Solar power is beginning to go mainstream

Excellent discussion of the state of solar power today from USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-10-30/solar-power-energy/50979764/1

Farewell Better World Solar

Got a very sad letter today from Pat. He has closed the doors on Better World Solar. His reasons are many, but  it boils down to just being too hard to make a start up solar company work in New Mexico right now. You would think this would be a great time for an alternative energy business to flourish, but there are still too many political and economic hurdles being put up by those only interested in monetary profit, no matter the cost to the environment. All I have to say is it's our loss, and I wish Pat and Lee good fortune in their future endeavors. I know they did right by me, and I will continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor for many years to come.

Autumnal Equinox

25.8 kWh on 9/20

Total production at 5.2 mWh

Here's a nice smooth curve from the day before the autumnal equinox. Today was very cloudy, so the curve isn't so pretty. Higher temperatures are still affecting the production, even though the day is long and the sun is high.

Summer Solstice

Production for the longest day of the year was 30.54 kWh. The higher temperatures decrease the panels' efficiency, but this is offset by the longer days. Averaging over 30 kWh on most days now. Total production so far is at 3.2 million Wh!

Happy Earth Day!

30 kWh for Earth Day

Over 1.5 million watts so far

It was great to get home tonight from the frozen northlands (Milwaukee). Here's a perfect 30 kWh chart for today and a total production so far of just over 1,500,000 watts! Kaco says that's the equivalent of saving over 1 ton of CO2 or planting 5 trees. Well, I planted 100 trees in the last couple of weeks, so I'm way ahead.

Paperwork Wrap Up

I met Pat and Lee for lunch at La Provence for a final wrap up of the NM state solar paperwork. It was literally the first time we could all three get together since the system was turned on.  After we ate, they presented me with an incredibly detailed notebook full of all the documentation associated with out solar project. What a great idea! All the information is right there--manuals, proposals, contracts, etc. They even included examples of how to fill out the state and federal tax forms to ensure I get the full solar credit. Also, they're delivering the state solar forms to Santa Fe...I didn't do anything but sign them! Once again I have to say it; don't give these folks your business if you enjoy hassles, b/c there just aren't any that you, the customer, have to concern yourself with...they do it all for you! Pat likes to say that it should be easy to go solar, and with Better World, it certainly is. Okay, I'll stop gushing now.

Hooray for Generac

The high winds we experienced yesterday (gusts to 70 mph) knocked down 8 power poles around 1:00 pm, leaving 4000 homes without power for about 21 hours. Ours was not among them, thanks to our generator which performed flawlessly in its first real-world test. We were the envy of our cold, dark neighbors.

March's production of over 717 kWh. Note that the numbers for the 14th and 15th are inaccurate b/c I turned off the router while we were out of town, forgetting that the comm card in the inverter needs the router to talk to the internet. Some of the data was cached within the card and recovered when comms resumed, but part of both days is missing. Still, the graph shows the ever increasing daily totals, marching toward the solstice on June 21. There were only three days of significant cloudiness/snow cover (7,8,22), proving once again that the Land of Enchantment is a good place to collect photons.

First Electric Bill

Our first electric bill after system start-up. It includes the 9 days prior to going solar. After startup, we used 305 kWh and produced 409, so the charges are only for set fees and the 224 kWh we used before solar, reduced by the overage we produced (104 kWh), for a net of 120 kWh. Note our previous electric bill of $156.23!

Full week's production

A week's production of 147.47 kWh

Here's a perfectly smooth chart of today's production of 23.4 kWh. I'm in Milwaukee, but there must not have been a cloud in the sky back home!

First full day of production

It appears I won't be able to keep a live link detailing realtime electricity production on the blog b/c a user name and password is required to access the data on the Kaco server, and I'd rather not post that info for some unscrupulous person to abuse. I will, however, post recaps on occasion, and the first full day of generating electricity is one of those occasions. Ignore the erroneous data to the left of 4:00 am; it's an artifact from yesterday and the fact that that data was still recorded on German time. The day was actually fairly cloudy, so I am pleased with the numbers overall. You have to remember that the panels are only tilted at 15 degrees to the south; not exactly optimal for this time of the year with the sun relatively low to the horizon even at noon. However, we've already generated over 20 kw since recording started late yesterday afternoon. I leave for Milwaukee tomorrow, but it will be nice to stay in touch with the local photons anytime I want to log on.

Let the Photon Harvest Festival Begin!

Bryan and Kenny making the switch

Bitte Herr Kaco, Sprecken sie Englisch?

Testing the generator

To Photon Farmers Everywhere: CHEERS!

Last night was a full moon, so we sacrificed some chicken fajitas to the coyote, and he decided to finally give us a break. The morning dawned crisp, clear and calm. Pat and Lee arrived about 9:30, and then Kenny and Bryan from CMEC showed up right on time at 10:00 with two spiffy new electronic smart meters.Within about 10 minutes we were up and running! We went through shutting off the utility power to demonstrate that the inverter would not back-feed the grid (and potentially electrocute line workers). Same for the standby generator. The only glitch was trying to get Mr Kaco (the inverter) to stop speaking in German. We finally found the right menu and switched him over. Now we're happily making more juice than we're drinking. I went online and registered the WatchDOG ethernet card with Kaco and I'm waiting to hear back from them concerning my login info. When I get that, I plan to post a live link for all to see. Kenny thinks that the coop will be buying REC credits from its members very soon, so we'll look forward to that eagerly. We celebrated with some champagne and said our farewells to Pat and Lee. Ever since the solar seminar I attended exactly 3 months ago, these folks have been an absolute pleasure to work with, completely professional, competent and flexible. I highly recommend Better World Solar to anyone who is considering a PV system in the Albuquerque area.

Final Building Inspection Complete

Pat called this morning with the great news: tomorrow at 10:00 the coop will be here to plug in the rec meter and we can, at long, long last begin generating electricity. Dave, who installed the panels, brought county building inspector Jeff by this afternoon to sign off the final on the already built building as well as the solar installation. All blocks are now checked save the one from the coop. Tonight I labeled the new circuit breakers, a laborious process that was worth some cardio as I ran up and down the back stairs a few dozen times. After dark, I demonstrated what living on just the standby circuits powered by the generator would look like for Michelle. We were very pleased with the speed at which the Generac started up and the high quality of the power it provided (no flickering at all). Tomorrow, we will hopefully have a Photon Harvest Celebration! Stay tuned.

Major modifications to installation approved

This green tag should be made of GOLD!

Thankfully, the electrical inspector is not a reader-of-blogs, so he missed my rant from last night. He came out just now  and signed us off. He's actually a nice guy, so I thanked him for his prompt return to the scene of the crime, and he congratulated me for going solar. Okay coop, over to you...

Grievous errors caught!!!

You in a heap of trouble, boy

Oh, it's so much safer now

Pardon my sarcastic tone, but I've had just about enough of the coyote on this particular project, and I'm sure those actually doing the work feel the same way. I got up early and opened up the barn and the basement in preparation for the final electrical inspection. I waited all morning, but had to go walk the dogs for 20 minutes at 11:00. So, when did the inspector decide to arrive? Yep, and when we returned from our walk, there was a nasty correction notice on the main panel:
"1. Meet required clearances in front of electrical equipment"
"2. Install transfer switch for generator"
We'll get back to #1, but as to #2, sheesh, I left the basement door wide open and it was about 10' to the right of said generator. Said inspector had come out for the prelim last week and Jeremy had explained what the transfer switch looks like and where it would be (inside the basement). The flexible wiring conduit from the generator goes to a box on the outside wall...and then what? Well, since nothing else is attached, gee, it must go THROUGH THE WALL INTO THE BASEMENT where the transfer switch is located! OK, so it was my fault for not being there to answer to this particular charge.
As to #1, the code requires 3 feet of clearance from any electrical box (in this case, the rec meter) to the generator so as not to impede the numerous workmen constantly fiddling with it. Of course, once the meter is installed, it will never ever be touched again! So, Jeremy had to drive all the way back up here and shorten the conduit between the main box and the solar cutoff, thereby moving the cutoff and the rec meter box to the left of the generator. We also physically moved the generator over to the right on its pad. Rules is rules, especially in Bernalillo County. Jeremy will perform some remedial education using the generator owners manual on said inspector, and hopefully all t's will be crossed and i's dotted and everyone will be happy tomorrow. Jeremy has the patience of a saint, so I guess I'll follow his lead.
I just want to make some electricity from the sun. Waaaah

Hardware is all Finished

Outside and...

...inside. Inverter, Transfer Switch/Standby Circuit Breaker Panel, Canoe.

I don't know how late Jeremy stayed b/c Michelle and I went to our neighbor's for dinner, but when we returned, the inverter was installed in the basement and the box for the new meter was ready to receive its new component; a meter capable of running backwards. The county should be out to inspect tomorrow, and then it's all up to the coop. Still a question mark is the WatchDOG circuit board for enabling internet monitoring of the system. I see it's still in its box on top of the inverter. Hmmmm...

DC wiring harness from panels

Barn interior box moved and made legal

Jeremy and co came at 10:00 and fed the wires through the 100'+ of conduit: both DC from the panels and 220VAC back toward the barn for the inside service. They also moved Michelle's computer circuit to the transfer panel, so that's all complete now. I got a first look at the inverter, still in its packaging. It looks like the add-on WatchDOG monitoring card will require a hardwired ethernet hookup instead of WiFi, so we'll have to figure out how to get to the cable modem/router from the basement. Tomorrow should complete the install, and the inspector is expected on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed!
I picked Michelle up at the airport, and noticed these screens (picture to the right) as I was waiting. They provide info about the Sunport's 145 kW PV system consisting of over 400 panels installed over the parking garage. This system has produced over 71,000 kW hours to date. A nice way to offset some of the huge carbon footprint an airport has to have.

Troubleshooting the Generator

$10 fuse

I did some troubleshooting today and determined that the two 5 amp fuses on the utility sense circuits in the transfer switch were blown. These are not easy to find! I finally located a substitute fuse with the same rating at Summit Electrical supply in Albuquerque, and made the trip down the mountain to get replacements and extras. $10 each! Shut the power off, replaced the fuses and went through the Generator owner's manual steps for setting up automatic operation. All is well now, and the generator started and picked up the load as advertised. The transfer switch reset to utility power after I turned it back on. Excellent! While the generator was powering the standby circuits, I checked what was on and what was not in the house. Oh-oh, Michelle's computer was the missing circuit! We'll have to fix that tomorrow or there'll be hell to pay.

Service Upgrade/Generator Complete

Pieces Parts

Roy, Adam, Jeremy show their best sides

I told you it would be a lot prettier!

Inside the basement

I had a tough commute back home from Milwaukee this morning after working all night, but it was worth it to see Jeremy, Roy and Adam hard at work this afternoon. I called Pat from DFW and then he recorded a voicemail for me to hear on my cellphone when I landed at ABQ. Picked up some fried chicken for the guys and  got home about 3:30. The place is a mud pit with all the melting snow, but relatively warmer than it's been. By the time they left at dusk, then new service was installed and we're finally ready to hook up the inverter. Jeremy will come back on Sunday to do this, and then it's just a matter of getting the coop out again to switch out the meter. We started up the generator and it powered the basement lights, but would not auto-shutoff. Additionally, putting the main house garage on one of the 220v circuits looks to be problematic b/c of wiring issues. Also, there is an extra 110v circuit not wired to a house circuit, and this doesn't seem right to me. I'll take a look tomorrow after I get some sleep.

I got lucky with the huge storm this week. Fedex decided to shut down the Indianapolis sort, and the Milwaukee airport closed for several days, so I took my 757 to Memphis, my trip ended, and I came home. It's a good thing the trench is already dug with the nasty cold we're having. hopefully things will thaw out for next Friday. Pat emailed some dates and times for the Better World Solar commercial on KOB. They are:
2/3: 6:28 pm and 11:25 pm
2/5: 6:57 pm
2/6 5:08 am

Trench dug, pipe laid

The cowdogs are impressed with Jeremy's digging abilities

Summing up for the week, Jeremy got the trench dug and put the pipe in. It turns out that the power will need to be off for a full day, since we're doing more than just hooking up the pv system (adding the standby generator and its switch, upgrading the main cb box to 200 amp), so we had to find a date that Michelle would not need the computer at all. It turns out that the only weekday that meets that criteria is Friday, February 11, when Michelle leaves to visit Risha in Texas. Jeremy has scheduled that date with the coop and I changed my deadhead reservation to be home from Milwaukee by mid-afternoon in order to verify everything gets turned back on. So, we have one shot at getting this right. It'll probably be a blizzard. Anyway, here's hoping. I should add that Pat and Jeremy have been exceedingly patient with our scheduling intricacies. Pat mentioned that our system will be used in a commercial for Better World Solar on KOB tv this month, so keep a lookout!

Coyote is still causing mischief

Frost on the panels this morning

The generator transfer switch/standby circuits

Closeup of the rack mounting system

Broken belt....bummer

A tractor is still a wonderful thing!

Yes the coyote continues to make his presence known. He must work for the fossil fuel industry! Jeremy and his brother Roy came out this morning. We discussed a few things and then they got right to work on the trench. After a few minutes, the trencher was silent. Michelle and I went out to walk the dogs and stopped by to give the guys some wassail, and found them puzzling over a broken belt on the trencher. The problem was that they could not release the hydraulic pressure to get the machine to move the digging boom into a transport position. This was making it very difficult to wheel the thing onto the trailer. I volunteered the Kubota and loader and we made short work of getting the trencher aboard the trailer. That about did it for today, work-wise. Jeremy still can't get a firm date and time from the coop, so we'll have to play it by ear next week (I'll be in Milwaukee). On a side note, the trickster wasn't just after Jeremy; I planned on a simple wax ring replacement for the master bath's toilet today, only to break the tank on removal. The project then consumed my day with a trip to town for a new toilet. Grrr.

Nothing to report today

For anyone who's following my progress...no action today. Jeremy was unable to get CNMEC to come out and do the service change today or tomorrow. The new plan is that he will do the trenching tomorrow, and then hopefully set up an appointment with the coop next week (while I'm back in Milwaukee, of course). All those electrons being produced by my new array are just disappearing into the ether...
I was, however, unable to resist starting up the generator. It started on the first crank and ran happily for a few minutes before I shut it off. I also got the activation code online which will enable the automatic features of the unit.

Just some pictures

Panels all installed

Work begins again. Note early morning shadows don't touch panels

Dan and Jim thinking hard

18 pv panels all in 3 rows

Dave and Gordon were here at 8:00 and made short work of the remaining panels. Dan and Jim from Plumbing Express also arrived early and jumped right in on the lp hookup for the generator. CNMEC came by to check out the meter and general jobsite. Comcast sprayed a line for their cable. A busy morning. Unfortunately, I have to jumpseat to Memphis for training tonight, but will return Friday morning, and jeremy should be here then.

Long windy day

Let's see, what have we got here...

The Unirac Solarmount rails

The first panel is installed!

Bottom of the attachment system inside the building

That's enough for one day

I felt pretty bad for Dave and Gordon b/c the wind howled all day long and they were up on the roof with no protection. Looks great so far, and they should finish with the panels tomorrow morning.