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What to Know About Solar Energy
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, EXCERPTS FROM CNBC ARTICLE:
North Dakota’s largest power plant looks set to close as owner bets on wind energy
“A 1,151-megawatt coal power station in North Dakota is set to be retired after it was deemed to have “lost value compared to other alternatives in recent years.”
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“Looking ahead, Great River Energy, which operates as a not-for-profit cooperative, is aiming to purchase over 1,100 MW from new wind energy projects by late 2023, an investment of more than $1.2 billion. Among other things, it is also planning to modify a coal and natural gas-based power plant so that it’s fueled solely by natural gas.
“While other parts of the world, such as Britain, have seen their “reliance on coal for electricity” dwindle in recent years — it’s fallen from 70% in 1990 to under 3% today, according to the government — the U.S. is a different story.
…..
“Nevertheless, the proposed shuttering of the Coal Creek Station could mirror a number of recent closures in Europe. In April, Austria’s last operational coal-fired power station shut down, while in the U.K. two coal-fired facilities operated by SSE and RWE shut down on the same day at the end of March.”
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To see this entire article, please visit https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/finance-companies/north-dakotas-largest-power-plant-looks-set-to-close-as-owner-bets-on-wind-energy/ar-BB13ULXj?ocid=Money
IN REGARD TO THE SOLGEN 15L
Q-1. To store charger for a lengthy period of time, the instructions say to discharge half of the battery, then fully recharge it and disconnect the charger and turn of the inverter. Anything else that should be done?
A-1. My reading of scholastic articles on the subject says that lithium batteries are best stored at 25-75%. Follow those instructions and let the battery run down to as low as 12.3 volts. It will naturally discharge about 3% per month.
Q-2. For power to flow from generator, the inverter must be turned on and the breaker switch closed. Just from looking at the inverter, is there a way to tell if it’s off or on, or just by whether or not the current is flowing? Should be the inverter be turned off any time the generator isn’t being used (to conserve power) or is it okay to leave on?
A-2. There is a small green LED light on the AC end of the inverter that lights when the inverter is on. You can also check the 120V outlet. Also, if the breaker is off, the inverter is disconnected from the battery. The inverter can be left on, the only issue is the battery drain. My habit would be to turn off the inverter when not in use to keep it from draining the battery by accident.
Q-3. I have what looks like three different fuses that came with the battery. one is a single capsule, long and clear, the other two have two prongs, one in blue cartridge, the other in yellow. What is each one for?
A-3. The first glass breaker is for your battery charger – there is a little black knob on the charger that holds the fuse. One thing to remember about the charger is to connect to the case before plugging it into the wall. The blue blade fuse (15A) is used in the battery charger line on the inside of the case – a small black rubber square unit on the red line between the outside of the case and the inverter. There is another similar black rubber fuse holder that goes between the DC panel (USB, 12V, voltmeter) on the outside and the charge controller on the inside – follow the red line on the right side of the charge controller. It is rare that any of these fail but you have backups just in case.
SEALED LEAD ACID AGM VS. LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
Here is my humble opinion on the great battery debate:
AGM Advantages:
Inexpensive – $195 for 100 Ah
Cared for properly – keeping them charged and de-sulphated – 500-1200 cycles
98% are recycled perpetually – you could have the same lead in your car that was in your grandfather’s Buick
AGM Drawbacks
Weight – 55 pounds each
Actual available storage density – 50-70%
Must be kept fully charged as often as possible to maximize their life span
Lithium Advantages
Light weight – 30 pounds each
Accept charge and deliver charge faster and more efficiently
2000+ cycles with an 80% capacity remaining – more than 3000 cycles to end of life
High Storage density – 98% of storage is on tap
Lithium batteries do not mind a partial discharge state
Lithium Disadvantages
Price – $850
Not recycled yet
In rough terms for comparison:
It takes two lead acid batteries to deliver the power of one lithium (storage ratings of 100 Ah)
Those two lead acid batteries weigh 110 pounds vs the 30 pounds of the lithium
If you were just buying batteries to cover a 10 year period-
16 lead acid batteries would cost $3120 – that would be 8 batteries to start and 8 new batteries in 5 years
4 Lithium Batteries would cost $3400 – same battery bank for 10 years
Lead acid requires twice the storage space of the Lithium batteries
Caveats –
If the batteries are used for emergency only, standby basis, the preference would be SLA with a maintainer/de-sulphator
Daily use favors the Lithium
If the system gets moved from time to time – Lithium
It’s hard to beat the cool factor of Lithium – when you see them and work with them, it is hard not to love them – tight, powerful packages
We offer two types of Lithium batteries – for our smaller systems that use 100-300 Ah batteries we use a manufactured battery with built in battery regulation. For 400 Ah systems and above we use an industrial battery that is managed by an AIMS inverter. We have done several homes with these batteries and customers are very enthusiastic about them. At some point, we need to put a full description of these batteries on our website. For durability and construction – I believe they are better than the Tesla Wonderwall.
BATTERY CHARGING STAGES
So, you have a 4000 W split phase inverter, two 12V batteries and two 150 W panels. Your charge controller has bars on a battery that seem to indicate that the batteries lose charge rapidly after they are charged with no load.
- Here is the story on that charge controller depiction:
- There are four stages of charging, each with an associated voltage:
- Bulk – this is where your charging mechanisms are throwing everything they have (constant current) at the battery – the voltage can range from 10-14V. Bars on the charge controller can be 0-5.
- Absorb – this where the batteries have reached a peak voltage (14.4V) and the current gradually drops until the flow to the batteries stops. Bars on the charge controller – 5
- Float – the charging mechanism drops the voltage to something like 13.6-13.7V and just kind of hovers there. This can drop the bars to 3-4.
- Resting – if the charging mechanism is removed (say, no sun from the solar panels or disconnect the AC charger) the batteries have a normal resting voltage of about 12.9-13.0 volts. This is 2-3 bars on the charge controller but, at this voltage, the batteries are 100% charged and happy.
SOLAR PANEL MYTHS
- Solar panels do not work in cold, cloudy places/states. UV light is all that’s needed and even the cloudiest of places have excelled. Germany, who ranks low in sunny days, is the solar energy capital of the world. In fact, when the solar panels are cold, they are able to better conduct electricity.
- Solar systems are too expensive. Solar Energy Installations are more affordable than they have ever been. In every state, incentives cover a minimum of 30% all the way up to 85% of the system costs. The cost per watt, installed, is at an all time low of $8.
- Solar panels require constant maintenance. The panels rarely require maintenance or cleaning, plus the average warranty lasts 25 years!
- Solar systems are ugly, large and bulky. Solar panels have come a long way over the years. Now systems have become virtually seamless with solar shingles. Solar cells can be combined with slate, metal, fiber-cement, and asphalt roofing.
- Few states offer rebates or financial incentives for solar energy installations. According to the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy, 48 states have a solar/renewable energy incentive on top of the 30% federal tax credit!
- The solar panels cannot withstand harsh climates (snow, hail, winds, sleet). The University of Vermont (who receives considerable snow fall) has a system that has proven to be effective and virtually maintenance free, even during the winter months. The color of the solar panels is dark which aides in melting the snow plus a South facing position allows for a quickened process.
- Solar systems are unreliable and inconsistent. On the contrary, solar electric systems can be more reliable than the utility company. They have no moving parts and off-grid systems are not subject to power outages. In fact, solar technologies are used to power many vital systems: aircraft warning lights, railroad crossing signals, navigational buoys, etc.
- I cannot use solar energy because I don’t have Southern roof exposure. East/West roof exposure is also effective for photovoltaic systems. Another option is a ground mounted system in which case all you need is a relatively flat, unshaded area.
- Solar energy is inefficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar panel efficiency has more than quadrupled since the 1970’s. With an average between 15-19% it sits in the same efficiency range as the gas in your car. Unlike gas though, the technology continues to advance, in turn, so will efficiency.
- I won’t live in the home long enough to make my investment back. Actually, a solar system increases the value of the home. For every $1,000 that has been saved in annual electric costs, your home’s value rises $20,000. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
