This document discusses solar power as a renewable energy source for homes and businesses. It outlines three principles for conserving energy by reducing losses, increasing efficiency, and reducing consumption. Solar power systems, including thermal and photovoltaic, are presented as the ultimate way to reduce energy use. The advantages of solar include being non-polluting and renewable. Government incentives like tax credits help fund solar projects.

1. Solar Power
Karen Erdman
Lamar Erdman
Solar Power
Making Sense
Saving Cents
LamTec Resources LLC 2014

2. • What brought you to this presentation?
A simple need to lower your living expenses?
Looking for ways to lower your business expenses?
The realization that we are trashing our environment.
Now you are here and want to do something. But what to do first?
Three general principles to conserve energy:
1. Reduce losses in your energy consumption
2. Increase efficiency in energy appliances
3. Reduce your energy consumption.
The ULTIMATE reduction in energy use comes from
using renewable energy sources.

3. How do view alternate energy?
Take a close look at the picture.
Is this the profile of a beautiful young
lady, or the face of an ugly, old witch?
They’re both here, but for a variety of
reasons that make up your own individual
psychological make-up, some of you see one
woman, some the other.

4. However, there are other
people who think of solar
energy as something that’s
been around for a long time.
Solar hot water
collectors on a home
in California in 1906
When people think of
solar energy, the same
thing often happens. We
all view it in a different
light. Some see it as
something from the past
or for the future. But
those seeking to make a
wise investment see it as
something that is here
today.

5. So which view of solar energy
-- for the past, the future or for today –
is correct?
Probably a little of each.
Solar energy will certainly play an
important role in the future energy needs
of our planet, but it’s also here today and
ready for hundreds of uses in homes,
businesses, and industry.

6. Advantages of Solar Systems
Non Polluting: no noise, no harmful or unpleasant emissions or smells.
Solar Modules over their lifetime produce more power per gram of material than nuclear
power but without the problem of large volumes of environmentally hazard material.

7. Advantages of Solar Systems
Solar power is a renewable energy source. It is a
resource that cannot be used up by us using it.
Although we cannot utilize the power of the sun
at night, we can count on the sun being there the
next day, ready to give us more energy and light.
Very reliable: most solar panels have a 25 year
warranty and even a longer life expectancy (the
theory is they could last 100 years or more).

8. There are two types of solar systems:
1. Thermal
2. Photovoltaic (PV)

9. Comparison for Solar Thermal and PV
Solar Thermal
Capture heat from the sun and
transfer it to a usable energy form
such as water or air.
Solar PV
(PVs) are arrays of cells containing a
solar photovoltaic material that
converts solar radiation into direct
current electricity
Domestic hot water
Air heating
Supplemental heating
Steam to turbine generator
Higher collector efficiency
Good ROI
Some maintenance required
Grid tie electricity
Grid tie with battery backup
Off grid electricity
Hybrid system
Utility electrical generation
SREC’s
Uses all power produced
Most widely available
No moving parts, very little
maintenance.

10. Solar Thermal
Two major types of freeze
protected systems:
Drainback
Glycol

11. Collector Orientation
The collectors should be mounted as close to due south as is
reasonable, considering the roof line.
if the collector is mounted within 45 degrees of south any
performance drop is insignificant.
The collectors should ideally be inclined at the same angle as
the latitude, i.e. if you are located in Harrisburg, PA (latitude 40
degrees) you would ideally have the collectors inclined 40° from
horizontal. Testing has shown that mounting a collector within
±15° of the site’s latitude will lead to no significant degradation in
the collector’s annual performance.
If your roof line doesn’t match the ideal criteria listed above, we
recommend adding collector area as opposed to mounting the
collector at a tilt

12. Solar Photovoltaic
You can put PV anywhere you really need it.
These solar panels, on a donkeys back,
were used to charge batteries for a
documentary film The Nature
Conservancy.

13. Typical PV Grid Tie Application

14. Site Analysis & System Design
Should be conducted by qualified PV designer
Perform a Solar Site Analysis
I. Shade Analysis (Best is no shade from 9 AM to 3 PM)
II. Power production estimates
III. System sizing criteria
1. Budget
2. Available mounting area
3. Annual usage
4. Fastest ROI
Use the solar calculator to estimate your possible
savings from solar power.

15. Site Analysis & System Design
Array Orientation. South facing arrays are best,
but southeast and southwest array performance
drops are insignificant.
Use the location latitude or match the roofline
Roof mounting should maintain a 3 inch
minimum airspace under the array.
Ground and Pole Mounts require the same
system analysis.

16. Would you like these results? Looking at the PPL Electric bill,
you can see that the electric use
in our home for May and June of
2009 was 55kwh and 43kwh per
day. Because we installed our
solar PV system, the kwh usage
was zero for May and June
2010. Both bills total would have
been approximately $400.00
before we installed our solar
system. Both bills were $8.45
each for the customer service
charge. Besides our electric
savings, our equivalent SRECS
were worth about $882.00. Plus
we also have a credit for over-generation.

17. What will your future energy source be?
The answer should be obvious.
It’s been up there all the time.

18. Solar Project Funding
Federal Solar Tax Credit
1. Extended the tax credit for 8 years for both residential and commercial.
2. Eliminated the 30% cap for residential electric.
3. Can be carried Forward to 2016.
4. Extended the credit to off-grid system owners.

19. Solar Project Funding
http://newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/index.aspx
Find Incentives and apply for funding.
Your search will return all of the grants, loans,
and initiatives offered through the Department
of Community and Economic Development
that are likely to be relevant to your initiative.
Contact your county Department of Community and
Economic Development.

20. The End…
(Or is it just the beginning?)
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