 The Photovoltaic Effect: T he process through which a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity.

 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

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

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

How Much Energy Does Your Home Use?

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

To the Internet To Electric Utility Solar Panels DC Disconnect Inverter AC Disconnect Service Panel PV System Flow Data Monitoring Net Meter Production Meter

PV Solar Science Why Renewable Energy Education? Data Monitoring

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

Source: Renewable.com

Courtesy of RET21

 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

Courtesy of NW Renewable Energy Project

Wild Horse Wind Farm Ellensburg, OR

In the Solar Industry: Electrical Engineers Electricians Industrial Machinery Mechanics Welders Metal Fabricators Electrical Equipment Assemblers Construction Equipment Operators Installation Helpers Laborers Construction Manager

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

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

Monocrystal Solar Cell Cross Section

Mono-crystal cell Poly-crystal cell a-Si Cells

Monocrystaline Cells Polycrystaline Cells Thin Film Cells C-SiA-Si

Sanyo Headquarters

Taiwan Sports Stadium

 Voltage  Temperature  Shading  Inverter “Window”  Interconnection Issues  Not covered:  Array mounting, aesthetics, electrical code, licensing, component selection,....

Marshal Middle School Ballard High School Washington Middle School - Seattle Greenwood Elementary Wake Robin Environmental Center Washington Middle School - Olympia

DC AC Solar Panels DC Breaker Inverter AC Breaker Charge Controller Production Meter

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

DC in AC out

To the Internet To Electric Utility DC AC Solar Panels DC Breaker Inverter AC BreakerCharge ControllerProduction Meter Service Panel Load Meter Data Monitoring

To the Internet To Electric Utility DC AC Solar Panels DC Breaker Inverter AC BreakerCharge ControllerProduction Meter Service Panel Load Meter Data Monitoring

Mounting bracket bolted into rafter; rack then bolted to mount.

To PGE Disconnect And to Meter

Solar AC in from Inverter Lightning surge arrestor AC from inverter to PG&E disconnect then back to breakers

 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

Inverter Charge Control “Fuel Gauge” Battery

 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 people…i.e. locked  Use Adequate Mounts for Solar Panel

Del Pueblo Elementary School Denver, CO

Ballard High School Seattle, WA

Journeys Schools at Teton Science School Jackson Hole, WY

 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

Minimum Peak Average Computer System A System B System C