Architectural Designs

Solar Panels & Linking them to mains supply - Advice Please?

Hello All, I run a Design Company, and as part of my expension, I am mortgaging to build an "Eco-Friendly" office. I have grants from the DTI and assistance from several groups to build a "green" building at a smaller cost than a traditional "bricks and mortar" construction. We are looking at using Solar panels on the roof to reduce our electric and heating costs, and potentially tying it in with a small windfarm. My question is, does anyone know (on a conceptual basis) what equipment is needed to allow these two energy devices to work in harmony with mains supply? Your thoughts & advice are appreciated Steve Modelspace Design

Public Comments

1. You need an INVERTER.
2. You need to store the energy produced by wind or solar by using a battery charging system and battery pack. The dc battery is then fed to a dc to ac converter to produce synchronous ac which is connected to the mains feeder.This allows the mains energy to be supplemented by your local power generation. Don't expect miracles ,total outgoing costs take up to 25 years to recoup. Alternatively ,low tech ;Use a simple solar or wind generator feeding an auxiliary heater element on hot water tank,no mains connection.
3. There are web sites for California eco-friendly solar based construction. They even have rebates for using certain inverters like you need. Everything from 700watts to 250,000 watts. at http://www.californiasolarcenter.org/index.html
4. You will need to check out Xantrex or Outback solar products. You will need a gridtie inverter. I have mine setup as a stand alone system. I use a switcher to switch from grid to solar electric. When the grid power goes down it will auto switch to solar. Which allows me to shut off the grid power and just run solar power only. You ask about solar heat. That is not the same as solar electric. I have built a panel which I was using to heat one room of my home when testing. After that I made drawings of a larger 8 foot by 4 foot solar heating panel which I will be placing on my website soon. Check it out.. Should be on there in the next couple of days. But at the minute you can find some info on the solar electric side.
5. Better check with the electric company first but you need a special electric meter and connection. Unless you are more or less constantly generating more electricity than you need the cost of the electric meter will outweigh the benefit. So much for eco-friendly electricity companies. We kitted out a 3 storey office block with 100 sq mtrs of solar panels and even then we could not justify the import/export meter we just supplemented the electricity used in the building. For 3 months of each year the building is self sufficient.