Residential Implementation of Photovoltaic Systems
By Chris Hinton & Patrick Patterson
OffOff-Grid & Grid Tied
Placement & Orientation
System Sizing & Design
Mounting Techniques
Energy Storage Charge controllers
PV Modules
Inverters
Future of PVs
Two Types of Residential Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
OffOff-grid GridGrid-tied
Golden, Colorado - National Renewable Energy Lab
East Lansing, Michigan - National Renewable Energy Lab
OffOff-grid PV Systems
Power for remote systems CostCost-prohibitive utility line extensions
Location unknown - [Link]
Electric company quoted US$7 a foot to bring in the utility line from about a mile away (about US$37,000). - Home Power Magazine #92 Pg 22
GridGrid-tied PV Systems
Net Metering Local incentives promote grid-tied gridsystems exclusively Reduce peak power demand on utility
- Energy Trust of Oregon
PV System Sizing
How much power do you need?
Energy use & auditing Energy efficiency measures Energy requirements for PV
OffOff-grid System Considerations
Design system to match load
Begin with precise load calculations Reduce load requirements through efficiency measures Estimate energy production potential from solar insolation data Select PV hardware to match load requirements
- Xantrex
GridGrid-tied System Considerations
Design system economically
Examine previous power bills Implement energy efficiency first Estimate production potential from solar insolation data Choose % of load to match Select PV hardware for utility interconnection
- Xantrex
Module Placement & Orientation
Implications of shading The sun path Azimuth Tilt angle
Moorepark, California - BP Solar
Tracing the Sun
Seasonal sun path variations Solar pathfinder tool Obstacles to sunlight can be traced and predicted for different times of the year
- Real Goods
- Home Power Magazine # 57, pg. 32
Module Placement & Orientation Guidelines
Standard PV module azimuth rule: (Orientation) = (True South) Note: In Portland, true South is about 19 19 east of magnetic South Standard PV module tilt rule: (Angle from horizontal) = (Geographic Latitude)
[Link] ll/iitt/[Link]
- Real Goods
What About Azimuth & Performance?
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pgs. 24-28
Effects of Tilting PV Modules
Maximize energy production by optimizing tilt angle Seasonal adjustments can further maximize production capabilities
- Home Power Magazine # 57, pg. 35
How much does tilt angle really matter?
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pgs. 24-28
Module Placement & Orientation Considerations
Placement and orientation often depend upon system priority:
OffOff-grid systems should maximize energy production GridGrid-tied systems often maximize aesthetics characteristics
Aesthetics Count
This is the same house!
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pg. 26
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pgs. 10, 11
Module Mounting
Roof Mounted Ground Mounted
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pg. 15
- National Renewable Energy Lab
Trackers
-Home Power Magazine # 95, pg. 127
Mounting Considerations
PV cooling Wind resistance Structural Stability Code compliance PV Orientation Oak Park, California - BP Solar Aesthetics Visibility (visible installations may increase public awareness of renewable energy)
Energy Storage
OffOff-grid storage needs GridGrid-tied energy storage Cost and Efficiency Considerations
- Home Power Magazine # 27, pg. 34 - National Renewable Energy Lab
OffOff-grid Energy Storage
Calculate storage requirements from:
Climate (periods of cloudy weather?) Critical loads (what do you need to power?) Capacity should last 4 21 days
Batteries should not be discharged more than 50% 70% or battery life is shortened Install batteries in safe, climate-controlled, climateventilated location (not in your living room)
GridGrid-tied Energy Storage
Most
GridGrid-tied systems do not use batteries Rather the utility grid is treated as a 100% efficient, unlimited capacity battery (except during outages) Batteries may be added for additional storage flexibility
Batteries: Cost & Efficiency Considerations
Batteries add significant cost to a PV system Charging batteries significantly reduces system efficiency: 20% energy losses are typical during battery charging
The Xantrex XS12205 12-volt, 184 amp hour, AGM battery was designed for backup and solar applications. $399 (list) or $179 (on sale)
[Link]
Photovoltaic Hardware Selection
PV Modules Inverters & Charge Controllers Mounting Hardware Balance of System Components
Photovoltaic Modules Criteria
Cell
Selection
types
(in decreasing order of price and efficiency)
Monocrystalline Polycrystalline Amorphous (thin-film) (thin
Performance
IV curves Maximum power rating efficiency
Aesthetics
Module Comparison Chart
Photovoltaic Modules Survey
BP
Product
Solar: BP 5170 Solar: SP150-PC SP150Solar: EC-110 EC-
[Link]
Shell
[Link]
Evergreen Kyocera:
[Link]
KC120KC120-1
[Link]
Sharp: NT-S5E1U NT[Link]
Inverters
Selection Criteria
Output types
True sine wave Modified sine wave 12VDC, 24VDC, 48VDC String inverters PV Modules wired accordingly
Input requirements
- SMA America
Monitoring and data logging capabilities NonNon-islanding inverters for Grid-tie applications Grid-
Charge Controllers
Purpose safe battery charging Types
Series Shunt
StandStand-alone units Integrated (into inverter)
- RV Power Products
Inverter Comparison Chart
Remote Monitoring Options
PC Interface: Trace (Xantrex)
-Home Power Magazine # 94, pgs. 24, 26
PC Interface: SunnyBoy
- SMA America
Inverters & Charge Controllers Product Survey
Outback
Power Systems
[Link]
SMA
America
[Link] [Link]
Xantrex
Mounting Hardware
Two Seas Mounting Structures
[Link]
Ground/Roof Flush Mount MultiMulti-Tier Low Profile
Unirac
[Link]
Large Array PV Module Mounting System Solarmount (ground/roof) Tracker 200 (2-module tracking rack) (2-
- UniRac
Balance of System Components
DC
disconnects AC Disconnects Fuses/Breakers Grounding hardware Lightning Arrestors Combiner Boxes
Case Studies
Off
Grid Living Grid-tied with batteries and monitoring Grid Off Grid PV & Wind Hybrid System Grid-tied system with unbelievable payback Grid-
Off Grid Case Study: Bisbee Family
Home Power Magazine #92, pgs. 22-27 22-
GridGrid-tied Case Study: Simons Family
- Home Power Magazine # 94, pgs. 22-27 22-
Off Grid Case Study:
Reising & McCoy Family
- Home Power Magazine #89, pgs. 10-19 10-
GridGrid-tied Case Study: Webster Family
- Home Power Magazine #95, pgs. 22-28 22-
GridGrid-tied Case Study: Webster Family
Conclusions & Personal Thoughts
Carefully designed residential PV systems provide their owners with clean, reliable power, and promote interest in renewable energy sources Hydrogen as Energy Storage BuildingBuilding-integrated materials Expanded use of solar energy for water purification, water heating, space heating (air-to-air heat (air-toexchangers), as well as electricity production
-Home Power Magazine # 93, pg. 27
References
Bell, John (2000). Questions from the Field [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Bisbee, D. (2002) Off the Grid: Starting Small Home Power Magazine, No 92, December/January, pp. 22-23. BP Solar (2003). BP Solar Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Chadderdon, M. and Chadderdon, J. (2003) The Chadderdon Photovoltaic Story. Home Power Magazine, No 93, February/March pp. 10-18. Energy Trust (2003). Solar Electric for Homes and Businesses [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] McCoy, C. and Reising, C. (2002) Still Saying "Yes" to Sunshine Home Power Magazine, No 89, June/July, pp. 10-19. National Renewable Energy Lab (2003). Photographic Information Exchange [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] OutBack Power Systems (2003). OutBack Power Systems Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Perez, R. and Drake, J. (1997) Where and How to Mount PV Modules. Home Power Magazine, No 57, February/March, pp. 32-37. RV Power Products (2003). RV Power Products Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Schaeffer, J. ed. (2001) Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide To Renewable Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living. 11th ed. USA, Chelsea Green Publishing Company. Simons, B. (2003) PV Done Right - Grid Tie, Battery Backup, and System Monitoring. Home Power Magazine, No 94, April/May, pp. 22-27. SMA-America (2003). SMA-America Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Solar Depot (2003). Solar Depot Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Solatron Technologies (2003). Xantrex XS12205 [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Two Seas Metalworks (2003). Two Seas Metalworks Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] UniRac (2003). Unirac Home Page [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Webster, D. (2003) Getting Off the Lifetime Utility Payment Plan. Home Power Magazine, No 95, June/July, pp. 22-28. Xantrex (2003). Products [Internet] Available from: <[Link] [Accessed July 2003] Yewdall, Z. (2003) PV Orientation. Home Power Magazine, No 93, February/March, pp. 24-28.
