The photovoltaic update

By Michael Buhler

Sun ad-hoc energy editor

Two years ago I installed a photovoltaic (PV) solar array on my garage roof, all in an effort to cut my utility usage, and in a small way do my part toward America’s energy independence. The original article is available online here. To recap, 12 panels with a rated capacity of 1,920 watts (or 1.92 kilowatts per hour, or KWH) were installed on my garage roof. In the garage is the inverter, the brains of the system, which turns the DC current of the panels into AC current; synchronizes that with Consumers Power; charges the backup batteries, and decides if the house needs more power from Consumers, or can sell excess back to the electrical grid.

From day one the system performed to design specifications. But since Consumers was dragging their feet on buying back my power, it was hard to judge what the true capacity was: I could only use locally what was generated; the excess was wasted opportunity. I was soon assigned a new contact at Consumers, a sophisticated bi-directional electrical meter was installed, and regulations were updated. Beginning May 1 of 2009 (once the last of the snow had melted from that long winter), Consumers and I could meter and assess the true impact of the solar array.

The design assumed that the system would supply 25-33 percent of my pre-PV energy. On May 1 of this year I was able to fully evaluate the first year’s impact on my power consumption, and the PV supplied 30 percent. Over the summer that has dropped a little to 28 percent, but I’ve also had weeks of houseguests, and June was cloudy and cool (the furnace was running). So far, PV panels are living up to expectations.

Consumers’ Power Plans

Tom Shirilla is the Green Generation Program Manager for Consumers Energy, and my new liaison. He oversees the over 100 current green energy net metering participants like me, and all told we have about 210 Kilowatts of generating capacity. Most, like me, consume the majority of the power generated; a few are larger operations and true electricity suppliers. “Either way,” Tom says, “these generators offset conventional generation like coal,” and help to supply Michigan’s growing electricity needs.

In 2009 the State of Michigan mandated that by 2015, 10 percent of Michigan’s electricity comes from renewable energy sources. Today that number stands at 4 percent for Consumers. A recent agreement with Vestas-America (the American division of Danish wind turbine producer Vestas, which built Michigan’s first windmill in Traverse City) will supply the electric company with 1.8 Megawatt generators. Each turbine is 1,000 times more powerful than my solar array! And, they spin day and night.

By the end of 2012 Consumers hopes to have 150-200 windmills installed in Mason County, near Ludington. This will raise their green generation to 8 percent. They plan to meet or exceed the 10 percent goal by 2015. If individuals can continue to find new ways to conserve, and with this new generation capacity, we all reduce our need for additional traditional plants, and might even lower the need for coal (which by far is the least expensive — yet most polluting — way to generate power).

Conservation

The real story began five years ago, when I changed a few light bulbs, unplugged some unused transformers, turned off the heated drying in the dishwasher, and acquired a power-sipping computer. Those changes lopped 20 percent off of my monthly bill. The PV system is now contributing even more to that, and now the house uses nearly half the metered electricity. Meanwhile, the price of power has risen 37 percent in those same five years. This compounds my savings, and serves to illustrate that every reader who takes some action to simply conserve electricity can find meaningful savings in their home.

You can do the same, and it’s easy.  In fact, bypass the compact florescent and head straight to the new LED lighting. You see it in many new cars, and a few examples are on display at Leelanau Coffee Roasting (eventually all the CFL bulbs will be LED). Hunt for those unused power transformers under desks and behind sofas (the lightweight ones are solid-state and okay, but the heavier ones draw current even when unused). Dry lower settings on your electric dryer, and see if you can live without your heated dry cycle on the dishwasher. Put an insulating blanket around your electric hot water heater. Opt for ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. Cut back on watering your lawn (brown lawns in a drought always green back up after a rain). Investigate updating your appliances (there can be substantial operational savings, and even rebates). The intent here is to get you excited about saving some money. Combinations of these little steps can save you big money. And that newfound wealth can always be used to support our advertisers. (Yes, here at the Glen Arbor Sun we are very transparent.) Good luck!