Metals Tech

A new report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration explains how a dramatic fall in the cost of solar panels has allowed that technology to sweep the U.S. power grid.

The second largest source of new power generation in 2016, solar energy costs came down by close to a third between 2013 and 2016, at the same time construction costs for natural gas plants rose slightly, according to the EIA.

With construction costs of $2,436 per kilowatt hour, solar has turned into a relative bargain for developers, who can not only claim a federal tax benefit but also avoid the long-term and volatile fuel costs associated with coal and gas plants. Gas plant construction averaged $895 per kWh.

“Crystalline silicon has become the most widely used photovoltaic technology as the technology has matured and construction cost have dropped. Its installed costs declined $400-$500/kW per year to $1,000/kW lower than that of thin film as a result of demand and economies of scale,” the report reads.

Wind power, the largest source of new generation in 2016, came down from close to $2,000 per kWh in construction costs in 2013 to $1,630 in 2016.

When I was 10 years old my mother uprooted us from Orange County and move to Nevada City. We lived out on the San Juan Ridge at Ananda, and back in the day some of the early housing had no electricity or hot running water.

My first solar shower and outhouse experience was a shock to the system after growing up with all the modern conveniences in Southern California. But I soon got the hang of using kerosene lanterns and making fires in the big old wood stove and over time I actually learned to enjoy the ruggedness of it all. OK, perhaps not the outhouse!

I moved away from Nevada City for high school and college but soon found myself missing the beauty of the foothills and the Yuba River — it always felt like home. I eventually made my way back, got married and soon after we decided to buy our first home. Due to the economy at the time, we discovered that buying raw land and building a home was actually less expensive compared to equivalent homes on the market.

We found a beautiful piece of land, but the only catch was: no utilities. The nearest power pole was almost a mile away and it would have cost a pretty penny to have PG&E bring power out to us. So, with my pioneering spirit and my husband’s background in the solar industry, we figured, why not? We can live off-grid and make it work. We built a modest home with all the modern conveniences, including an indoor bathroom (no more outhouses thank you very much), washer/dryer, Energy Star appliances and of course, an outdoor shower for scrubbing the doggies.

Here are 10 ways you can put the sun to work for you every day. How many ways do you use solar power? Some of your answers may surprise you!

Solar System – The system itself is fairly straightforward. First, solar panels are needed to collect sunlight and convert it to electricity. These can be mounted on your roof, the roof of a shed or other outbuilding, or even on a ground mount. The solar panels convert sunlight into DC power (direct current), which is then sent to an inverter that converts the DC into AC (alternating current). It is AC that powers the appliances in your home. In our case, because we are completely off-grid, we have an additional component in the form of a large battery bank. During the day, surplus energy is used to charge the battery bank which stores the energy for use during hours of darkness. In our system, the inverter is responsible for both charging the batteries and powering the house.

Solar Attic Fan – By harnessing the power of the sun, Solar Star Attic Fans cost nothing to operate and are virtually maintenance-free. They also require no electrical wiring, making them easy to install and maintain. Attic fans can make a considerable difference in the temperature of your home during the summer by helping to keep the attic cooler.

Solar Hot Water – If you have to replace that old hot water heater, you might consider the possibility of solar energy heating your water instead of using just gas or electricity. It might cost a bit more up front but depending on your usage, the savings, in the long run, can be well worth it.

Solatube Skylights – Solatube Daylighting Systems are engineered to efficiently capture the sun’s rays and pipe them into your home. The result is brighter, more colorful rooms that cost nothing to light. When we built our home we knew we wanted to use the light of the sun as much as possible, so we installed three Solatubes. We have one each in the entry, the kitchen, and the bathroom. One of the great advantages of Solatubes over conventional skylights is that Solatubes transmit more light and none of the heat. Solatube just came out with a solar-electric nightlight, which mounts right inside the Solatube. It harnesses the sun’s energy during the day to power a soft-glow at night so you don’t have to turn on the lights. We have two of these and can easily navigate at night without turning on lights or using AC nightlights.

Outdoor solar lighting – Solar lighting essentially circumvents the need for grid electricity at night, saving individuals and cities thousands of dollars. We use a pair of motion-sensor LED lights that are solar powered and they work very well.

Solar energy for cooking – A great alternative to cooking inside on a hot summer day, or when you don’t want to stand over a hot BBQ grill. You can make your own solar oven or find one online for under $100. It’s great for camping as well…imagine coming back from a hike to find dinner cooked by the sun while you were away outdoors.

Portable charging stations – Your cell phones, laptops, camera or flashlights can all be charged with solar. Many solar chargers can be attached to the outside of your purse or pack so they gather the sun’s rays while you’re out and about. We use a backpack version for trips to the coast or hiking in the mountains.

Solar powered outdoor fan – for greenhouses or barns. These fans are inexpensive and the solar panel runs the fan directly from the sun. Outdoor solar fans are a great way to circulate airflow on hot days.

Solar powered electric fencing – Electric fencing can be critical for anyone who has livestock and wants to keep the livestock in and the predators out. Lions and tigers and bears oh my! Using solar for electric fencing makes it possible to go where you wish, without power cords or other cumbersome electricity sources.

Solar energy for water pumping – Solar powered well pumps can save a lot of energy and therefore, money! Smaller solar pump setups allow you to pump water for livestock right at the source. No need for long waterlines just set up a trough with a float switch. You can also power recirculation pumps for fountains and waterfalls, they’ll even turn on and off automatically with the sun.

How many of these items do you use? It’s amazing how harnessing the power of the sun can really impact our daily lives in positive ways. So step outside and don’t just enjoy the sunshine – harness some of it!

Falck Renewables S.p.A. is one of the biggest independent renewable energy companies in the country.

It owns Kilbruar in Strath Brora, Sutherland; Millennium between Invergarry and Fort Augustus; Ben Aketil in Skye and Boyndie, between Portsoy and Banff.

The online platform will allow the communities to keep in touch and learn more about funded projects such as new equipment for a medical practice on Skye, a playground in Lesmahagow and the outdoor gym encouraging a healthier lifestyle in Sutherland.

However the scheme was met by anger by a Highland anti-wind farm campaigner.

Stuart Young, of Laggan, said: “This will make people like me angry. It is generally hood-winking the public. Wind farm owners are not philanthropists. They are there fully for their own benefit. The money that the public gets back has already been paid for by the public.”

Falck has developed the digital platform following a successful conference in Inverness earlier this year which brought together representatives from each of the communities which host Falck Renewables wind farms.

Richard Dibley, managing director of Falck Renewables said: “We were delighted that people travelled from across the country to share their experiences and learn more about how other areas were using their community benefit funds.

“We had representatives from the community benefit fund panels, as well as from the various energy co-operatives which were established, to allow local people to buy shares in the neighbouring wind farm.

“At Falck Renewables, we want to ensure the communities who co-exist with our wind farms gain some benefit from their relationship with us. It was good to hear about all the projects and activities that have been funded within the Falck Renewables communities and we know the participants felt it was a useful exercise. We wanted to build on that and create a digital platform to help them continue to keep in touch and share their experiences.”

The website will also act as an information resource for a range of initiatives being launched exclusively for the communities, including student sponsorships and an education toolkit on sustainability in partnership with the Young Engineers and Science Clubs run by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI).

Photovoltaic energy is a clean, renewable and economical source of energy that can help reduce consumption of fossil fuels to mitigate global warming. It provides energy off-grid to remote communities with no electricity or as part of a hybrid energy generation system.

Most people without access to electricity live in regions with very good or excellent solar conditions but must pay a disproportionate amount of their income for energy. In Europe, rural, mountainous and remote regions make a significant contribution to the economy. These regions require a low carbon, cost-effective system to support smart grids capable of reducing the development gap between them and urban areas.

The Horizon 2020 SUNINBOX project has addressed these challenges and developed a standalone, easy-to-install, photovoltaic generator where all the equipment is configured in the factory ready for use as a portable ‘plug and play’ system. “All the component parts necessary for generating electricity, like electronic systems, battery packs and the solar tracker can be packed into a standard 20-ft shipping container for easy transportability,” says project coordinator Sergio Hernández-Bazan.

Follow the sun

Currently, SUNINBOX possesses an inverter power capability of up to 90 Kilo-volt-amperes (kVA) to change direct current, DC, power from the lithium ferro-phosphate battery system into conventional mains alternating current, AC, for operating electric lights, electrical devices and so on. “The mixed configuration allows optimal management of the solar resource, both for direct consumption and storage,” explains Hernández-Bazan.

Project partners employed a highly innovative telescopic solar tracker to orientate the solar panels towards the sun. According to Hernández-Bazan: “A geolocation system allows the tracker to position and deploy the entire photovoltaic field semi-automatically according to its location. This takes less than 10 minutes and the system is ready for use in less than 30 minutes.”

A cheaper, cleaner alternative

Researchers developed SUNINBOX with two types of markets in mind. The first is rural areas in southern Europe with high levels of solar radiation and large numbers of farms employing irrigation. “With regards to irrigation, energy represents around 40 percent of total water costs, so water use, and energy costs cannot be considered independently. SUNINBOX therefore represents a realistic alternative for increasing energy use efficiency for irrigation,” Hernández-Bazan claims.

The second market for the device is remote smart energy grids and rural electrification projects in Africa and Latin America. Here SUNINBOX’s portable system can supply power to support local development in areas where solar radiation is very high, but accessibility to the local electricity grid is difficult. To date, energy in such areas is obtained using diesel generators, but now SUNINBOX can lower the cost of energy while producing no carbon dioxide. “In Africa, the cost of energy with our system is EUR 0.3 /kWh compared to more than EUR 0.5 /kWh using diesel generators,” points out Hernández-Bazan.

Multiple applications

The SUNINBOX system guarantees a continuous supply of electricity along with low operating and maintenance costs via a highly efficient portable PV system. The system is 35-45 percent more efficient than its competitors, thanks to the solar tracker, which reduces payback period.

Hernández-Bazan concludes: “It is the best option for NGO projects, which need cost-effective, reliable equipment for refugee camps, areas hit by natural disasters, or anyone who has difficulty accessing an electricity grid and/or wants to reduce their carbon footprint.” In addition, SUNINBOX will benefit installation companies, as well as companies in general dedicated to the photovoltaic sector.

A Munich-based start-up has taken advantage of the strong Bavarian sun this summer to test the final development of the charging system of its Sion car, an all-electric solar vehicle that lets you charge as you drive.

Sono Motors, founded in 2016, is developing the Sion, a fully-electric vehicle that has solar cells integrated into its bodywork. It can be charged via solar power, from conventional power outlets or other electric cars.

Production will start in the second half of 2019 at one of its German plants and the company has around 5,000 orders which it aims to start selling at 16,000 euros ($18,540) next year.

Sion will have 330 solar cells attached to the vehicle’s roof, bonnet and sides and its battery system will offer a range of around 250 km (155 miles) before it needs recharging.

“We have a seat heater, there is air conditioning, there is a large infotainment system where I can also connect my phone interactively, which means I really have a full vehicle which is very simple, has no frills,” Laurin Hahn, co-founder and chief executive of the startup told Reuters.

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For commercial clients wanting to add a few more green and sustainable elements into their landscaping, talk to them about the possibility of using solar charging stations around the facility.

Whether these stations are set up in courtyards, open walkways/outdoor hallways or just adorn the front lawn of the business, your clients will be able to take advantage of solar energy, while being able to charge devices and relax.

Take a look at one solar charging station in particular that your commercial clients may be interested in having.

Solar charging stations

Solar power in general has made a name for itself in the world of sustainability over the past few years, and with that power came the idea to harness and channel it into something we use every day: technology.

It’s safe to assume that every individual owns and operates at least one piece of smart technology daily, and with that connectivity comes the need to recharge batteries after fervent use.

With this in mind, Sunbolt has created a line of solar charging stations that your sustainably-minded commercial clients are sure to take an interest in.

Sunbolt says the Velocity charging station is a fully functional, value-driven workstation that delivers dependable, year-round charging in an eco-friendly package.

Featuring a 660 W solar array, UL listed solar components and flexible seating options, the company says the Velocity model is among the most powerful charging stations on the market.

“Until recently, there have been few cases where true, off-grid power generation has been designed into a portable package suitable for placement in almost any public space at an affordable price,” said Fred Stampone, CEO of Sunbolt. “This product line is not so much revolutionary as it is a testament to the role that sustainable energy has in today’s world, enabling the varieties of modern day technologies to be accessible to everyone.”

Locations, benefits and drawbacks

According to Stampone, the Velocity stations can be placed anywhere where there is access to sunlight, which is good news for customers all across the nation.

Regardless of what type of business your clients do, Stampone says that the stations can fit into a multitude of environments.

“These workstations are a natural gathering space for people wanting to enjoy the fresh air while staying connected and being productive, and (they) are ideal for university and corporate campuses, courtyards, parks, trails, lifestyle shopping centers and town centers,” he said.

Whether your clients are universities, local schools, municipalities, parks, public or private spaces, Sunbolt says they will be able to reap the benefits of the station.

The big questions your clients will ask are sure to focus on the benefits and drawbacks of using the Velocity.

According to Stampone, giving your clients the ability to offer constant connectivity will help further push the initiative to gather, socialize and remain outside for a little bit longer.

“Until recently, the site amenities typically designed into such spaces limit one’s ability to stay connected and be productive while enjoying the freedom afforded by being outdoors,” he said. “Solar workstations are true, off-grid site amenities that provide access to the power necessary to carry on in our personal and business lives, given the dependence we have on the variety of electronic mobile devices used today.”

Stampone believes that unless your clients are seriously determined to remain “off the grid,” there really is no downside to the product.

Using the station

When it comes to clients using the stations, it’s handy for you to know how the product works, even on cloudy days, and what devices can benefit from this solar service.

On days when the sunlight is prevalent, it’s not sercret as to how the stations are able to charge, but what about on cloudy days or in areas where not a lot of sunshine makes an appearance? Simply put, Stampone says the workstations include a battery bank, which provides the power that charges devices when the sun isn’t available.

The operational characteristics of the workstations, Stampone says, are designed around a recommended level of daily energy usage (DEU) in watt-hours capable of providing users a specified level of reliability on a daily basis.

“The modeling methodologies used to calculate the DEU figures account for the installation city, month of operation, solar array energy generation and the battery bank energy storage capacity,” he said. “Therefore, for a particular city and month of operation, the DEU figure is limited by either the solar array energy generation or the battery bank energy storage.”

Stampone says that any mobile electronic device powered by USB or a standard 120V AC outlet will be able to use the Velocity station. Each Velocity workstation, he adds, includes four USB and two standard power outlets, which enables a total of six devices to charge at one time.

Safety

It’s been said time and time again, but many mobile device users are hesitant to use public charging stations for fear of their device being hacked or corrupted.

Stampone says that this is not an issue that users of the Velocity will have to deal with. Stampone says that presently, Sunbolt workstations do not provide the option or include any hardware or software that collects personal identification information on users or their devices being charged by the workstations.

“There are other vendors selling charging stations with options for their customers to collect certain information about the number of persons/devices and related power usage,” he said. “Sunbolt is presently beta testing ‘plug load monitoring’ technology that simply measures the utilization of its workstations, measured in kilowatt hour.”