Nipperbou Solar Hygrid Page
Alternative energy has been a hot issue these past years. As gasoline prices routinely exceed three dollars a gallon, we all start thinking about ways we can save some of the money we spend on energy. There are electric cars and hybrid cars like the Prius. There are modifications we can make to our homes. There is indeed much we can do as individual residents of planet Earth.
Residential solar power systems are nothing new. What is new
however, is the growing number of homeowners adding solar systems to
homes already hooked up to public utilities. Increasing electricity
prices and larger levels of government financial assistance is
driving this trend worldwide. In some states, more than half the cost
of a residential system can be recouped from grants and rebates. And
on top of all that are the federal tax credits.
A home solar power system be described as haring essentially two components: The solar panels and the conversion/interface unit. The panels are the array of photo voltaic (PV) cells that collect and convert the sunlight into electricity. This electricity must then be converted from direct current (DC) into the alternating current (AC) that we use in our homes. This electricity needs to be interfaced to both our home circuit panel as well as to the power meter and then on to the local grid. This might be a good place to mention the importance of working with your local power utility and receiving permission to make such a connection, Failure to do so could (and has) caused serious bodily harm to utility workers.
Residential electric customers that generate their own power as well as buy from the local utility are known as 'hygridders.' They are a hybrid between folks that are off the grid, often in remote or semi-remote areas, and generate all their own power and those that depend completely on the local grid to power their home. For them, the solar panels essentially supplement their electricity usage.
While most most of the time these customers are net power consumers, they do sometimes generate more electricity then they are currently consuming. When this occurs, the surplus electricity goes out through their meter and onto the local power grid. The meter then runs backwards. They are essentially selling their surplus for use by the neighbors. As net consumers though, they still pay their monthly bill, it is just much less. Also, most utilities charge their residential customers a monthly connection charge.
Location: Vancouver, WA - Provider: Clark Public Utilities - $6.80 plus 7. 32 cents per kWh
Written by: Owen R. Matthews