1. PV System Site Assessment#SolarMOOCSolPowerPeople, Inc.May 30, 2013w/ Sarah RaymerAKA Ms. MOOCNABCEP Certified PV installation ProfessionalCertificate #: 042013-107

2. Solar Resource: What is the solar energy productionpotential for the location? How does the specific site effect theinstallation - production and installationwise? Customer assessment: What does thecustomer expect and want?Solar Site Assessmentobjectives: 3. Solar Resource: Latitude solar sun path charts Altitude and Azimuth - sun and array positioning Site Specific Practical: Shading - Solar Pathfinder or Suneye Mounting methods and locations Component locations and wire runs Electrical service - new construction or retrofit Roof or soil conditionsSolar Resource and SiteAnalysis 4. Solar resource"It depends." 5. Solar resourceDoes the sun shine? What does data say for location? Latitude, solar sun path charts Azimuth - position relative to South Altitude - how high in the sky What is the weather/air like? wind patterns rainfall pollution 6. Latitude has anincredible influence onthe available solarresource. 7. Location - Latitude 8. Location - LatitudeSun strike, wind/weather patterns, elevation 9. Peak Sun Hour (PSH) DataResource Tables 10. Austin, Texas:84 days rainfall average229 sunny days/year30 Latitude489 ft. AltitudeFrankfurt, Germany:111 days rainfall average1,586 hours sun/year51N Latitude364 Ft. AltitudeLatitudeGermany:2011: 69,6842012: 102,024USA:2011: 4,3832012: 7,665MWp Peak Power Capacity (installed, not resource) 11. Kenya:13 - 71 days rainfall3,579 Hours/year0 Latitude6000 Ft. AltitudeSydney:155 days rainfall235 sunny days/year39S Latitude128 Ft. AltitudeKenya:Australia:2011: 1,2982012: 2,291South Africa:2011: 412012: NAMWp Peak Power Capacity (installed, not resource)Latitude 12. Location and LatitudeSun strike, wind/weather patterns, elevation 13. Berlin, Germany:111 days rainfall average1,586 hours sun/year51N Latitude114 Ft. AltitudeGermany:2011: 69,6842012: 102,024 14. Austin, Texas:84 days rainfall average229 Sunny Days/year30 Latitude489 ft. AltitudeUSA:2011: 4,3832012: 7,665 15. Kenya:13 - 71 days rainfall3,579 Hours/year (325 days)0 Latitude6000 Ft. AltitudeSouth Africa: 2011: 412012: NA 16. Sydney:155 days rainfall235 sunny days/year39S Latitude128 Ft. AltitudeAustralia:2011: 1,2982012: 2,291 17. Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment:http://maps.nrel.gov/sweraOther examples:Indonesia is practically at the equator, yet thesolar resource is fairly poor because it rainsthere SOO much. 18. Other examples:Hawaii- 10 climate zones in 4000 square miles 19. Azimuth and altitude of thesun and array dramaticallyaffect the ability to maximizea locations natural solarresource.graphic from: astronomy21st.blogspot.com** Note: mostlyusing Northernhemisphere forexamples. 20. http://www.solarfeeds.com/The solar window is defined by the solar altitude and solarazimuth. 21. A sun path chart is a graphic representation of the solarwindow that gives precise data regarding the exactlocation of the sun at all times of the year. 22. 9AM - 3PM68How do you read a sun path chart? 23. 68 - Solar altitude angle on June 21summer solstice 24. 22 25. 22 - Solar altitude angle on December 21stwinter solstice 26. Yellow Sun = Sunrise in WinterRed Sun = Sunset in SummerSouth = 0+/- 18090- 90WENWESolarWindow 27. Solar anglesSouth = 0+/- 18090- 90WENWE?? 28. Solar anglesSouth = 0+/- 18090- 90WENWESolar AzimuthAngleSolar altitudeangle 29. 40 E9AM, Dec 21 30. SNWE40 E solar azimuth9AM, Dec 2140 31. -34W1PM, June 21 32. SNW E-34 W1PM, June 2134 33. S0E90W-90N-/+ 180What is the azimuth angle of each array?Which one will produce the most in the morning?Which one will produce the most in the evening???Array azimuth 34. S0E90W-90N-/+ 180What is the azimuth angle of each array?(At what angle does it face in reference toSouth?)40Wor -4050E 35. S0EWN-/+ 180Which one will produce the most in the morning?Which one will produce the most in the evening?40Wor -4050E 36. S0EWN-/+ 180Which one will produce the most in the morning?Which one will produce the most in the evening?40Wor -4050EWill do best in the AM, when Sun is in the Eastern skyWill do best in the PM, when Sun is in the Western skyWill most often do best of all 37. In an environment that experiences rain inthe morning fairly regularly, but that clearsup around noon with clear skies on into theevening, what would be the ideal direction(azimuth) relative to South for the array toface? 38. In an environment that experiences rain inthe morning fairly regularly, but that clearsup around noon with clear skies on into theevening, what would be the ideal direction(azimuth) relative to South for the array toface?The sun rises in the E, and sets in the W.The array should face towards an azimuththat is slightly west of south.This will allow for optimization of afternoonsun, after the skies clear. 39. S0E90W-90N-/+ 180A home has a roof that is shade free with anazimuth of 103. Will this work for a solar array? 40. S0E90W-90A home has a roof that is shade free with anazimuth of 103. Will this work for a solar array?Would this work?N-/+ 180 41. S0E90W-90A home has a roof that is shade free with anazimuth of 103. Will this work for a solar array?It wouldnt be good.N-/+ 180 42. When does it make sense to havean array face North?For example, on the back side fo this house? 43. When does it make sense to havean array face North?In the Northern Hemisphere-NEVER.In the southern Hemisphere-ALWAYS. 44. http://131.91.162.18/nasa/module-3/why-does-temperature-vary/angle-of-the-sunDirect vs. Indirect Solar radiationwider area and more atmosphere to pass through 45. http://www.astronomy.org/programs/seasons/ 46. SummerWinter 47. The angle of incidence is essentially the angle thatdefines how far you are away from a direct line fromthe sun.The larger the incidence angle, the less solarradiation/photons will strike the surface.solar altitude anglerelative to roof 48. http://naturalfrequency.com/wiki/insolationAltitude angle + incidence angle = 90 49. Incidence angle: It is best to face thesolar rays for most direct absorptionof photons.Hence- arrays facing South, (NorthernHemisphere), TILTED at latitude. 50. blog.civitasenergy.comModule should be tilted so that the Incidence angle is at 90to the suns rays (set at tilt angle equal to latitude).If possible:Winter- tilt up 15 (Latitude + 15) because of lower solaraltitude angleSummer- tilt back 15 (Latitude - 15) because of greatersolar altitude angle 51. Incidence angle: It is best to face the solar raysfor most direct absorption of photons.Hence- arrays facing South, (NorthernHemisphere), TILTED at latitude. 52. Peak Sun Hour (PSH) DataResource Tables 53. Site specific detailsWill it work on my house?"It depends." 54. Site specific details Shading Mounting methods andlocations Roof or soil conditions Component locations andwire runs Electrical service - newconstruction or retrofit 55. http://wiki.naturalfrequency.com/wiki/Shadow_AnglesSolarAzimutheffectsonShading 56. ShadingConsider shadows cast by objects such astrees, wires, ducts, antennae, etc. as well asseasonal lighting concerns. 57. SolarPro Article:Q & A Calculating Inter-Rowspacing#SolarMOOC Lecture:http://solpowerpeople.com/inter-row-shading/ 58. Solar Pathfindersolarpathfinder.com 59. Solmetric SunEye:More advancedshade analysisGPS built insoftware thatallows a shadinganalysis to becreated to shared 60. There are many smartphoneapps for shading analysis aswell:Sun Surveyor (android)SunSeeker (iPhone)(each app is about about $2 - $5)SolarPro article:iPhone Apps for Solar Geeks 61. Magnetic DeclinationEastern Declination Western declination 62. Magnetic Declination180 - (MD) = True SMAGNETIC Declination is theangle between the direction onthe compass and True South (orNorth.Compass needles is affected bymagnetic core of the Earth.*GPS devices preconfigured!*Change every few years,slightly.West Coast:+15180 - (15) = 165East Coast:-15180 - (-15) = 195 63. West Coast-western declination:+15180 - (15) = 165Compass tell you S is W of what itreally is.East Coast-eastern declination:-15180 - (-15) = 195Compass tell you S is E of what itreally is. 64. Mounting methods and locations: Consider latitude Consider tilt Consider shadingBut also:Electrical service, system integration,placement of componentsOptions:roof mount, ground mount, pole mount 65. Roof Assessment 66. EquipmentLocations 67. What is their vision and ultimate desire? What is their motivation (selling points) Determine energy usage andexpected/desired offset (size/$) Do they want a roof or a ground mountsystem? What are their preferences visually?Customer Assessment: 68. Energy usage and offsetEnergy Audit:http://youtu.be/YolBP0-vkBURecommend reductions in use ( highest valuefor customer / of system)Consider adding EA to your skills set as aninstaller/team or partnering with an AEcompany (value to installer) 69. Location and Visuals:Will primarily depend on availability ofshade-free area, but specific preferencescould play into decision. Shading Roof condition Safety and code Costs (and rebates) Architectural appearance, aesthetics andcolor 70. Indiegogo Campaign:Online Solar School Developmenthttp://www.indiegogo.com/projects/online-solar-school-development?c=homehttp://www.indiegogo.com/projects/online-solar-school-development?c=gallery 71. Sarah Raymersraymer@solpowerpeople.comDirector of Education and TrainingServicesSolPowerPeople, Inc.NABCEP Certified PVInstallation ProfessionalCertificate #042013-107