grid-connected solar pv electricity –an overview of the ..._for_energy... · zto empower people...

Solar Energy Project Development Specialists

BP A+ for Energy Education Conference

Kananaskis2008 August 19

Gordon Howell, P.Eng.Edmonton

Phone: +1 780 484 0476E-mail: [email protected]

Grid-Connected Solar PV Electricity

–An Overview of the Basics –

©1995-2008 Howell-Mayhew Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Solar Energy Project Development Specialists 2

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First of all…

I want to acknowledge that we meet on the traditional lands of the

Nakoda-Stoney people

and that I respect their spiritual relationship with their country.

As per the introductory comments in every speech of Hon. Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia


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Intro: My Goals…

To empower people to get ready for the energy and environmental issues coming upon us

To help people understandhow solar electricity be used to energise any electrical load…

– to reduce your electricity bills,

– to reduce your environmental footprint,

– to increase your energy security,

– to leave a legacy… so you can look your grandkids in the eye!


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Intro: Me! ––

I am a solar system project developer

I am not an equipment supplier

I have no vested interest in any technology

My interest is that you choose wisely– with your eyes wide open– based on the facts and

whether it is right for you or not.

The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi…but not every man's greed. (Mahatma) India


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Presentation Outline

What is solar electricity?

How does it work?

What are the economics of it?

What is happening with the solar industry?

What is the context in which solar energy is being implemented?

Policies… Do we have to get into politics? (yes…)

FAST GOOD CHEAP… you are only allowed to choose two of them!


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Question…

What is Alberta's What is Alberta's most abundant most abundant

energy resource?energy resource?

In many ways our future is passing us by, Gary Lamphier… and our energy riches may one day look like fool's gold. Edmonton Journal


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– Our Most Abundant Energy Resource

Alberta: The Solar Province

14 hours of sunshine = all our fossil energy resources in 2001!

Alberta's sunshine is over 300 times more than our fossil fuel resources.


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What is Solar Energy?

Solar energy – the energy contained in

the photons that comprise sunlight

Sunlight is– visible light– electromagnetic radiation (as is all light)– non-ionizing radiation (as is all light)– short-wave light (different from radio waves or

microwaves)

All energy originates from the sun!– some of it has just been stored for a time!


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The solar window:Where most of the sun's energy comes from…

Sun's pathDecember 21 Sun's path

June 21

NorthSouth

East

West

3pm

10am

Path of Sun across the Sky


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Okotoks swimming poolsolar heating

Anything that uses electricity, any time, any where

Space heating

Water heating – for domestic water, pools

Industrial and commercial process heating

Cooking

Daytime illumination

Solar Energy – where can it be used

Cochrane High School solar electricity

Photo Credit: SPS Energy


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Context: Energy Efficiency vs. Adding Energy…

Energy efficiency option:– Cheapest, most important and shortest payback option…– But it is emotionally boring

Solar electricity option:– Does NOT reduce your electricity consumption – AT ALL!– Instead it substitutes your electricity source

from coal and natural gas over to the sun…– Solar electricity has much higher energy price costs than energy

efficiency– It is exciting and something you can brag about to your friends…

Socialism collapsed because it did not allow the market to tell the economic truth. Øystein DahleCapitalism may collapse because it does not allow the market to tell the ecological truth. Exxon Norway


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Economic: Save Money and Reduce RiskReduces electricity bills – you pay for solar electricity equipment up front

Reduces vulnerability to up and down electricity prices

Environmental: Reduce your FootprintReduces how much air pollution you cause from electricity generators to emit on your behalfIncreases the reserve of coal and natural gas you leave for your grandkids

Context: Why Use Solar Electricity?

Political will arises from personal momentumWe need to be the leaders to our governments and corporations.


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Business OpportunityServes the growing public interestServes the multi-billion $ world markets

Social OpportunityProvides the leadership that we needEncourages the government to facilitate it instead of blocking it

Context: Why Use Solar Electricity?

The superior man seeks what is right; Confuciusthe inferior one, what is profitable.


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Proven technology

– thousands of systems across Canada

Can provide energy security and independence

Inflation-proof

Political-proof

No noise

No emissions

Low or zero Low or zero maintenance costscosts

Context: Benefits of Solar Electricity…

Nature does provide us with a free lunch, William…but only if we control our appetites. Ruckelshaus


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Context: Challenges with Solar Electricity…

Purchase costs are high

Supply and installation chain is small, though growing in its experience and depth

Not a lot of broad-based experience in Canada

Has to compete with highly subsidized coal- and natural gas-electricity

Little interest by our governments in developing policies and programmes that facilitate it …(depending on the province)

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over Benjamin…and expecting different results. Franklin


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Context: Other Countries…

1,000,000 new systems being installed on houses around the world each year

Growing by 44% per year for the last 15 years

Solar PV feed-in tariffs in Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Ontario, South Australia ++

Huge plans to develop the industrial manufacturing capacity of solar PV in many countries

Going to a junkyard is a sobering experience…There you can see the ultimate destination of almost everything we desire. Roger von Oech


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Context: Solar Myths

Myth #1: The energy and emissions invested in solar never pay back…

Solar energy provides zero-emission electricity.Payback for emissions and energy used in its manufacture, transportation and installation:

– 1 to 4 years depending on its application.

In contrast, what is the energy payback for a

coal- or gas-fired electric generating station?


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Questions ???

Next:Solar Systems and Components


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What Technologies Generate Solar Electricity?

Common technologies:

– Solar photovoltaics

– Solar thermal electric


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Solar Power Tower

Some 1300 heliostats

Turns the black central receiver white hot

10 000 kW?, prototype for 100 000 kW

Mojave Desert, California

Industrial-scale electricity production

Cheaper electricity price than solar photovoltaics


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Solar Power Tower Concept Diagram

The future does not belong to those who are content with today, fearful in the face Robert Kennedyof new ideas and bold projects. It will belong to those with a personal commitment. 1966


A+ for EnergySolar Cells Absorb the Energy in

Photons

The technology is called "photovoltaics", but we only call it "PV".The energy in the photons knocks electrons out of their orbital shell –– 1 electron for 1 photon.

The electric field generated by this turns the electrons into an electric current.Wires carry the current away.


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Solar heating– A dark surface sitting in the sun

light– Water or air runs past the solar

heated surface carrying heat to the building.

Solar electricity– A semiconductor device like a computer

chip– Photons bump electrons out of an atom.– Wires carry the electrons away.

Solar heating and solar electricity

are NOT the same…


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What words do we use?

Solar heating – thermal collectors

Solar electricity – photovoltaic modules

Solar panel – when several PV modules are mechanically fastened to a rail


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PV Terms

Solar PV Solar PV ArrayArray

Solar can generate any amount of electricity. Large systems = more modules.

Solar PV Module

Solar PV Solar PV CellCellPV Panel


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Solar Electricity – used everywhere!

1. Off-grid stand-alone2. Off-grid hybrid: + generator or wind3. Grid-connected

– to electrical distribution & transmission grids

Photo Credit: Ralph Cartar

From calculators and watches to large generating stations.


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Solar Electricity – grid-connected

Peter Bull’s home, Edmonton, 2006

Avalon Master Builder’s Discovery II Net Zero electricity home,

Red Deer, 2006

You must skate to where the puck is going…not to where it is now.

Wayne Gretzky


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Grid-Connected Solar – Major Components

Solar PV module

Grid-connectedsolar inverter

Solar battery

…maybe…

Anyone who thinks they are too small to make a difference… Africanhas never spent the night with a mosquito. Proverb

Inverters convert • dc electricity (produced by

the solar array)• to ac electricity (used by any

AC load).


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Questions ???

Next:How does it work?

Making the simple complicated is commonplace. Charles MingusMaking the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.


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Solar PVarray1

2

34

4 major components:

– PV array– DC disconnect– Solar inverter– AC disconnect

No energy storage

Most common grid-connected configuration

400 in Canada???

80 in Alberta?

3.8 million around the world…

Grid-Connected System – Grid-dependent


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Solar energy is the ultimate in wireless nuclear fusion … where the fusion generator is very safely stored 150,000,000 km away!

kWh

PV Array

kWh

DC

Wire Service Provider's electricity distribution lines

AC

All electrical circuits in a house or building

Importmeter

Export meter

1

2

3

4

Inverter

This is by far the most common configuration for a grid-connected solar power system.There is no battery bank.

How How can you can you generate generate

electricity into electricity into your your house house

and also and also back into the grid?back into the grid?

kWh

kWh

©1995-2008


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PV Array

DC

AC

All electrical circuits in a house or building

1

2

3

4

Inverter

The inverter senses that there is a power outage and turns itself off.

When power returns it turns itself on automatically.

People who say it cannot be done… should not interrupt those who are doing it. George Bernard Shaw

What happens What happens during a during a

power outagepower outage??

Wire Service Provider's electricity distribution lines

kWh

kWhImportmeter

Export meter

kWh

kWh

©1995-2008


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Installed in 2003Cost $26,000

Electricity generation: ~$180 per yearAnnual electricity export value: $100

Solar meter

2.5 kW Sunny Boy inverter

+Eric SteedenEdmonton's Solar Garden

2 kW solar PV

Cities grow great… when old men plant treesin whose shade they know they will never sit in.

Gives his excess to the Alberta Electric System Operator's Energy Trading System for free

Buys from EPCORPhoto Credit:Steve Wiebe


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Grid-Connected System – Grid-interactive

7 major components

Includes energy storage

Not common at all– 15 in Canada?


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PV Array

DC

Wires Owner's electricity

distribution lines

AC

1

2

3

4

This configuration has a battery bank but it is not common.

How about energy security?

Main breaker panel Essential Circuits

AC

5

Battery BankDC

6

7

kWh

kWhImportmeter

Export meter

kWh

Inverter/charger

ChargeController

Making the simple complicated is commonplace. Charles MingusMaking the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.


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2.9 kW solar PVSolar DHW, to come

Let him that would move the world first move himself. SocratesGreece

Peter BullEdmonton


A+ for EnergyInverter, charge controllers, DC switches, meters

1 of 2 battery banks

Charge controllers

DC array

switches

Inverter/charger

Peter BullEdmonton


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Questions ???

Next:Connecting to the grid


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kWh

Energy Retailer, Wires Owner

ExportImport

kWh

1 kWh 1 kWh 1 kWh

PV system owner Neighbour

Wires Owner Distribution System

Ordinary kWh meter (goes both ways)

Ordinary kWh meter

Neighbour pays the ER and the WO full fees for the electricity and its delivery.

PV system owner runs the meter backwards, sending the previously

imported electricity back for full credit. In effect, the PV system owner stores the Energy Retailer's electricity but without charging any storage fee.

Exported electricity is carried to neighbour without extracarriage fees, and displaces the electricity that wouldhave been otherwise provided by the Energy Retailer.

12

3

4Electricity paid in full

1 kWh supplied, 1 kWh paid for ©1995-2008

How does "net metering" work?("net metering" means "running your meter backward")

- as solar power system owners see it


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kWh


ExportImport

1 kWh

1 kWh

PV system owner


Ordinary kWh meter (goes both ways)

PV system owner runs the meter backwards, reversing the full charges for

the same amount of previously imported electricity.

The Wires Owner "stores" in its wires the PV electricity produced in the daytime.

Electricity paid in full 1

2

3

4 1 kWhThe Wires Owner "re-delivers" the exported electricity back to the PV system owner at night, offsetting the amount exported in the daytime.

1 kWh supplied, 1 kWh paid for ©1995-2008

How does net metering work?How does net metering work?-- how the Wires Owners see ithow the Wires Owners see it


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ExportImport

kWh

1 kWh 1 kWh 1 kWh

PV system owner

Neighbour

Bi-directional kWh meter

Ordinary kWh meter

Now, finally, Alberta’s regulations require that there are no additional Wires Owner and regulator’s meter reading fees.


Electricity paid in full

Energy Retailer sells it to the neighbour for full retail price.

Net billing permits exported electricity to be valued at any price, such as:- a discounted wholesale price,- a price equal to the import price, or- a premium feed-in (green) price.

12

3

4

1 kWh supplied, 1 kWh paid for

kWh

©1995-2008

How does net billing work?


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Questions…?

Next:Solar system performanceand savings

Every great movement must experience three stages: John Stuart Mill…ridicule, discussion, adoption.


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$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

1

Background: Our Electricity Consumption

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000

1

High 14,000 kWh

Low 2000 kWh

Avg 6600 kWh

High$1780 per year

Avg$953 per year

Low$439 per year

Household Consumption

per year (Edmonton)

1 kWh = 1/10 litre of

gasoline

Annual connection fee

$214

Delivered energy

consumption charges


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How much solar equipment is needed?

Typically to get 100% grid-connected solar electricity:Household Consumption PV system cost Value PV system size

kWh/year $ $/year # modules**– large user 14,000 ~$105 000 $1560 88– average 6600 ~$53 000 $740 41– electrical wise 4000 ~$34 000 $450 25– very efficient 2000 ~$20 000 $220 13

Household with average energy consumption, 100% off-grid solar with no generator backup – $150 000+ ???

The key point is – if you are energy efficient and use less electricity then your solar power system will be far less expensive.

** 160 W module, 1000 h/y run-time…


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Solar PV System Costs – Grid ConnectedPurchase price:

–– $5k$5k--$100k depending on the size you want!$100k depending on the size you want!–– For houses: typically between $15 000 to $40 000For houses: typically between $15 000 to $40 000

Benefits:Benefits:– $100 to $450/year savings in 2007– Save 30% to 100%+ of your electricity bill and your electricity emissions

– ~1 to 3% per year return on purchase costs,if environmental, social and infrastructure benefits are ignored

– Payback: 20 years to 90 years depending on government policies

– Years to parity with grid electricity: 1 to 35 years depending on government policies and mortgage interest rates

Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to…when all they need is one reason why they can.


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Price of Solar PV Electrical Energy

Price of delivered electricity:– Range: 29 ¢/kWh for a 5 kW PV system (amortized over 25 years)

unsubsidizedfixed price for 25-year life of system using your own moneyzero emission energy

– up to 50 ¢/kWh on a 5% mortgage

Compared to:– 11 ¢/kWh for grid electricity (2007 consumer RRO price in Edmonton)

Has been increasing at 4.9% /year. Rising at 10% /year now.Very dirty electricity in AlbertaHeavily subsidized by government policies:

– No payments for damage to environment and health care system (needs to be 8 to 16 ¢/kWh)

– Very low coal royalties (55 ¢/T = 1% of electricity wholesale price)


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Questions ???

Next:new products and applications…


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Solar Myth:

Lots of land available on which to install solar:

– Unused land– Unused walls– Unused roofs– Parking lots– Road meridians

2000 kW PV, Sacramento2000 kW PV, Sacramento

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world.Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. +Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

Solar takes up too much land area!

100 kW PV, Italy100 kW PV, 100 kW PV, SwitzerlandSwitzerland


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340 kW, California tracks the sun’s azimuth

angle across the sky

Parking lots are becoming Solar Power Plants


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85 kW, Germany

120 kW, Berlin

1300 kW, Netherlands

2.9 kW, Alberta Legislature

Placed on Roof-Tops

If you're not in favour of zero waste …how much waste are you in favour of?


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It is now an architectural feature, which draws interest.

It is now a building cladding and is sold on an area cost

basis ($/m2) rather than energy price basis (¢/kWh).

Gives structure, environmental protection, PR, image, sizzle, and pollution reductions… as well as electricity.

Maryland

Opportunities –Building-Integrated PV

(BIPV)

It is the small group of friends that changes the world.+C.S. Lewis, England


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Integrated into Glazing for Natural Lighting

30 kW, Netherlands

45 kW (340 m²), Netherlands. ©Saint-Gobain Glass Solar.

If you're in a hole…stop digging.

Photo Credit:Corbett Cibinel Architects

Red River College 13 kW, Winnipeg


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Railway station Canopy, Switzerland. © EPEL-LESO

Queens University, Kingston

Integrated into Shading Structures

Photo Credit:Anton Driesse

Photo Credit:Per Drewes

Cayley School, Alberta


A+ for EnergyIntegrated into Roofing Materials

With slate tiles

As shingles

With metal roofs

With concrete roof tiles


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2.8 kW, BCIT Technology Place,Burnaby, BC

30% transparencyRWE Solar

Frankfurt

Integrated into Window Films

Service to others… Muhammadis the rent you pay for your room here on earth. Ali


A+ for EnergyBuildings are becoming Solar Power Plants!

5 kW, Waterloo

Aachen, Germany

1 MW, Munich

6 000 kW, Germany


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Neighbourhoods are becoming Solar Power Plants!

Japan

1000 kW community PV project on 500 houses in the Netherlands

California

Every revolution is about power!


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Ota City, Japan

Cities are Becoming Solar Power Plants


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Geiseltalsee SolarparkGermany 4000 kW, 25 000 PV modules

Fields are becoming Solar Power Plants


A+ for Energy Riverdale NetZero Energy Home – Edmonton

2008

duplex1844 ft2 per side3 bedrooms


A+ for EnergyRiverdale NetZero Energy Home

Provides 40% of our space heating

Provides 6% of domestic water heating, 11% of space heating and108% of electricity consumption

Active solar heating system: 21 m2, vertical

Domestic water heat store: 300 litres

Space heat store: 17,000 litres

Provides 83% of domestic water heating and 21% of space heating

Solar PV system for electricity – 33 m2, 5.6 kW, 53°tilt

Passive solar for space heating– all windows


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Questions ???

Next:Solar and Alberta…

I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act;but I do believe in a fate that falls on men unless they act. +G.K. Chesterson


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Alberta's Energy Resource Policies

Alberta's solar energy resource today is similar to the tar sands of several decades ago:

– rich resource– currently expensive– not a lot of experience in Alberta– many barriers to utilization– many opportunities to develop jobs, products and markets

for the world

Key issues: how to store energy? – from day to night, from summer to winter

Live so our forefathers would be proud,and our children will be thankful.


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Alberta’s Response to our Solar Resource

Solar power is treated like an industrial power generator – industrial taxes are 4x the value of the electricity generated!

Taxation policies

– Natural gas rebates in the winter– Low oil, gas, and coal royalty rates– Tax holidays for the tar sands– Low environmental standards– No environmental royalties !!– Lots of free R&D

Policies that subsidizecompetingenergy sources

NoneDevelopment programmes– industrial capacity,

infrastructure, regulations, research, standards, issues…

NonePolicies that subsidize

New regulations to connect to the grid as of 2008 July 01 and 2009 January 01

Policies that facilitate


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Policy Contrasts…

In contrast to Canada and Alberta…billions are being spent in other industrialized countries to develop their solar energy sector:

Industrial capacity • ResearchManufacturing processesRegulations • InfrastructureProducts • Services Infrastructure integration • Applications World market development…

"We don't know what to do about solar energy because we don't know how to tax it."

Alberta Energy in 2003 June

Political will arises from personal momentumWe need to be the leaders to our governments and corporations.


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Cartoon – solar power isn't feasible

Cartoon from 1979… still relevant today


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Want to learn more?

Eco-Solar Contacts and Services List – available on request by e-mail

Solar Energy– Solar Energy Society – Northern Alberta Chapter

(www.solaralberta.ca)– Canadian Solar Industries Association (www.cansia.ca)

Trimline Renewable Energy Training Centre, Edmonton– www.trimlinetrainingcentre.ca– Courses in solar power, solar heating, microwind, biodiesel, straw

bale, geothermal, carbon busting

Eco-Solar Home Tour, Edmonton, mid-June, www.ecosolar.ca


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Further questions…

Please contact me with any further questions you have about your school solar power system whether it is:

– grid-connected or– off-grid.

The design factors and operating conditions of an off-grid system is much different than a grid-connected system.


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It's our turn now…It's our choice…

our walletour community and children

and the planetawait us…

If not hereIf not here…… If not youIf not you…… If not nowIf not now……then where?then where? then who?then who? then when?then when?


A+ for Energy…we hold the future in our hands

Do our kids want this future?

Photo credits: Gordon Howell, Natural Resources Canada and several others

Download this presentation and others fromwww.hme.ca/presentations

Gordon Howell, P.Eng.Howell-Mayhew Engineering

EdmontonPhone: +1 780 484 0476E-mail: [email protected]

©1995-2008

grid-connected solar pv electricity –an overview of the ..._for_energy... · zto empower people...

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