Net Metering Radar News

How to adapt to a warmer world?

lvthor — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:42:25 +0000

Today’s international debate on climate change is focused on the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This makes sense: unless we start cutting emissions soon, atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping gases will continue to rise, making the impacts described above that much more likely and severe.

But this does not mean that we should not already plan how to adapt to a warmer world.

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What kind of a transformer does a grid tie system use? and extra

lvthor — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:16:07 +0000

Questions:

I’ve been wondering what kind of a transformer a grid tie system uses, because I keep thinking that power would be applied to both sides, and there would be no extra current flow on either side, making it useless. Is there a special kind of transformer used in a grid tie system. Or am I just wrong in the thinking that the primary wire of the transformer (connected to the generator) would apply the amount of power to make the secondary read the same voltage as the secondary would drop if connected to the grid alone?

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US department of energy

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Solar Power and Net Metering

KeirA — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:44:59 +0000

One of many good ways to save energy (and money) is to use home solar panels and a practice called “Net Metering.” Net Metering involves the process of creating solar energy to power your home, and then feeding any excess (unused) solar power back into the power grids – often resulting in a payment or reduction of electrical bills.

What is Net Metering?

Net Metering is a practice where consumers “sell” energy back to the electrical companies. They do this when they have some form of renewable energy facility installed in their home and a surplus is thus created.

A good example of net metering would be the case of someone who owns solar panels or owns a wind turbine. If his solar panels or wind turbine generate more electricity than he consumes, the excess electricity is fed into the electrical grid, and the power company buys the electricity from him.

Net metering is a result of green energy policy. Though its not generally known, its not a new thing.

- Why is it Called Net Metering?

The term “net metering” is a combination of the words “net” and “metering.” In this context, the word “net” means “what remains after deductions” and “metering” refers to the measurement of electricity using your home’s electricity meter (which is normally used to calculate your energy bill).

- How Net Metering Works

Lets take the example of a home owner who has installed solar panels as a clean renewable energy source on his home.

If, at any time, his solar panels are producing more electricity than his home is using, the excess electricity is automatically fed back into the electrical grid, and redistributed by the power company. The amount of electricity which has been fed back into the electrical grid is measured on the meter right there in his home. The home owner is then “paid” or credited for that electricity.

- How to Find Out About for Net Metering

Net metering is usually done through your power company. You should check directly with your power provider.

One thing you should know is that many states have laws which provide for net metering. In other words, some states have laws in place which require the power company to buy your excess electricity, should you generate it through renewable energy sources.

You will probably not run into any problems with your energy companies, as most states have laws that demand a certain percentage of green power production. So net metering is convenient for them as well, and any green energy you produce can be counted on their quota.

Net metering is one of many good ways to save energy – and and to save money as well. By using solar power and net metering, you reduce the need for polluting fossil fuels which harm the environment.

Net metering is not only good for the environment, but good for your bank account as well.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and Solar Power: What is Net Metering?:
Grid Tie whit Net metering

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Thinking about going to a grid tie solar panel sytem for a new home.how many watts would we need?

lvthor — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:55:03 +0000

Questions:

My husband and I are looking to buy a bigger a home and we’re either thinking of having an 1800 sq. ft. total electric (two story) built or going with a modular home around 1900 sq. ft. home.

How many watts would we need to power the entire house?

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and Thinking about going to a grid tie solar panel sytem for a new home.how many watts would we need?:
Grid Tie whit Net metering

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What is Holding Back the Adoption of Solar Generated Electricity in the United States?

Andy — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:41:52 +0000

The US currently has about 700 megawatts of installed solar panel electricity generation connected to the grid, according to research by the consulting firm, Navigant. This represents less than 1% of all the electricity generated in the US.

Each state controls the speed of solar adoption by heir independent policies. If these policies remain nchanged, generation from solar panels in the US, both commercial and residential generators are expected to grow to 6,000 megawatts by the year 2015.

Three thousand of the 6,000 megawatts will be generated in California. The incentive programs of California are the gold standard among supporters of solar power. Growth in the home solar-power market will not take off until more states adopt favorable net metering rules. The relaxed solar implementation can offset the cost of installing renewable power system and capture electricity that is being loss from the potential solar generation. The Navigant report estimates that an additional 3,000 megawatts of solar panel electricity could be available in the next eight years if the states with solar implementation limitations lifted their caps.

There are eight states that have no net-metering rules. These states are South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona and my own state, South Carolina. A list compiled by New Energy Source lists California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland receiving the highest scores for solar adaptation with the remaining states of lower scores because of restrictive laws.

As of September 2007, 39 states had adopted some measures of rules to compensate consumers for sending self-generated renewable power to the grid. There is a lot behind the scenes that the states and power generation companies are willing to wage a serious fight to preclude Federal mandates to push solar renewable energy.

In my state of South Carolina, the Santee Electrical Cooperative, which is owned by the state of South Carolina, is proposing a $998 million dollar coal burning generators. The site has been put on hold by the federal government for a deeper study of the environmental impact. Meanwhile, Santee continues the fight with their commissioned study. Their study concludes “$900 million in economic output, $500 million in earnings and 9,300 jobs for South Carolinians” Unfortunately; Santee made no attempt to study the environmental impact or what a combination of renewable/nonrenewable future actions would mean to the state.

The federal renewable fuels bill has been stopped in the US Senate. Southern Co., American Electric Power Co. and other coal fired producers hired top Washington lobbyists, including Rudy Giuliani’s firm, to help defeat a measure that would force them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That’s up from less than 2 percent today, and is a move the industry says would cost at least $67 billion. Southern Co. has spent $7.26 million this year lobbying Congress, more than Exxon Mobil Corp. or General Motors Corp., according to the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics. It hired such firms as Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, where Republican presidential front-runner Giuliani is a partner. The bill would require utilities to obtain 2.75 percent of their power from renewable sources starting in 2010, ramping that up to 15 percent by 2020. Almost one-quarter of the mandate could be met by improving efficiency. Companies that fail to meet the standard would have to pay a penalty to the federal government. The cooperative of Southern Co and other generating companies consider this too high of a barrier and appear to have succeeded to remove the renewable fuel section from the bill going to President Bush.

The average homeowner does not have a vote in adopting renewable fuels electrical generation standards. The battle is being conducted by the state and federal government and powerful electrical generating companies. The problem is that the average homeowner will be the big loser in this struggle. Our major recourse is to write our state and federal representative to adopt measure that we can utilize the potential cost savings and reduces pollution of solar generated electricity.

Our letters to our government representatives should ask for means to:

* Encourage greater renewable-energy generation

* Promote customer-sited distributed generation (wind and solar fuels)

* Reduce demand on an ever increasingly strained grid

* Reward investment in renewable technologies

* Facilitate energy independence

* Improve air quality and public health

* Promote in-state economic development.

Most states that have revised their interconnection and net-metering policies have done so in pursuit of these same goals.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and What is Holding Back the Adoption of Solar Generated Electricity in the United States?:
300 year history of renewable energy

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What parts do I need to put together some solar panels and tie them into the grid?

lvthor — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:36:18 +0000

Questions:

I have a relatively small home, but space to work with on the roof and in the yard. obviously i know i need solar panels, but what parts do i need specifically (please dont just say a kit) to tie it into the power grid so the power company pays me for the power i produce. Any brand name preferences would be welcome.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and What parts do I need to put together some solar panels and tie them into the grid?:
PV Systems and Net Metering

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Use Wind Turbines – Save Money And Stop Paying Electricity Bills

lvthor — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:00:37 +0000

What would you do if you could get the electric company to give you money? Well, there are ways to make the electric company and ways that you never have to pay them again. Wind energy is the fastest growing means of alternative energy in the world. Since 2000, the electricity output from wind energy has more than quadrupled.

The reason wind energy is popular is because it is clean, efficient, renewable and readily available. Wind turbines have been popping up all over the world. It isn’t just homeowners or regular people trying to find alternative energy, but countries and large organizations. There is a demand and people are turning to wind power as a way to meet the alternative energy needs.

Wind power is an interesting idea. There are people who have been installing wind turbines and then taking themselves “off the grid.” This means they disconnect themselves from the electric company and never deal with them again. No bills, no notes, no phone calls. Nothing.

This sounds like a great idea, but it requires installing wind turbines, which can be costly. However, there are ways to make some money back. In the United States, there are many states that offer tax breaks by using alternative energy. You will save money if you qualify and you will make your money back faster. There are also some states that allow homeowners to sell the extra energy back. These are “net metering laws.” When using the wind turbine, the electricity meter will actually spin backwards. Net metering laws allow homeowners and businesses to be billed only for their net energy consumption as opposed to all of the energy they used.

Net metering helps because customers get full value of the electricity they use. People who use wind turbines might need to use the power company still because wind is intermittent. Over 40 states offer some type of net metering law. Residents should take advantage of these. They can get more information by going to EERE or contacting the Dept. of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

As more people begin using wind turbines and the technology progresses, the cost of getting and installing wind turbines is decreasing. This is good news for anyone looking to use wind turbines. Now, there are other avenues to pursue when looking for alternative energy.

Worldwide, wind energy only accounts for 1 percent of the electricity use. However, there are countries that have taken a bigger role in using wind as a viable solution to meeting alternative energy needs. Denmark uses wind turbines for 19 percent of its electricity productions, Spain and Portugal use nine percent and Germany and Ireland use six percent.

Wind turbines also help the environment. Over the course of the wind turbine’s lifetime, a residential turbine would be equivalent to planting two trees with the amount of carbon dioxide that would be saved. There are many reasons to get on the wind power bandwagon. They are all worth it. If money is the only thing holding you back, consider all the rebates and benefits you can get from owning a wind turbine. You will make your money back in a few years.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and Use Wind Turbines – Save Money And Stop Paying Electricity Bills:
US department of energy

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How much extra voltage does a grid tie output?

lvthor — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:52:17 +0000

Questions:

I want to know how much more voltage a grid-tie system is allowed to induce into the public grid.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and How much extra voltage does a grid tie output?:
What is Net Metering

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Helpful Information About A Solar Net Metering System

lvthor — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:22:01 +0000

A solar grid-tie system creates its own electricity, but is still tied into the local electric utility for additional power needs. It’s kind of like the best of both worlds – use as much of your own clean, renewable energy as you can, but if it’s not enough, you’re not left in the dark – your electric company fills the void.

With a solar grid-tie system, you have two basic options: with battery-backup or without. If you add battery-backup to a grid-tie system, you will be able to store any solar power you create but do not immediately use and then use that power later when you do need it.

Pros & Cons of Battery-backup

There are two advantages to a battery-backup grid-tie system over one without:

You will reduce your electric bill even more since you can use your stored power instead of power from the electric company.

You will always have power when there is a black-out, day or night.

The are also two main drawbacks:

You will have an additional cost of batteries, housing the batteries, and a charge controller.

Routine maintenance is needed with the batteries; whereas grid-tie systems without battery-backup are relatively maintenance-free.

Flexibility

With a solar grid-tie system you also have the advantage of starting off small and expanding your system as you get the time/money/desire. You can start off with just one solar panel (aka PV array) and build your home solar power system at your schedule. Or you may just want to stay at that one PV array. Obviously, the more PV arrays in your system, the more money you will save. With a solar grid-tie system you control how much and how quickly you expand your system.

Solar Net-Metering

Solar net-metering is a program in which many solar grid-tie homeowners participate. Net-metering allows the homeowner to effectively “sell” excess solar-generated power back to the local electric utility. When power is sold back to the utility, the electric meter will spin backwards, generating credit for your account. Then when you use power from your electric company it will run forwards, using up your credit. Although net-metering is becoming more popular, it is not available everywhere. There may be some cities or counties in your area that participate in it, but not necessarily all utilities do. Also, the way that each state complies with net-metering differs. Some states make it very easy to join the program, others require lengthy paperwork and inspections. Some may require the utilities to “buy” solar-generated power at a competitive rate, while others do not. You definitely need to do some homework before deciding to participate in net-metering. Check your state legislation first and then with your local electric company. Also, some states do NOT allow you to participate in net-metering if you are using a solar grid-tie system with battery-backup.

Bottom-Line

A solar grid-tie system offers great financial benefits for all who use it. It also lessens our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, both local and foreign. And of course solar power is great for the earth – no environmental pollutants are involved with creating solar power. Original Source: My DIY Home Tips

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Suggestions to Qualify for a Residential Solar Rental System

lvthor — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:31:05 +0000

Can homeowner has the option to produce their own renewable energy from the sun and keep the energy savings every month. Homeowners who follow the steps and complete the requirements have a good chance of getting a residential solar energy system installed on their home on a rental basis.

To be Evaluated for a Home Power System:
* Be the mortgage holder of a residential home,
* collect two years of energy bills from your utility,
* have a south facing roof line or good exposure to the sun,
* complete a site inspection to determine location feasibility, and
* have ability to wait about a year for your solar installation.

Step One – Complete Home Feasibility Study

A solar panel manufacturer is working to remove the barriers to wide-scale solar adoption in the United States. Its business model is to rent all of the equipment needed to power a residential home. There is an energy auditing process and required feasibility study to better determine suitable locations. Unfortunately, homeowners may not qualify to have a system installed. The requirements related to sun angle, energy consumption, and a few other things listed here must be met. Below is the minimum requirement that you must comply with in order to rent a solar system.

Step Two – Be the Mortgage Holder

You must be a homeowner. Unfortunately, people who rent or lease are not qualified to rent a solar electric system. Only homeowners who hold title or have a mortgage on their can have a solar rental system installed. This has to do with legal and insurance related issues. You must own your house before a system such as this can be installed. However, renters and other homeowners do have the ability to purchase their systems out right from hundreds of solar manufacturers and installers. The point of this solar article is to highlight the steps and requirements process to enable the average American homeowner to rent a solar energy system not purchase one.

Step Three – Retain Connection to Existing Utility

You must be a current residential utility customer and you must maintain your interconnection with the utility. If you fail to maintain your connection with your local electric utility, this may be grounds for default in the solar rental agreement, and your solar energy unit may be removed.

Step Four – Maintain Telephone Line

You must maintain a dedicated residential telephone line. Again, if you fail to maintain a connection with your local telephone service, this may be grounds for default. You have your solar energy unit removed. There are other options other hard, land lines such as Internet-based, WIFI phone services but it is often easiest and most cost effective to utilize a normal phone connection.

Step Five – Provide Adequate Roof Space

Your house should have a roof with enough space to accommodate the solar unit as well as have an unobstructed, south facing flat or sloped roof. This may not always be necessary. However, in order to ensure that you are eligible, this prerequisite should be researched completely.

Step Six – Live in an Area with Net Metering

This solar rental program is presently limited to U.S. states that offer grid connected alternative energy systems. The service areas and the first to have installs approved are those located in the states and local utility areas that have net-metering laws. Grid tied or grid connection is the law in dozens of states that request that utility companies give the homeowner credits for the solar energy generated from home solar energy units. Net-metering laws do vary state by state. If is best to do some further research with your state government to ensure your state offers net-metering.

Concluding Considerations & Tips

* Research service availability and net metering laws for your state before you go to the trouble of reserving a system.

* There is a substantial waiting list of interested homeowners. A homeowner can request to have a site evaluation and suitability study completed if they wish. The actual system installations may be 1 or 2 years from the time of system reservation; if the above mention prerequisites are completed.

Read More about Renewable and Alternative Energy and Suggestions to Qualify for a Residential Solar Rental System (part 3):
Net Metering

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