Solar Power

[ABMax24]

I can understand the basis of the structural assessment requirement, the snow load is already designed in but now you are adding new structure. Does seem a little overkill though considering how light and distributed the panel weight would be.

I never realized these microinverters had such smarts and web communication built in. I browsed a bit on APsystems website and definitely looks like this is big business in the southern US. Bunch of new regulations around "rapid shutdown" requirements came into play Jan 1 in some states.

Sounds like the system comes with a software app so you can monitor things?

They are quite capable with what they can do. Enphase is another brand to look into, these inverters are updatable over the internet so Enphase can update them remotely to ensure the stay up to date with current regulations. There has been a lot of change in the past few years with regards to regulations, California introduced Rule 21 which really changes what these must do. This rule effectively makes the inverters more active in the grid, helping to stabilize grid voltage and frequency due to the huge amounts of solar power generated during the peak of the day, taking a lot of strain off of the large power plants role in stabilizing the grid. These technologies also make it a lot safer for linesmen working on downed power lines, my inverters won't send a single watt out unless the grid power is connected and operating properly.

Yes they can monitor things, I opted out of the APSystems unit however, I want to monitor my usage as much as my production, so I installed a Neurio just before Christmas that can do both. I lack the ability to monitor power output per panel that the APSystems unit would have, but I'm okay with that.

Here is the link to the Neurio website: https://www.neur.io/
It's pretty easy to install, took me under an hour.

 

[Cdnfireman]

They are quite capable with what they can do. Enphase is another brand to look into, these inverters are updatable over the internet so Enphase can update them remotely to ensure the stay up to date with current regulations. There has been a lot of change in the past few years with regards to regulations, California introduced Rule 21 which really changes what these must do. This rule effectively makes the inverters more active in the grid, helping to stabilize grid voltage and frequency due to the huge amounts of solar power generated during the peak of the day, taking a lot of strain off of the large power plants role in stabilizing the grid. These technologies also make it a lot safer for linesmen working on downed power lines, my inverters won't send a single watt out unless the grid power is connected and operating properly.

Yes they can monitor things, I opted out of the APSystems unit however, I want to monitor my usage as much as my production, so I installed a Neurio just before Christmas that can do both. I lack the ability to monitor power output per panel that the APSystems unit would have, but I'm okay with that.

Here is the link to the Neurio website: https://www.neur.io/
It's pretty easy to install, took me under an hour.

You said in a previous post that your system puts out 2200w on a sunny day, then in another post you say your system is yet to be completed. Can you clarify?

 

[ABMax24]

You said in a previous post that your system puts out 2200w on a sunny day, then in another post you say your system is yet to be completed. Can you clarify?

If you re-read I said it will put out. There are numerous calculators available that can predict solar output based on annual weather averages, and the location and direction of the system. This is what I used to come up with this number, that figure is based on a clear sunny day in June.

 

[Cableguy]

when we built I installed 3" conduit from attic to breaker panel for just such a option later on very interested how this works out for you
lots of sun here in the okanagan in the summer not so much in the winter so have been waiting for a high effiecient panel to be released

 

[X-it]

Well it looks like BC Solar info is no longer online, at least from Dec 10 forward. This is really to bad because it had minute by minute data. Invaluable info for someone trying run power off the grid so to speak. Hopefully it is not from political embarrassment, and just some kind of hardware problem.

 

[doorfx]

Most if not all have been disconnected due to problems with the inverters and utility interface equipment. Installation companies have washed their hands of them.

So you are saying that the city of Calgary fire department , installed solar systems have an almost 100% failure rate?

 

[ABMax24]

when we built I installed 3" conduit from attic to breaker panel for just such a option later on very interested how this works out for you
lots of sun here in the okanagan in the summer not so much in the winter so have been waiting for a high effiecient panel to be released

3" conduit would run a big cable. We looked at the higher efficient panels as well but decided against them because the cost/watt goes up. We will take up a little bit more roof space with less efficient panels, but at the moment we will only use a bit over half of the usable roof space anyway.

 

[Cdnfireman]

So you are saying that the city of Calgary fire department , installed solar systems have an almost 100% failure rate?

Most of the LEED projects have been abandoned or disconnected at the end of the builders warranty periods due to unreliability and the costs to maintain them and keep them operating. Once the money needs to come from the operating budget instead of the city green funding they are abandoned.

 

[doorfx]

So can you give me the station numbers of these abandoned systems? I would like to go have a chat with them.

 

[ABMax24]

All the Calgary fire stations that are capable of online reporting are still producing electricity.

http://www.calgary.ca/CS/IIS/Pages/Solar-Energy-Projects.aspx

 

[Stg2Suby]

The project was completed in july of 2018 so that 22011kw for the year is based on lies not fact.

Good point, I didn't see the completion date of July 2018. So the 22,011 kWhr / year must be an estimated value.

 

[Cdnfireman]

If you re-read I said it will put out. There are numerous calculators available that can predict solar output based on annual weather averages, and the location and direction of the system. This is what I used to come up with this number, that figure is based on a clear sunny day in June.

You should say it might put that out. Orienting your panels all over the map will reduce their output even further. Good luck with your system. Most people that install them are disappointed with the performance over time. The sales job doesn’t match the reality. Hopefully yours will be better.

 

[Cdnfireman]

So can you give me the station numbers of these abandoned systems? I would like to go have a chat with them.

My information is anecdotal from the contractors that maintain the infrastructure in the halls. They’re frustrated dealing with them. I’m not even sure what halls have them anymore as there’s been several iterations of these LEED projects. As a taxpayer I find them to be a massive waste of money.

 

[doorfx]

That’s what I thought.

 

[Cdnfireman]

All the Calgary fire stations that are capable of online reporting are still producing electricity.

http://www.calgary.ca/CS/IIS/Pages/Solar-Energy-Projects.aspx

I love the write ups of these solar projects. The sentences all start with “ estimated” or “ anticipated “ or “approximately “

 

[Stg2Suby]

http://www.calgary.ca/CS/IIS/Pages/Solar-Energy-Projects.aspx

Per this article "assuming about 1,200 kWh per year of production per installed kW" so 1200 kWh per year divide by 8760 h per year = 13.7% capacity factor.

The point I'm trying to make is capacity factor in the order of 10% to 13% is probably accurate for Alberta, no lies or deceit involved.

 

[Cdnfireman]

That’s what I thought

I have no reason not to believe them. They go from hall to hall trying to repair poorly designed systems that the incompetent deputies,designers and engineers spec and build into the halls. If the average taxpayer knew how much money was wasted fixing these screw ups they’d be wild.

 

[ABMax24]

You should say it might put that out. Orienting your panels all over the map will reduce their output even further. Good luck with your system. Most people that install them are disappointed with the performance over time. The sales job doesn’t match the reality. Hopefully yours will be better.

No it will. As I explained earlier I am deliberately orienting panels in different directions to reduce peak output and spread it over a longer duration. By doing so I see a decrease of 14% in yearly output. I am maxed out for what I can install based on my annual consumption anyway, even if I had the roof space to face all panels directly south it wouldn't have been approved as ATCO is only required to allow up to 100% of annual use to be generated in the home.

As for performance I can predict with reasonable certainty what I will see for output over the next 25 years.

Here is the expected monthly output of my system over the course of a year.



Here is the expected degradation over the next 25 years.

 

[Cdnfireman]

No it will. As I explained earlier I am deliberately orienting panels in different directions to reduce peak output and spread it over a longer duration. By doing so I see a decrease of 14% in yearly output. I am maxed out for what I can install based on my annual consumption anyway, even if I had the roof space to face all panels directly south it wouldn't have been approved as ATCO is only required to allow up to 100% of annual use to be generated in the home.

As for performance I can predict with reasonable certainty what I will see for output over the next 25 years.

Here is the expected monthly output of my system over the course of a year.

View attachment 214765

Here is the expected degradation over the next 25 years.

View attachment 214766

I hope you’ll keep us posted once it’s up and running. It’ll be interesting to see how your projections compare to actual output.

 

[doorfx]

I have no reason not to believe them. They go from hall to hall trying to repair poorly designed systems that the incompetent deputies,designers and engineers spec and build into the halls. If the average taxpayer knew how much money was wasted fixing these screw ups they’d be wild.

I would like to know. Can you provide me with names and contact info for these people. I will make an appointment and go have a chat with them.
If all of these systems have been disconnected or abandoned, why are they working on them?