

The most common question we are asked is, “I’m interested in solar power for my home (or business), but I’m not sure if it works here or what it costs.”  We are glad you’ve taken the time to review this information sheet.  We’ll try to answer as many questions as we can right here.  Then when you call us, you’ll be even better informed.

 

1.  Does solar work in the “rainy” northwest?

First things first, yes, solar power works just very well in our area.  Here on the north Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas we average approximately 3.5 hours of full sun per day.  That is about 70% of the sun resources of southern California.  However, unlike southern California most of our sun comes in the summertime when our electricity needs are lower, especially if your home has been designed to not require air conditioning.  If your system is tied to the grid, you can sell that electricity back to the Californians during their peak energy usage. 

 

2.  How does net metering work?

Net metering regulations have dramatically improved the average person’s ability to create and use their own solar power.  Here in the northwest our peak energy usage is typically during the wintertime when the days are shortest, while our peak sunny days are in the summertime.  With net metering, it doesn’t matter.  Net metering allows us to earn credits in the summertime with our grid tied solar pv system and sell those credits back to the utility in the fall as the days get shorter and our energy needs start rising again.  During the winter when your solar panels aren’t producing as much power the grid acts as your “battery” providing steady, reliable power.  With net metering you also save the expense and maintenance headaches that go along with batteries.  Batteries add approximately $5k - $10k to the cost of the system and must be replaced every few years.  We generally discourage the use of batteries.

 

3.  How do I find out if solar will work for my home or business?

We can formally determine the potential of your home or business for solar power through a Site Evaluation of your home or business (see #11 below).  But we’ll give you some basic facts now so that you can get a feel for your site’s solar resource.     

 

First, you’ll need a roof with a good southern exposure or a clear sunny area on your property.  It is best if the area is not shaded during the day, but areas that receive sun from 9 am – 3 pm are still good candidates.  The best roof pitch is 5:12 to 12:12.  If you have a flat roof, or a roof that is facing east or west, it is possible to orient the panels south through the use of adjustable racking systems.  As a rough rule of thumb, it takes approximately 90 sq. feet of roof area to install a 1 kw solar pv system (90 sq. ft. = 1 kilowatt (kw) of installed system).

 

2.16 kw system with panels racked up on an outbuilding in Glen Cove outside Port Townsend

 

4.  What if my roof isn’t sunny.  Can I mount solar panels on the ground?

Yes, if a roof is undesirable for solar panels, a ground mounted system is often a good solution.  We can mount the solar panels either on a single pole or a multiple legged strut system that is secured to the ground.  These systems are a little more expensive than roof mounted systems because of the additional labor and materials necessary.  Those interested in a super efficient ground mount system that harvests the most energy from a small area may want to consider a solar tracker to keep your pole-mounted panels at the optimum angle throughout the day and during the various seasons.  Be aware that the addition of a tracking device adds a motorized component to an otherwise maintenance free system.

 

Ground mounted 2.16 kw system in Bremerton with multi-legged struts.

 This system works well for larger ground mounted system and is adaptable to uneven ground.

 

5.      How much energy can I expect my solar pv system to produce?

Ok, so you’ve got a sunny spot picked out.  How much energy over the course of an average year can you expect to generate with your solar pv system?  Are you ready for some math?  Each 1 kw of installed solar panels generate approximately 1,000 to 1,200 kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity over the course of an average year on the north Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas (1 kw installed = 1,000 to 1,200 kwh per year).  Sites with full sun where the solar panels are oriented due south should expect to be at the upper end of this range.  Calculate your roof area and multiply it by this figure and you’ll have an idea of the maximum power a pv system on your roof could generate. 

 

6.      How do I determine my power usage?  What are the economics of energy conservation?

You should review your power bill to get an idea of how much power you are currently consuming over the course of the year.  Your utility bill will express your energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kwh) per day, month, or year.  You may be surprised to see how much energy you use and how big a solar pv system you would need to satisfy 100% of your energy needs.  However the economics of the available financial incentives allow you to cover your annual electricity costs with a smaller system.

 

You should first consider reducing your overall power demand through conservation.  On average, it is 3 – 5 times cheaper to save a watt of energy through conservation than it is to generate that same watt of energy through solar power.  Conservation techniques include designing your home to take advantage of passive solar for both heating and natural light, energy efficient appliances such as Energy Star certified, super insulation and high efficiency windows and exterior doors, and compact fluorescent light bulbs which are 4 – 5 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs.  An incandescent bulb is actually a heater that happens to produce a little light – 90% of its energy consumption is lost to heat, only 10% is used for light.  Compact fluorescents are also cheaper than they’ve ever been and with warmer, more natural appearing light.

 

7.      How much will a grid-tied solar electric (PV) system cost?

Typical costs range from $7,500 - $10,000 per installed kilowatt.  The more kilowatts the system produces, the lower the cost per kilowatt.  This is because each system has common components.  Solar panels  which generate the power (about 60% - 70% of system cost), an inverter which converts the DC power produced by the solar panels to AC power that can be used by your home and the utility grid, a production meter that measures your gross energy production, one or more safety shut off switches which isolate your solar panels if they require maintenance, wiring, and racking for the solar panels.  The larger the system, the more of the overall cost can go to your solar panels and the lower price per kilowatt you can achieve. 

 

From left to right: Utility revenue meter (pre-existing), safety shut off (conduit going up leads to solar panels on the roof), a SunnyBoy 2100 watt inverter, the production meter with conduit going through wall to the service panel inside. System located in Lake Crescent area.

 

8.  How long do these systems last?

The solar modules we use carry 20 – 25 year warranties (depending upon the manufacturer).  Most modules are warranted to perform at 80% of their original manufactured power at the end of the warranty period.  What is their overall life expectancy?  It is hard to know.  Solar panels constructed by Bell Labs in the 1950’s are still working today, after over 50 years.  The SMA inverters carry a standard 5 year warranty plus an additional 5 years (for a total of 10 years) because Power Trip Energy’s installers are licensed “solar pros” through SMA.  We sell and install high quality components so that we can sleep well at night.  If you have a problem with your system, we’ll be there to take care of it.

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9.  I’ve heard that pv solar modules require a lot of energy to manufacture.  How long does it take for a solar module to generate the same amount of energy (output energy) that was required to create it (input energy)?

A recent study the National Renewable Energy Laboratory conclusively demonstrates that energy payback for photovoltaics is, in the worst case, less than 4 years. Given that PV module lifetimes are generally in excess of 20 years, a PV system will produce far more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. Technological progress in the years since the issuance of this report has tended to bring down the energy consumption of PV manufacturing yet further, as silicon growth processes in particular become more efficient.  For more information about this and other “myths” of solar energy, please see www.seia.org/mythsandfacts.php.

 

10.  Do grid-tied solar electric systems require maintenance?

Solar grid-tied pv systems have no moving parts and are nearly maintenance free.  The tempered glass surface of the panels naturally shed water (and any accumulated dust) and are about as tough as a car’s windshield.  We mount the modules about 4 – 8 inches above the surface of your roof so that stray branches or leaves will not be trapped under them.  With grid tied pv, there isn’t much to do except watch the kilowatt hours of energy you’ve generated add up.

 

11.  What happens when the power goes out?  Should I invest in back-up batteries?

In the case of a power interruption, the inverter is designed to immediately shut down.  This is a safety measure built in to ensure that during a blackout your solar panels will not back-feed the grid and potentially injure utility service personnel.  If you are interested in having a back-up power source in times of extended power outage, we recommend you consider a small, efficient generator. 

 

There are several reasons we do not recommend batteries for back-up power.  The most economical batteries available today are flooded lead acid, deep cycle batteries (think heavy duty car batteries each one about the size of a five gallon gas can.) First, on a residential scale, they and the additional equipment needed, are quite expensive.  Second, they require power management and regular maintenance (checking and refilling water levels, unless you spend an extra premium on gel or AGM batteries, and don’t even ask about NiCAD or Lithium batteries).  Third, they must be replaced periodically even with the most diligent maintenance and care.  Fourth, you will need a large physical area to house 8 or 16 of these gas can-sized batteries, which by the way are toxic and potentially dangerous.  Fifth, in time of a power outage, even with a massive battery bank, you will be limited to the amount of power stored in your batteries and the limited power your solar panels can put back into them.  Because power outages most often occur in the winter, when days are short and skies are cloudy, this may not be very much power.  Convinced yet? 

 

If you’re still interested in back up batteries or an off-grid system, we are happy to work with you.  We just feel strongly that you need to know what you are getting yourself into.  But if it is the best solution for your situation, we are glad to help.

 

12.  What are the environmental benefits of PV?
Solar electricity generated at your home or business is a lot friendlier to the environment than the electricity from the grid, which relies primarily on fossil fuels, nuclear, and massive hydro projects.  Fossil fuels contribute significantly to many of the environmental problems we face today – greenhouse gases, air pollution, and water and soil contamination – while renewable energy sources contribute very little or no pollution.

The use of fossil fuels has significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions creating an enhanced greenhouse effect known as global warming. Renewable energy technologies, however, can produce heat and electricity with a very low or no amount of carbon dioxide emissions.  Specifically, each installed kilowatt of PV prevents 15 tons of CO2 over a 30 year period compared to that same electricity generated from coal. 

People often think of the electricity we use in Washington State as being “green” because it is generated by hydropower.  In actuality, only a portion of our electricity comes from hydropower. By 2005, over 55% of PSE’s power supply profile was coming from fossil fuels.  See the fuel mix from PSE’s web site @ http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/energysupply/Pages/EnergySupply-Electricity-PowerSupplyProfile.aspx below:

*  Wind power is expected to make up about 5% of PSE’s power supply by the end of 2007. 

Also, here in the NW, we are especially aware of the damage done by hydro-power producing dams, as they are the major factor in the devastation of one of our most valuable resources, the native salmon runs.  The loss of salmon has decimated the NW fishing industry and has had significant negative impacts to local Native American cultures.

13.  How does renewable energy help our local economy?
In Washington, we rely heavily on energy produced from natural gas and coal, both imported from out of state, to provide electricity. The cost of these fossil fuels can add up to billions of dollars. And every dollar spent on imported energy is a dollar that our local economies lose. Renewable energy resources, however, are developed locally. The dollars spent on energy stay at home, creating more jobs and fostering economic growth.

Renewable energy technologies are labor intensive. Jobs evolve directly from the manufacture, design, installation, servicing, and marketing of renewable energy products. Jobs even arise indirectly from businesses that supply renewable energy companies with raw materials, transportation, equipment, and professional services, such as accounting and clerical services.  In turn, the wages and salaries generated from these jobs provide additional income in the local economy. Renewable energy companies also contribute more tax revenue locally than conventional energy sources.

14.  What happens when I call Power Trip Energy?  What steps will you go through to evaluate my home or business?
When you call our office we’ll answer your questions about grid-tied solar pv.  If you are interested in having your home or business evaluated for a solar pv system, we can schedule a
site evaluation. 

During a site evaluation, we will come to your home or business (or vacant lot if your planning to build) and we will evaluate the solar potential of your site.  We’ll climb on the roof of your house and take the measurements necessary to design your system.  We’ll use a solar pathfinder to accurately assess any the orientation and solar potential of your roof or ground mount site.  We’ll look at your home’s electrical system to determine how we will connect your solar panels to your service panel and the utility grid.  Finally, we’ll sit down with you so you can share your goals regarding generating your own green power.  We’ll answer all your questions about costs, financial incentives, location options, various system sizes, maintenance (there really is none), and whatever else you can throw at us.  Within a few days of the site evaluation we’ll send you a written bid for one or more pv systems and an installation contract.  The cost for a site evaluation on the north Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas within 50 miles of Port Townsend is $150.  We charge a little more for site evaluations beyond 50 miles to cover our time and travel cost.  If you purchase a pv system through us, we’ll credit this amount to your purchase price.

 

15.  Ok, I’m sold, I’m ready to invest in a solar pv system.  How does the process work?

Great!  When you are ready to commit to buying a system, we’ll ask you to initial the system bid you are accepting, sign the installation contract, and send us a deposit that equals one-half the cost of the materials and the shipping.  We will then order the solar modules  and other equipment.  When the materials arrive (2 – 6 weeks depending upon availability) we’ll schedule their installation with you.  When we deliver the materials to the site you’ll pay us the other one-half of the material and shipping costs and we’ll begin to install the system.  System installation typically takes 3 – 6 working days.  Once the system is installed and passes the electrical inspection you’ll make the final payment which covers the installation.  The cost of the electrical permit is included in the bid and we’ll take care of the permit and the various rebate and sales tax exemption forms.  We’ll make it easy for you to invest in solar power and create your personal energy policy.