UW-Rock County Solar Project

Transcription

1 UW-Rock County Solar Project UW-Rock County in Janesville, Wisconsin, has a solar photovoltaic system aimed at education, promotion of sustainable energy, and research. We welcome your ideas, questions, and use of this information. The System There are three separately configured solar arrays and inverters. Each of the three arrays has nine 230 watt panels. The project spec sheet explains the system components in more detail (see project specs on last page). The system has been designed for expansion. Plans include the possibility of a small-scale urban wind turbine and/or additional solar inputs. Manually Adjustable Array Dual Axis Tracking Array Fixed Angle Awning Array Motorized tracking across the sky Fixed awning also provides shade Manual vertical tilt adjustment

2 The System Cont Each array has its own DC-to-AC inverter so that we can separately measure electrical data from each array. Along with campus ambient air temperature and temperature of a solar cell, we measure, power (watts), energy (watt hours), voltage (volts), and current (amps) for each array. Interior Wall Panel and DC-AC Inverters DC Power to EGR Lab from One Panel of Fixed Awning Array Occasionally the DC output from the awning array can be used directly by engineering faculty and students for design projects. Other than this occasional use, the DC power from all three arrays is converted to AC power and sent into the power company grid (Alliant) as part of their Second Nature buyback program. Connecting to the Power Grid

3 The System Cont We have a live link to the solar arrays on the UW-Rock County homepage. There you can see the electricity being produced and check out the charts for a day, week, month, or year. See the Detail tab for charts of each array. For further analysis, feel free to download the aggregated data in the CSV file. Basic Goals of the UW-Rock Solar Photovoltaic System: Expand and create interdisciplinary opportunites across curriculum at UW-Rock County and UW-Platteville Engineering Provide educational avenues for K-12 through on-site visits, external workshops and ongoing cooperative projects. Act as a regional beacon for smart energy, and promotion of greener power systems. Create a range of forward-looking R&D within the UW-Platteville/UW-Rock programs on campus. Link to area business and industry to grow cooperative projects with students and faculty. Connect with Alliant Energy s 2 nd Nature, Focus On Energy, MREA and the larger green energy community. Provide electricity for campus use and feed green electricity to Alliant Energy s outer grid. Flexibility for system expansion and sustainable long-term learning.

4 Teachers We would like to collaborate with persons and organizations interested in green energy, especially educators in our region, about visits and learning activities based upon this project. If this sounds interesting, please contact Bob McCallister. Your ideas are most welcome! Dr. Dale Buechler with interest ed kids at Eco fair3 60. Edison School visit to UW-Rock County lab. Community GM Janesville Closed We believe that increased awareness and interest in green energy can help to encourage green energy commerce in our region. The time is right for our region to be a key participant as the innovations and use of green energy rapidly grow around the world. Janesville GM assembly plant B&W photo by cliff1060

5 Comparative Research Observations: some examples Scattered Cumulus Clouds Early May example Partly sunny skies with passing cumulus clouds cause rapid change and wide range of irradiance (w/m 2 in yellow) and watts of power produced for all three solar arrays. More to the Story: In the clear morning, the dualaxis tracking array (in blue) produces more watts of power as it tracks with the sun. But with the first cloud passing over around 9 am, its power in watts drops as much or more than the two arrays facing south. By mid-day, all arrays are affected similarly. For power production, what will happen in the evening if cloud conditions continue to fluctuate? What if the sky clears?

6 Comparative Research Observations, Cont Power Comparison of Three Arrays by Time of Day- Average for an August Week Early May example The dual axis tracking array (blue line) faces directly towards the sun as it tracks across the sky each day. So, the tracking array wakes up facing the morning sun and begins to make significant electricity. The other two arrays are fixed, and face directly south, so the sun s ray is at a more oblique angle in the morning. In the middle of the day, all three arrays receive similar irradiance because of similar sun angle. Why does the tracking array again make more electricity later into the evening?

7 Comparative Research Observations, Cont Snow accumulation: An interesting, somewhat unexpected difference Irradiance (w/m 2 in yellow) Awning Array (watts in purple) Tracking Array (watts in blue) As opposed to the two polemounted arrays, (yes, even the tracking array pictured to the right) snow may melt more quickly on the south wall awning array. On these days, the stationary awning array may produce the most electricity. Can you think of reasons why this occurred?

8 Project Partners Full Spectrum Solar out of Madison, Wisconsin, was our excellent installer. Fat Spaniel Technologies provides our data capture and interface. Bob McCallister contact for project information Dale Buechler contact for electrical engineering (next page for project specs)

9 UW-Rock County Solar Project- System Components Item Manufacturer Model/Description Quantity PV Modules Sharp 230 Watts 27 PV Inverters Fronius (2) 2000 Watts + 3 (1) 4000 Watts Dual-Axis Wattsun AZ Tracker/Rack Seasonally- Direct Power TPM-9(230) 1 Adjustable Top-of-Pole Mounted Rack & Water Awning Mounted Direct Power Custom 1 Rack & Water DC & AC Metering Hampden Custom 1 Consoles Data Monitoring Package Engineering Fat Spaniel Technologies Custom 1 UW-Rock County Solar Project- Three Array Configuration PV Array Awning Dual-Axis Tracker Top-of- Pole Total Size (kw DC) Estimated Annual Output 2,562* 3,348* 2,562* 8,472 (kwh AC) *Source: PVWatts