The Photovoltaic Effect: T he process through which a solar
cell converts sunlight into electricity.
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DC electric current flows in one direction. AC electric current
reverses flow at frequent, regular intervals. Volts (V) electric
potential, or electromotive force Amps (A) electric current Watts
(W) power Watt Hours (Wh) energy
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Volts (V) x Amps (A) = Watts (W) 1,000 watts = 1 Kilowatt (kW)
Example: A 120 volt light bulb that draws.6 amps will consume 74
watts. 120(v) x.6 (A) = 75 watts
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Watts x Hours = Watt-hours(Wh) 1,000Wh = 1 Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Example: A 120 volt light bulb that draws.6 amps will consume 75
watts. Over the course of 6 hours the bulb will consume 450Wh 75(W)
x 6(h) = 450Wh
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How Much Energy Does Your Home Use?
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Average Home Uses 1000 kWh each month Roughly 10,000 kWh
annually 2.5 kW If you were to install: 4 hours each day x10kWh=
365 daysx3650kWh= 3 rd of annually power consumption
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To the Internet To Electric Utility Solar Panels DC Disconnect
Inverter AC Disconnect Service Panel PV System Flow Data Monitoring
Net Meter Production Meter
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PV Solar Science Why Renewable Energy Education? Data
Monitoring
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75 years 19 years 12.5 years 5 years 37% 62% 1.25 x 2.5 x.01
80,000 Terawatt hours Annually 4,000 X
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Source: Renewable.com
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Courtesy of RET21
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Would require 521 Megawatts of installed PV: 26,000
residential, 1300 commercial, 220 industrial Would generate 620,000
MWH/year Would create 17,000 jobs Would cost 1.5 billion dollars
Source: Oregon Department of Energy
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Courtesy of NW Renewable Energy Project
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Wild Horse Wind Farm Ellensburg, OR
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In the Solar Industry: Electrical Engineers Electricians
Industrial Machinery Mechanics Welders Metal Fabricators Electrical
Equipment Assemblers Construction Equipment Operators Installation
Helpers Laborers Construction Manager
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Oregon Schools: Studies in Renewable Energy University of
Oregon Solar Radiation Monitoring Lab Energy Technology (AAS)
Renewable Energy Education Institute Oregon State University Algae
Fuels Program Energy Program Extension Bioenergy and Alternative
Fuels Study Renewable Energy System Degree Lane Community College 2
year degrees in: energy management, renewable energy, water
conservation Columbia Gorge Community College 2 year Applied
Science Degree Vestas prospecting grounds Oregon Institute of
Technology Renewable Energy Systems Degree
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Minimum 1 kW Solar Electric System Data Monitoring Renewable
Energy Activity Guide Renewable Energy Hands-on Science Kit Touch
Screen Kiosk Online Resources and Teacher Support Program
Components
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Monocrystal Solar Cell Cross Section
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Mono-crystal cell Poly-crystal cell a-Si Cells
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Monocrystaline Cells Polycrystaline Cells Thin Film Cells
C-SiA-Si
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Sanyo Headquarters
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Taiwan Sports Stadium
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Voltage Temperature Shading Inverter Window Interconnection
Issues Not covered: Array mounting, aesthetics, electrical code,
licensing, component selection,....
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Marshal Middle School Ballard High School Washington Middle
School - Seattle Greenwood Elementary Wake Robin Environmental
Center Washington Middle School - Olympia
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DC AC Solar Panels DC Breaker Inverter AC Breaker Charge
Controller Production Meter
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Breakers and fuses must be DC rated. Can purchase special for
PV application equipment. In this system we used Square D QO which
is ok for DC up to 24 volts
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DC in AC out
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To the Internet To Electric Utility DC AC Solar Panels DC
Breaker Inverter AC BreakerCharge ControllerProduction Meter
Service Panel Load Meter Data Monitoring
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To the Internet To Electric Utility DC AC Solar Panels DC
Breaker Inverter AC BreakerCharge ControllerProduction Meter
Service Panel Load Meter Data Monitoring
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Mounting bracket bolted into rafter; rack then bolted to
mount.
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To PGE Disconnect And to Meter
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Solar AC in from Inverter Lightning surge arrestor AC from
inverter to PG&E disconnect then back to breakers
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Select wire sizes that minimize Voltage Drop: based on distance
and current Select insulation types depending on where wire is
located and whether or not it is in conduit. (UV, temperature,
moisture) Be strategic in which voltage you use for system: depends
on wattage and length of wire runs
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Inverter Charge Control Fuel Gauge Battery
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Follow good wiring practice: keep unshielded wire out of the
reach of people: in conduit, behind transparent barrier such as
glass or lexan. Fusing, breakers, ground fault protection. DC lines
must use DC rated equipment. Batteries must be inaccessible to
unauthorized peoplei.e. locked Use Adequate Mounts for Solar
Panel
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Del Pueblo Elementary School Denver, CO
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Ballard High School Seattle, WA
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Journeys Schools at Teton Science School Jackson Hole, WY
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Determine how much a system produces annually Determine how
much energy your classroom uses Investigate ways you might balance
classroom energy use with the energy produced by a school
system
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Minimum Peak Average Computer 156.6209.7198.02 System A
16.818.417.8 System B 176.54186.5185.1 System C
185.9199.7193.6
