Schoharie Tattler

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A SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT: LET's HEAR IT FOR THE SUN!

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Array of 16 solar collectors on garage roof,
Main Street, Schoharie, NY

Our Sunpower Story

3 May 2008
In 2006 we decided to use sunpower for some of our energy and in summer 2007 we had a photovoltaic system installed. Below is a picture of the sunlight collection system. This system turns light — not heat — into electricity. We are located at Schoharie, N.Y., 40 miles or so southwest of Albany. We turned it on on Friday, Aug. 31.

As expected, we generated a lot less as we approached the winter solstice. In September we generated an average of 9.8 kilowatt hours daily and in November only 5.7. The week before solstice on December 22 we generated only 1 KWH daily on average. Much of the loss that week was because of snow blocking the collectors but generally snow blew off or melted quite quickly. December 22 sunrise is 7:24 and sunset 4:27.The half hour or so at dawn and dusk are insufficient to operate the system so the maximum possible generating time is about eight hours. I did not take daily readings from Nov. 19 through Dec. 20 but we generated 11 KWH a day five times during January. In February we had a 10 and a 14 but all other days were single-digit readings. Daily readings are on another page.

We generated 6 KWH on January 4, three of them in the 2 hours 15 minutes from 1:05 to 3:20, but the readout is not fractional so it's possible (likely even) that the starting reading was approaching the cusp. I'd sooner believe it was 2 KWH generated in 2 hours. At midday in late summer we sometimes generated 2 KWH an hour. The collectors are silicone based and therefore most efficient in cold weather. I was told peak output will probably be on a cold, clear winter day. But the days are much shorter then, so total daily output won't be great.

In spring 2008 we are seeing some great collection days. One week (April 19-25) we generated 86.1 percent of our electricity. But there are just two of us and we are energy conscious. (I follow her around turning off lights.)

More background information is at far right, including the costs. A table summarizing our electric use and generation may be found below. A diary recording generation and other data may be found at right and a daily data chart is on another page.

We have recently added a solar hot water system. It is not as useful or efficient as solar electricity. I will add some comments on it later when I have more data.

—Lester Hendrix, Schoharie N.Y.
email Lhendrix at NYCAP dot RR dot COM

Weekly tables are below.

Diary: Jan. 1 to April 30 2008

Diary: Aug. 31 to Dec. 31 2007

Daily Diary

Sunrise/set times from Naval Observatory adjusted for daylight time.

Check the new Sunpower Data page — a table of near-daily generation and use data since start-up.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, day 257. Sunrise 5:37 a.m., sunset 8:11 p.m. Mostly sunny so far today. 9 KWH generated for a total of 1,878 by 1:25 p.m. N.G. meter 2,447.

Monday, May 12, 2008, day 256. Overcast and chilly today. Generated only 4 KWH. N.G. meter 2,438 at noon.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, day 255. Sunup 5:39 a.m., sundown 8:09 p.m. Generally sunny in the morning, clouding in afternoon. Generated 15 KWH today. Since April 1, we have generated 2/3 of our electricity from the sun. In March, it was 38 percent and February only 26 percent. N.G. meter 2,424 at 12:50 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, 2008, day 254. A nice day today. System came on at 6:34 a.m. We generated 12 KWH for a total of 1,847 since the system was turned on Aug. 31, an average of 7.2 KWH a day and most of that was in the winter when days are shorter and snow can cover the collectors. N.G. meter 2,421 at 12:40 p.m.

Friday, May 9, 2008, day 253. Sunrise 5:41 a.m., sunset 8:07 p.m. System on at 6:15 a.m. Mostly cloudy today. Generated only 7 KWH. N.G. meter 2,412 at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 8, 2008, day 252. System on at 7:09. Cloudy today. Generated 13 KWH for 1,828 since system start-up. N.G. meter 2,409 at 12:20 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008, day 251. Sunrise 5:44 a.m., sunset 8:05 p.m. System on at 6:35 a.m. Generated 13 KWH today. Partly cloudy in the morning, mostly cloudy in afternoon. N.G. meter 2,400 KWH at 12:45 p.m. — we bought 4 KWH.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, day 250. Sunrise 5:45 a.m., sunset 8:04 p.m. System on at 6:11 a.m. Mostly sunny in the morning, sunny in the afternoon. Generated 15 KWH for 1,802. N.G. meter 2,396 at 1:37 p.m. — we bought 5 KWH.

Monday, May 5, 2008, day 249. Sunrise 5:46 a.m., sunset 8:03 p.m. System on at 6:07 a.m. Mostly sunny and clear today. Generated 15 KWH for 1,787. National Grid meter 2,391 at 1:58 p.m. — we bought 11 KWH.

Sunday, May 4, 2008, day 248. Sunrise 5:47 a.m., sunset 8:01 p.m. Daylight today: 14:14. System on 6:53 a.m. Overcast in morning clearing to mostly cloudy in afternoon. Generated 5 KWH for a total of 1,772. N.G. meter 2,380 — we bought 18 KWH.

Saturday, May 3, 2008, day 247. Sunrise 5:49 a.m., sunset 8:01 p.m. Daylight today: 14:12. System on at 7:27 a.m. Overcast. Generated 4 KWH for a total of 1,767 since start-up. N.G. meter 2,362 at 1:10 p.m.; we bought 14 KWH.

Friday, May 2, 2008, day 246. Sunrise 5:50 a.m., sunset 7:59 p.m. Daylight today: 14:09. System on at 6:53 a.m. Morning overcast, afternoon rain. Generated 2 KWH for 1,763; N.G. meter 2,348 at 2:10 p.m.; we bought 7 KWH, total use 9 KWH.

Thursday May 1, 2008, day 245.Sunrise 5:51 a.m., sunset 7:58 p.m. Daylight today: 14:07. System on 6:20 a.m. Morning partly cloudy, afternoon mostly sunny. Generated 15 KWH for a total of 1,761 since system start. N.G. meter 2,371 at 12:55 p.m.; we bought 9 KWH. Total use, 24 KWH.

Prior Use

There are normally just two of us so our electricity use is low.

In the 32-day June-July 2007 billing period we used 15.6 KWH a day.

In the 29-day July-August 2007 billing we used about 18.4 KWH a day.

Use

In the nine-day Aug. 21-30 billing period we used 111 KWH, an average of 12.3 a day. The lower amount is because we had grandchildren visiting all summer and none during this period.

In the 20-day Aug. 31-Sept. 19 billing period we bought 45 KWH, an average of 2.25 a day. We also generated 188 KWH, an average of 9.4 KWH a day for a total use of 11.7 KWH a day. This is lower than the prior period because we started turning more things off to conserve electricity.

Our highest daily generation was 18 KWH on March 30, lowest 1 KWH on Oct. 11 and probably several other days as well. With leaves growing, I doubt we will see more than the 18 KWH of March 30.

Electricity Storage

There is no storage in this system -- we just give excess juice to the grid and take it back when we need it. The meter runs backwards when we are generating more than we use. There is no surcharge from the electric company; if they are charging 15 cents a KWH during the billing period, that's what they pay me when I "put it in the bank" and that's what I pay them when I take it out -- it's a complete wash. In other words, I store my excess electricity on the grid for free; no battery to buy or maintain.

Actual Electricity Cost

Here is the report from our first electric bill with the system installed: The electric bill arrived today, the first since we have the solar installed. We bought 111 KWH during the nine days before the change and another 45 KWH during the twenty days following installation of the new meter. The KWH rate we pay dropped slightly however there is a fixed $16.21 per month "basic service" charge on both bills, so in a straight division of the bill by KWH it appears that the rate went up from last month's 17.2 cents to 24.4 cents. However when you subtract the fixed charge out of both bills and just divide the KWH charge by the number of KWH, we find our rate actually dropped, from 16.1 cents per KWH to 14.0 cents each. Last month's bill was $92.24. This one is $38.08.

Installation Cost

The system cost was about $28,500. The New York State Energy Research and Devel- opment Authority authorized a $12,160 grant and we should be eligible for more than $5,000 in tax credits for a net system cost of about $10,000.

Installation was by Dave Austin and the Great Brook Enterprises team from South New Berlin, N.Y. Great job, guys! Perhaps it is too soon to tell but we seem to be getting quite a bit more return than was estimated.

More information about renewable energy and NYSERDA programs is available at the Power Naturally website.