Solar Gardens and

Kalamazoo Valley Museum ‐ Sunday Series: 11 March 2018 Dr. Bradley J. Bazuin, Chair and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Abstract

• Solar energy collection and conversion to useful output power takes on many forms. All such systems are becoming less costly, easier to purchase and construct, and more visible in the community. The presentation will discuss: solar cells, panels and arrays; solar energy conversion from cell phone chargers to home solar arrays and solar gardens; and small‐scale classroom demonstration components that can be used for middle or high school hands‐on education. • Key Points – solar energy – solar cells, panels and arrays – solar energy system elements – small‐scale classroom demonstration components for middle or high school hands‐on education

2 Consumers Energy Solar Garden Projects web site, https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/renewable-energy/solar-gardens

Support for the generation of this material was provided by a grant from Consumers Energy.

Disclaimer This is a technical report generated by the author as a record of personal research and activity. Western Michigan University makes no representation that the material contained in this report is correct, error free or complete in any or all respects. Thus, Western Michigan University, it’s faculty, it’s administration, or students make no recommendation for the use of said material and take no responsibility for such usage. Therefore, persons or organizations who choose to use this material do so at their own risk. 3 Energy From the Sun

• Solar Spectrum Irradiance – Various models exist to describe available spectral energy. – The AM 1.5model is often used. – It represents an overall yearly average for mid‐latitudes solar collection and has been selected as a reference standard. • Total AM 1.5 – A simple estimate of available power is … Wikipedia: 1000 W/m2 or 93 W/ft2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_irradiance/

4 US Irradiance

http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/map_pv_national_hi-res_200.jpg 5 https://nsrdb.nrel.gov/ Irradiation in Michigan

• Annual average daily solar energy in watt‐hours per square meter per day – Kalamazoo ~ 3.9 kWh/m2/day

• Average MI Home Electricity Use: ~22.2 kWh/day – US avg. range: 17.5‐41.5 kWh/day – http://www.electricitylocal.com/states/michigan/

• Commercial PV Collection is currently from 5‐20% efficient – @ 20% ~ 0.78 kWh/m2/day

Photo credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory and MSU Land Policy Institute, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/planning_and_zoning_for_solar_energy_readiness_a_hot_proposition_part_1 6 Sunlight Available

• Projection effect – The intensity of the sun directly overhead versus at an angle differs. Distance matters. – Latitude, day of year, and time of day all matter. • Atmospheric Losses – Energy is being absorbed and scattered the longer it is in earths atmosphere. – Distance light passes through atmosphere. • Local weather – Cloud cover and moisture. More variations in absorption and scattering.

http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/properties-of-sunlight/solar-radiation-at-earths-surface

7 Nominal 5 kW Array @ WMU

2017 Energy Production January 2018 Suniva‐Solar Edge Array Suniva‐Solar Edge Array 800 8.000 40 800 700 7.000 30 600 600 6.000 20 400 500 5.000 10 200 400 4.000 0 0 300 3.000 200 2.000 100 1.000 0 0.000 Daily kWh Month kWh

Monthly kWh Cum MWh July 2017 Suniva‐Solar Edge Array 40 800 30 600 Nearly 6 Mega-Watt Hours in 2017 20 400 10 200 Maximum: 36 kWh in a day 0 0 Average: 24-25 kWh in June & July

Daily kWh Month kWh 8 Nominal 2.7 kW Array @ WMU

2017 Energy Production January 2018 SMA‐Shingle Array SMA‐Shingle Array 450.0 4.500 25 500 400.0 4.000 20 400 350.0 3.500 15 300 300.0 3.000 10 200 5 100 250.0 2.500 0 0 200.0 2.000 150.0 1.500 100.0 1.000 50.0 0.500 0.0 0.000 Daily kWh Monthly kWh

Monthly kWh Cum MWh July 2017 SMA‐Shingle Array 25 500 20 400 15 300 Over 3.3 Mega-Watt Hours in 2017 10 200 5 100 Maximum: 20.8 kWh in a day 0 0 Average: 12-15 kWh in June & July 7/1/2017 7/3/2017 7/5/2017 7/7/2017 7/9/2017 7/11/2017 7/13/2017 7/15/2017 7/17/2017 7/19/2017 7/21/2017 7/23/2017 7/25/2017 7/27/2017 7/29/2017 7/31/2017

Daily kWh Monthly kWh 9 Reasons to Install PV • Offset energy bill – return‐on‐investment must be justified • Off Grid Power – access to utilities limited or not existent • Green Energy – reduced carbon footprint, renewable energy, energy conservation, a life style choice • Hobbyist or Experimenter – something different and interesting with potential benefits

10 U.S. Solar Photovoltaic Cost

U.S. Solar Cost Benchmark: Q1 201, Ran Fu, David Feldman, Robert Margolis, Mike Woodhouse, and Kristen Ardani, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Technical Report NREL/TP-6A20-68925 September 2017.11 https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/68925.pdf Estimated Costs of Installation

Photovoltaic System Pricing Trends: Historical, Recent, and Near-Term Projections 2014 Edition, SunShot, US 12 Department of Energy, D. Feldman, G. Narbose, et al., http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62558.pdf . Solar Cells to PV‐System

By Rfassbind - Own work., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34961018

13 Collecting Solar Energy

• Photovoltaic Cells (from Greek light‐volt) – Made from semiconductor materials. • Efficiency – Not all of the energy is collected by a PV device. – Based on the material types and wavelengths absorbed. – Different material combinations and designs have different efficiency. • Silicon, Gallium‐Arsenide (GaAs), Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS), and Organic and Polymer PV (OPV). • Performance of commercial and research PV tracked. – US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

14 PV Cell Types and Efficiency

National Renewable Energy Laboratory - National Center for https://www.nrel.gov/pv/ 15 Conventional PV Curve I-V vs. Light Intensity • A maximum output power can be defined from the I‐V curve. – the point of maximum output PV Behavior power (MPP) Current – the power and MPP change as light levels change

• Impotent PV Cell Values Vmpp & Impp – Voltage – open circuit (Voc) Isc – Current – short circuit (Isc) – Voltage – MPP (Vmpp) Calculated Power Current/Power Voc – Current – MPP (Impp)

16 Suniva Solar Cell Data Sheet

Suniva ARTisun® Select Data Sheets, SAMD_0044, Sept. 17 2013, Rev. 1 & April 25, 2013 17 Suniva

72 Series Connected Solar Cells Vmpp 37.5-37.9 V, Impp 8.67-8.99 A

Suniva OPTIMUS® Solar Modules Data Sheets, SAMD_0051, Aug. 19, 2015, Rev. 6. 18 “AC” Output Solar System Grid‐Tied or Net‐Metering

Protection and Conversion

AC Voltage @ 60 Hz DC Voltage 110 Vac 2-phase or 0 to 500 Vdc 208/240 Vac 3-phase Efficient Energy Conversion is Critical in a Solar Energy System

19 “DC” Storage Solar System Off‐Grid

AC Voltage @ 60 Hz Protection, 110 Vac 2-phase DC Voltage Conversion, and 0 to 500 Vdc Energy Storage

Efficient Energy Conversion is Critical in all Solar Energy Systems

20 Individual Solar Systems

• Solar systems can be grid‐tied or off‐grid – Off‐grid systems act as a stand‐alone power system for a location. No external electric power grid is usually available or expected. – Grid‐tied systems would be connected to the house/company power grid and the local utility power grid. The power may be restricted to never source energy to the utility grid or it could be sourced/sold to the utility grid . • Net metering involves a grid‐tied system that provides “surplus power” to the utility grid and the customer is compensated at a negotiated rate with the electric utility. • Net metering policies vary significantly from state to state and may even vary from year to year in a state. – MI LARA Net Metering Program web site http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,4639,7‐159‐16393_48212_58124‐‐‐,00.html

21 Public‐Private or Utility Systems

• Consumers Energy Solar Garden Subscription Program – GVSU (3 MW) and WMU (1 MW) solar gardens – A monthly fee based on “solar blocks”. – https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/renewable‐energy/solar‐gardens • Community Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) – A model for public‐private funding of larger solar installations – Investors fund and own the power generation, while a public entity enters a long‐term purchase agreement for the energy. – https://wmich.edu/sustainability/events/power‐purchase‐agreement

22 WMU Educational Solar Garden

23 Site Planning

SunEarthTools.com map view of proposed WMU Educational Solar Garden location 24 Two Residential Scale Systems

• Solar Panel Array – 4950 Watt • Array – 2700 Watt Rating Rating – 18 Suniva (Saginaw, Mi) Solar Panels – 45 Solar shingles from Luma – 275 Watts per panel Resources (Rochester Hills, Mi) – Solar Energy to AC – 60 Watts per shingle from Solar Edge (3‐phase) – Solar Energy to AC Power Inverter – Ground Area approx. from SMA America (3‐phase) 24 feet x 10.5 feet. – Ground Area approx. 32.5 feet x 9 feet

25 Inverters Shutoff Switches

AC Shutoff Switches and Enclosure

Solar Edge Inverter SMA Inverter with DC Shutoff with DC Shutoff

26 Seminars and Education Opportunities

• If you are interested in seminars, training session, or tours on solar gardens and solar energy systems, Consumers Energy has provided funding to support this work. • Please contact Dr. Brad Bazuin for details – [email protected] • For more information, visit: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~bazuinb/SolarGardenWebSite/MainPage.html

27 Solar Energy Generation and Demonstration Systems • This project has provided educational materials and hands‐on laboratory stations for solar energy and solar energy powered electronics. With a focus on high school education and community demonstrations. – Senior Design Spring 2017: Bradley Beerman, Jonathan Kellogg, and Caleb Martin – Senior Design Fall 2017: Dustin Thomas Bremer, Andrew James Cabush, and Kyle Michael Christianson

28 Voltage, Current & Power • An energy source provides voltage and current. – Voltage describes a potential that can do work. – Current is a flow of electrons that do work. – Power is the amount of work being done.

29 Measuring Current and Voltage • We can measure them with Digital Multi‐ Meters (DMM)

• Voltage is across the source or load • Current passes through the load and meter

30 Solar Energy and Solar Cells

31 Power & Energy Conversion • Power from energy sources are almost always converted to more useful voltage levels and types!

32 DC to DC Converter

• SUNKEE DC‐DC Converter Module Step up and down – Input 3.5‐28V – Output 1.25‐26V Adjustable

https://www.amazon.com/SUNKEE-Converter-3-5-28V-1-25-26V- Adjustable/dp/B008ATU2X8

• USB Cell Phone Charger – Basic ‐ 5V USB Boost @ 1000mA from 1.8V+

https://www.adafruit.com/product/2030

33 Raspberry Pi “Computer” and Sense Hat Plug in Board • The Raspberry Pi 3 is a small computer. – A 1.2GHz 64‐bit quad‐core ARMv8 CPU, 1GB RAM, 4 USB ports, HDMI port, Ethernet port https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/ • Sense Hat – 8×8 RGB LED matrix, a five‐ button joystick and includes a Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Temperature, Barometric pressure, and Humidity https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/sense-hat/

34 Hot Wheels Battery Power Track

• Hot Wheels Battery‐Operated Slot Track: – Battery pack modified to take solar inputs. Multiple solar panels provide additional power needs. – Hot Wheels slot track accommodates 2 competitors includes 2 vehicles with 2 controllers. – Track comes in lovely, hot orange color

35 Thank you for your attendance! Solar Gardens and Solar Energy Kalamazoo Valley Museum ‐ Sunday Series: 11 March 2018 https://www.kalamazoomuseum.org/ Any Question? Please come see the demonstration material.

Dr. Bradley J. Bazuin, Chair and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering [email protected] http://homepages.wmich.edu/~bazuinb/ (269) 276‐3141 36 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

37 PV Safety for Firefighters

You Tube Video on Solar Photovoltaic System Firefighter Safety • Training video by Capt. Matt Paiss, of the San Jose, Calif., Fire Department, offering further understanding of the how solar electric systems work and tips on how to stay safe. March 1, 2011. – Note: California codes and regulations differ from Michigan. – Useful visual references and precautions when encountered.

• Residential System Example – Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1GXF8iQnyY , 8:06 min. • Roof Mounted Commercial System Example, Summary and more examples. – Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJsvkZj0scQ , 8:22 min.

38 Additional Web Resources

• UL Free on‐line course, “Firefighter Safety and PV Course” – http://lms.ulknowledgeservices.com/catalog/display.resource.aspx?resourceid=352901 • You Tube Video: “Solar Photovoltaic Systems & Firefighter Safety” – A n expansion on previous videos from Captain Matt Paiss of the San Jose Fire Department. May 18, 2012 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2EWQUPiXKc , 17:23 min. • You Tube Video: “Solar Panel Safety for First Responders‐ Part 1 & 2” – Another set of videos from Captain Matt Paiss of the San Jose Fire Department. Nov. 28, 2012. – Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldzJIf4j8do , 22:39 min. – Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaPadE2SIcI , 5:10 min. • You Tube Video: “NFPA's Safety Information for Photovoltaic Panels” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_3TtswrUkw , 3:37 min.

39 US Government Solar Information

• Solar | Department of Energy – https://energy.gov/science‐innovation/energy‐sources/renewable‐ energy/solar • National Renewable Energy Laboratory – http://www.nrel.gov/ • National Renewable Energy Laboratory ‐ Solar – https://www.nrel.gov/solar/ • US DOE SunShot Initiative – https://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/sunshot‐initiative

40 PVEducation.org

• There are a number of on‐line resources with excellent graphical representations of how devices operate. See the following: – 4.1 Light Generated Current – 4.2 IV Curve – 4.2 Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) & Short Circuit Current (Isc) – 4.4 Impact of Both Series and Shunt Resistance – 4.4 Effect of Light Intensity 41 SunPower Solar Cell Data Sheet

SunPower Corporation, Document #001-66352 Rev** A4_en 42 SunPower Solar Panel

96 Series Connected Solar Cells Vmpp 54.7 V, Impp 5.86-5.98 A

SunPower E-Series Residential Solar Panels | E20-327, Data Sheet, SunPower Corp., March 2016. 43 Sunseeker Western Michigan University’s Racing Team