MSN Solar System
- 1. SOLAR ROOTS
Renewable Energy for Community Development
*"All"solar"system"hard"costs"and"D&E"were"donated"by"Solar"Roots
**"Installation"labor"donated"by"MSN"
A,"B,"C,"D
Appendices"
Mangrove)Services)Network:)Solar)/)Generator)Hybrid)Power)System)
Project)Summary)
In#June#2014,#a#320.watt#solar#system#with#battery#storage#was#installed#on#Mangrove#Services#Network’s#
(MSN)#island,#and#integrated#with#an#existing#diesel#generator#to#operate#as#a#hybrid#off.grid#power#system.#
Solar#Roots,#a#California#based#nonprofit,#donated#the#solar#equipment#and#battery,#as#well#as#the#design#
and#engineering.#MSN#oversaw#the#logistics#of#the#project,#provided#the#labor#for#the#installation,#and#will#
operate# and# maintain# the# system.# The# solar# system# will# provide# electricity# sufficient# to# sustain# daily#
operations#on#the#island,#including#lights#in#the#kitchen#and#caretaker#home,#safety#and#security#lights#on#
the#jetty#and#walkways,#and#water#pumping#for#daily#use.##The#combined#solar#and#battery#system#will#also#
supplement#the#diesel#generator#to#provide#electricity#for#MSN’s#clients#at#the#training#facility.#The#total#
cost#for#the#solar#system#was#$1,089,#and#the#solar#energy#will#offset#approximately#$923#of#diesel#fuel#per#
year,#equating#to#a#payback#period#of#just#14#months.#The#solar#system#will#save#MSN#approximately#$3,324#
in#diesel#expenses#in#the#first#7#years,#and#over#$7,986#in#the#20.year#expected#life#of#the#system.#Based#on#
the#capacity#of#the#solar#array#and#capabilities#of#the#lead.acid#battery,#the#solar#system#is#expected#to#
produce#an#average#of#643#watt.hours#of#consumable#electricity#per#day.#
Technical)Specifications,)Energy)Production)and)Environmental)Impact)
Solar)System)Technical)Specifications)
Solar#system#capacity# 320#W#
Battery#capacity# 150#Ahr#
Battery#voltage# 12#V#
Assumed#battery#depth#of#discharge:#
• Training#day#
• Non.training#day#
#
50%#
30%#
Equipment#life#expectancy:#
• Solar#panels#
• Battery#
• Inverter#and#Controller#
#
30#years#
7#years#
10#years#
Energy)Production)and)Environmental)Impact)
Average#daily#Whr#produced# 960#Whr#
.#Battery,#inverter,#wiring#losses#(33%)# 317#Whr#
=#Net#average#daily#energy#produced# 643#Whr#
A
#
# #
Average#daily#Whr#consumed:#
• Training#day#
• Non.training#day#
#
783#Whr#
470#Whr#
# #
Average#daily#diesel#fuel#saved# 2.03#liter#
Annual#carbon#emissions#offset# 4,319#lbs#
A
#
Solar)System)Costs)and)Economic)Impact)
Solar)System)Costs*) ))
Design#&#engineering#(D&E)*# $0##
Installation**# $0##
Solar#panels#(4,#80W)# $291##
Battery#(150Ahr)# $241##
Inverter# $118##
Rack# $62##
Controller# $36#
Pipe,#wire,#cable,#bolts,#ground#rods,#
paint,#light#bulbs,#battery#water,#etc.#
$341##
Total)System)Costs) $1,089#
A
)
Economic)Impact)of)Solar)System
Daily#diesel#fuel#savings# $2.56##
Annual#diesel#fuel#savings# $923#
A
#
Payback#period#(months)# #14#
B
##
#
NPV#of#MSN#Solar#System#(7#years) $3,324#
B
##
NPV#of#MSN#Solar#System#(20#years) $7,986#
B
#
#
Average#7.year#cost#per#kWh $0.85#
C
#
Average#20.year#cost#per#kWh $0.39#
C
#
