How Government and Non-Profit Solar Works

The Basics of Solar for Government and Non-Profit entities.

A solar energy system is a great way to power your organization with free, clean renewable energy:

• 1. Solar Array: Powering your organization with the Sun starts here. The solar array is comprised of a series of solar panels. The bigger the array, the more electricity it is capable of producing. When sunlight hits the solar array, DC electricity is generated.
• 2. Inverter: The DC electricity from your array travels to the inverter, where it is converted from DC to AC electricity. AC electricity is identical to the type of power you receive from the utility power grid.
• 3. Electric Service Panel: AC electricity from your inverter passed to the electric service panel where it is routed to power your facility’s various electric loads.
• 4. Utility Power Grid: When your solar electric system generates more power than your business is consuming, excess electricity is routed to the power grid. When you feed electricity back to the grid your meter will spin backwards, earning you credits on your bill.

Appendix – What does all this mean?

What is a Watt?

• The power capacity of a PV panel is rated in watts.
• A typical PV panel has a power capacity between 130 and 230 watts and has varying size options.
• When many panels are linked together to form an array, the power capacity is often referred to in units of kilowatts (kw) or 1,000 watts.
• In Colorado, 1kW of optimally oriented PV will generate an average of 1,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year.
• For reference, a 1kW system under good sunlight has enough instantaneous power to run ten 100-watt light bulbs, or forty 25-watt Compact Florescent (CFL) bulbs.

What Makes a PV System?

• A PV system includes panels, racking, inverters, wiring, and conduit. Batteries and charge controllers are required only if you will require back up power. Many people rely on the grid for this.
• Typical panel efficiency for converting sunlight to usable power for your come is 13% – 18%.
• Panels are warranted for 20 to 25 years, inverters for 10 to 15 years.
• Panels are designed to withstand hail, snow, and wind without incurring damage. System racking is designed to meet the wind zone ratings of specific neighborhoods.

Grid-Tied Solar Electric Systems:

• Grid-Tied Photovoltaic (PV) systems have no batteries.
• Your system automatically shuts down when the grid goes down so your system does not back-feed the grid and possibly electrocute a line worker.
• PV systems can be sized to cover over 100% of your annual electric needs.
• Being “grid-tied” means that you are interconnected with the grid, so you will always have power, even at night or on overcast days.
• Grid-tied systems allow you to spin your meter backwards. You will be credited at the retail rate for any power your system feeds onto the grid. At the end of the year, the utility will pay you for any excess kW hours at the wholesale rate.

Although designing a PV system is entirely custom, a 10 kW system will be a good frame of reference for small commercial systems.
Impact of a 10 kW Array:

• Reduces CO2 emission by 28,950 lbs per year.
• Will save you $1,750 on utilities in the first year and over 77,500 during the 25 year warranted lifetime of the system (assuming we continue to see a 5% annual escalation in utility rates).
• Takes up about 875 ft2 of roof space, depending on panel capacity.

Did You Know?

Bella Energy is Colorado’s leading government solar energy company. Learn about some of the government solar projects Bella Energy has designed and installed…