SOLAR AWNING?: Clarian Technologies envisions its "Sunfish" self-installed solar arrays functioning like a photovoltaic shade on the sunny side of a building, as seen in this artist's rendering.
Image: Courtesy of Clarian Technologies
More In This Article
Listen to this Podcast
-
The Best Science Writing Online 2012
Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...
Read More »
Imagine a modular solar array that you can install—without too much fear of electrocuting yourself—at a relatively low price. That's the vision of Chad Maglaque and Clarian Technologies, and one that hopes to become a reality by spring 2011.
"The key here is slowing the [electricity] meter down," Maglaque says. "Every kilowatt counts."
The "Sunfish" would work like this: Next spring go to your local hardware store or electronics retailer, purchase a power module, circuit monitor and pluggable solar panel—all the components of the "Sunfish". Return home to swap out a regular electricity outlet for the circuit monitor (not unlike installing a grounded outlet in your bathroom to prevent shock), plug in the 18-kilogram solar panel via the power module in any socket and hang it on the most convenient (and sunny) side of your house, lawn, fence or roof. Then synchronize the power module with the circuit monitor using some form of power metering software—such as Google PowerMeter or Microsoft Hohm—and electricity derived from sunlight will begin to course through the circuit of your home. "We're talking about a [do-it-yourself] handyman on the order of cable guy level of installation," Maglaque says.
Maglaque envisions one to five panel arrays, depending on a homeowner's (or renter's) preference or budget, producing as much as 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity for the building per month—roughly enough to offset one major appliance, such as a refrigerator. One panel, the module and the circuit monitor will cost roughly $799, according to Maglaque. "I see that being $599 in the not-too-distant future," he adds, although it would take as much as four years to pay back that cost in electricity savings even with various rebates and tax credits. "Solar continues to come down in price."
But it is the fact that solar arrays have not come so far down in price that initially inspired the idea: Maglaque looked to install such a solar system at his own home in 2006 but ran into installation and expense issues. "I call an installer, he says it's going to be $30,000 to $40,000. This was me in 2006," he recalls, and would have involved a "parade of contractors.... I was thinking more around $10,000," but then the installation didn't make economic sense in terms of generating electricity—or paying itself back. "These systems are completely out of reach for the average homeowner," he adds. "Everyone's pocketbook is one kilowatt and below. That's where homeowners are."
This fall, the power modules—microinverters manufactured in China—circuit monitors and panels that make up the "Sunfish" concept will undergo UL testing to ensure that they will not overload your home wiring or endanger your household. That UL testing will also ensure that the total system interfaces with the grid safely (your outlet still connects to the grid, after all)—although that precludes the "Sunfish" generating electricity in the event of a grid blackout. "It provides grid synchronous power so if it does flow out back from your meter, you are good and safe," Maglaque says, although that is an unlikely occurrence given that the average American home uses 920 kilowatt-hours a month. And Maglaque says that he is talking with major brands about potentially partnering on a "solar in a box" product that would put the whole package together—panel, module and circuit monitor.
Already, a three-panel, 600-watt, BP Solar panel array plus microinverter power module is pumping power into Clarian Technologies headquarters in cloudy Bellevue, Wash., using a circuit monitor running Google PowerMeter to track its output—a "Sunfish" prototype. And Clarian is not the only company thinking this way; Andalay Solar has a similar microinverter and panel array for sale now, although it requires a higher power plug (like the one for a dryer or other heavy-duty electric appliances), among other differences.
The best part? If Clarian is successful and moves to a different location, it can simply unplug the system and bring it with them. Try that with a typical roof-mounted solar array.
See what we're tweeting about
20 Comments
Add CommentAs usual sethdayal is being his usual cranky self. I read it as $4/wt which isn't bad thought at present prices. It should be more like $3/wt next yr.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs for inverters the Microsine 400wt units has been made for over a decades that does just this and UL approved.
Under 1kw there is no reason it can't just plug into any 120vac outlet which is good for 1600watts cont.
As for $.14/kwhr that's what we pay in Fla. The NE pays $.20-.30kwhr.
Since such panels last 20-30 yrs that gives you 15-25 yrs of free power. Considering you'd have to pay the $.14/kwhr anyway and prices will only go up like Progress increasing theirs by 29% to pay for a nuke plant that won't come online for 10+ yrs, this PV seems a bargain.
And one doesn't have to put it on a roof but can be put in the yard.
So go crawl back into your hole Sethdayal and be poor and pay more to the power company.
Personally I can do this for about $2-3/wt using PV, inverters, mountings from sunelec.com among other places.
Nice idea, but dangerous. I would not expect it to pass National Electrical Code inspection. The problem is that it allows a circuit to draw more current than the wiring is rated for by the amount of the solar power produced. For example, on a 15A circuit I install a power module. I can now draw 15A plus the current for the power module before the house circuit breaker will trip. Not good. Fire departments and power companies also want to know where power is being produced so they can ensure it is off/not producing when needed.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNice idea, but dangerous. I doubt it would pass National Electrical Code inspection. The problem is that it allows a circuit to draw more current than it is rated for by the amount of the power produced by the solar panels plugged into it. For example, say I have a 15A circuit with the power module attached. I can now draw 15A+solar power produced before the house circuit breaker will trip. Not good. The NEC already requires solar tie-in circuit breakers at the circuit breaker box to be placed at the bottom of the circuit breaker panel to prevent overloading the panel in the same way.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFire departments and power companies also want to know where power is being produced in case they need to turn or ensure that it is off. I just installed a solar system with microinverters this year and went through these issues.
Coelacanth1938, krkraftworthy, WorldCitizen: I'm with you on all that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissethdayal: being math challenged, I have to accept your numbers, but I don't think that many folks will be suffering gravity storm events during installation. OK, the new guy gets a quick stop at the bottom, sometimes, if he's hungover.
James Davis: I concur.
tboyd: so cool it's hot.
jerryd: if I could afford you, you could rig my house.
As usual jerry you have a lot of trouble with basic arithmetic. Didn't I suggest a course for you at one time down at the elementary school?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's $2 a watt in middle american probably $1.5 in Phoenix. That's why I showed it for what it is - vapor ware.
Your $4 is closer to reality and that's fire sale pricing reflecting the collapse in the Spanish PV market. It ain't gittin' no cheaper as they say in Florida.
No it's the electrical permits conundrum. I just don't see a power company letting you run your meter backwards legally without a ton of permits and often a very expensive meter changout.
Power company linemen could no longer be sure that a feed they just cut off didn't still have 15Kv on it fed by an unlicensed defective grid inverter. You'd be up on criminal negligence charges if one were hurt.
Rooftop solar makes as much economic sense as everyone buying a fishing boat to catch their own fish. Centralized and professional operations can be made efficient. Not so for individual ones. Government is wasting ridiculous amounts of money subsidizing a pipe dream, which actually has a huge negative impact from carbon emissions to wasting natural resources to wasting time and brains.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm Paying 9.2 cents kw/h in Middle Tennessee. Part of ours comes from nuclear and hydro. I think my money would be better spent on upgrading windows, doors, and insulation.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPVWatts for Kansas (avg USA location) for 1kw Solar Panels is 1401 AC Kwh per yr. At a bargain price of $3/watt - that's $2000 + $800/.6(kw) = $3330 for avg 1401 kwh / 8760hrs = 160 watts output avg. $3330 / 0.16 = $20.8 per kwavg. Assuming the utility allows Net Metering - as most homes WILL need to return power to the Grid. That's for perfectly aligned panels, that are cleaned at least weekly, with no sun blocking trees or buildings. More realistically you are probably talking about 120 watts avg output or $28k per avg kw, for the typical installation. Labor of installing the panels and wiring - not included.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFinanced at 5% for 20 yrs - that works out to 25 cents per kwh.
And this is a PHONY COST because the Utility will still have to supply the necessary mirror Power Source from Solar peak until around 9 pm. To be an HONEST COST you would have to add sufficient batteries to supply shoulder load, which would be about 5kwh of batteries or $2000, replaced twice over 20 yrs. That would have a present value of $4500. So now we are up to $7830 for our system. Include 90% charging efficiency for the batteries $7830 / 0.114 kwavg and you are up to about $69k per kwavg or 62 cents per kwh.
To supply load during multi-day bouts of cloudy weather batteries would be WAY TOO EXPENSIVE. So you have to fall back again on the inefficient Simple Cycle Gas Turbine. You will still need one of those at about 150 watts per 1kwpk Solar PV @ ~ $1k per kw. This would add a very significant O&M cost & GHG emissions to the total NG/Solar Power System. The NG Power plant kept staffed and operable year round, with peaking NG infrastructure, and will supply about 1/3rd of total system energy.
So $69 k per kwavg, about 200 gms CO2 per kwh. (not counting NG methane GHG emissions). So O&M cost of the NG power plant would be about 1.5 cents per kwh and NG fuel costs will be higher due to the high peak/avg supply to about 6.5 cents per kwh pushing avg O&M to about 8/3 = 2.7 cents per kwh. Thats ignoring the opportunity cost to the homeowner for cleaning/maintaining/replacing their own Solar PV & batteries - also some repair/replacement costs.
Final Result $69k per kwavg capital cost with at least 2.7 cents per kwh O&M cost, 200 gms CO2 per kwh generated, and 20 yr lifespan.
I would say it would make much more sense for the homeowner to invest (through the utility) in Clean, Green Nuclear Energy at $4k per kwavg capital cost, 2 cents per kwh O&M and about 10 gms CO2 per kwh and lasts for 60-80 yrs.
If all the mathematics were thrown at the first bicycle, steam engine, oil painting, powered ship, light bulb...we would have none of them today! Thank goodness some bit the mathematical bullet and did it anyway!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSpiff
Yup, Middle TN has some of the cheapest electricity in the country, thanks to the army corps of engineers and the many hydro projects. That radiant heat you have in your walls? People in other parts of the country (FL with its horrible heating oil heaters and CA with its natural gas an propane) have never heard of such a thing and they think I'm pulling their leg when I tell them about it. Enjoy your rare perk!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisstep one complete...new ac unit(seer 16)/new duct work/r30 insulation...step two will be new windows...next after that is starting to substitute solar for grid...i'm working on it...just never ends;-)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSounds a very good idea to me - but will it be affordable?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis sounds like progress we can believe in!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGreat article.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnd it's also worth noting how lucrative the federal credit is for homeowners who install solar panels.
It's 30% of the cost of solar panel installation.
And as long as it's installed between January 1, 2009 and December
31, 2016, there is *no* maximum credit.
So $10,000 installation = $3,000 credit. Not bad.
-mike
http://energycredits.com/consumer-tax-credits/solar-power-tax-credits/
Interesting how the PV products are adapting to the market. It is most likely the need for solar PV - through wanting to be greener AND being able to reduce a households energy bill - will make solar panels more of a commodity.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBy becoming more of a commodity, with lower prices and easier to install, PV comes more into the range for the average home. And while the incentive can be strong for the individual to do so, Government back schemes like the one in the UK are helping to accelerate the uptake and adoption of solar PV.
We work with the scheme to help spread the use of solar PV, but expect product innovation to help make the panels themselves more accessible outside of the more organised solar schemes. Here's to a bright solar future!
Richard, HomeSun
http://www.homesun.com/ for more information.
Actually, you will note that the article states that you dont get electricity when the power goes down.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is so the lineman don't get electrocuted.
I don't see how your math works out: -1 + 1 = 0.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOR: -1800 + -1800 + 1800 + 1800 = 0. Try drawing out various circuit diagrams, and placing inputs and outputs on it. I can't see how you can overload the system.
On the fireman and lineman and energized line safety issue, the inverters are designed to shutdown in case of power outages for this very reason.
I'd like to point out that some homeowners are making money every month right now by selling solar power back to the grid. And this is at a discount to the wholesale price of power, because the power companies have to pay for upkeep of the grid.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not talking about nickles and dimes, I'm talking about hundreds of dollars a month net gain with payoff periods in one to two decades.
Granted, this isn't the small systems described here, but you belittle even the larger home system.
The worst possible scenario for them is if every home does this, making power cheap during the day. Then prices might fall. More likely, it would be exported to northern climates, at a profit for the grid companies.
Sir, you talk about "Phoney costs" for solar power, then suggest buying "clean nuclear power".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNuclear power is the most heavily subsidized power of them all, from the mining of uranium to the disposal and storage of the waste and almost everything in between.(And still not including the building and operating of a safe disposal site for an indefinite period of time into the next thousand years)
Insurance, safety and security, much of the industry is heavily subsidized by the US taxpayer. This doesn't even address the capture of the nuclear regulatory system by the industry and its unknown costs in future disasters, or other unknown events.
If energy needs of North America and the world are to be met in the future then people are going to have to take off their blinders and look at the issues with at least a hint of objectivity. We cannot fix real world issues by attacking them with Fox News methods.
We use solar panels on our deer feeders since we are unable to run power out to the woods. They are a great way to save energy and very easy to use. www.wildsidegamefeeders.org
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this