Clean Power

By harnessing the power of the sun, wind or water, people all over the world produce their own pollution-free reliable electricity. Technological advances, government assistance, the need for reliable power, and the growing urgency to reduce the use of fossil fuels make renewable energy systems increasingly attractive to people around the world. Solar technology makes it possible for home and business owners to have dependable power from renewable sources. Mass production has significantly reduced the price of renewable energy systems and their components. Solar systems with battery-based backup power can ensure reliable power even when the utility grid is down. The use of renewable sources such as wind, water and sun increases our energy self-sufficiency and fosters economic and national security. As more families, individuals and businesses generate their own renewable electricity we will reduce pollution, provide more electricity for all to use, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and make the electricity on the grid “greener”. Deregulation has created an atmosphere of change in the United States. We are experiencing higher electricity rates and electricity shortages. Laws usually referred to as net metering allow solar-energy-system owners to feed their excess generated electricity back to the utility. The system owner receives a credit or payment for solar-generated electricity fed into the grid. In other words, you pay only for the net electricity you consume – the amount of electricity you take from the utility minus the amount you generate and feed back from your solar system. With a solar electric system, you can provide yourself with protection from the rising prices of fuel, because your system’s fuel is the sun. Additionally, state, local and federal tax incentives and rebates make obtaining a system more economical. Now is the time to become your own power producer. Residential, commercial or industrial – we can help with all your power system needs. Types of Power Systems Power systems vary in design depending on what energy sources are used and what purpose they must fulfill. The next few pages have information to help you design the three basic types of renewable energy systems: 1. Grid-Tie Systems Also called grid-interactive, grid-intertie, utility-interconnected and other such descriptive terms, grid-tie solar systems built onto your building and property that connect directly into the electric utility feed. This is possible in areas that allow net metering, whereby a solar or wind powered system turns your electric meter backwards when it is producing more power than you are using. This type of system provides no backup power when utility power fails. 2. Grid-Tie Systems with Battery Backup A grid-tie system with battery backup feeds excess solar electricity to the grid and provides backup power when the utility grid is down. With this type of system you sacrifice some power generation efficiency in exchange for having power when there is a utility power failure. The amount of backup power you have depends on the size of the battery and electrical loads that draw on them. 3. Off-Grid Systems This type of power system is independent of the utility grid. It can use solar modules, a wind generator, a micro-hydroelectric generator, or a combination of any or all of them to produce your electric power. Owners of this type of system often use a gas or diesel generator for backup when the power system does not meet all of the needs. Determine What System Meets Your Needs Use the tables and worksheets in the first few pages of the Renewable Energy Design Guide and Catalog to become familiar with the design of these systems and consult with us to pick out the exact components. Tax Incentives Federal A federal “energy credit” allows businesses to take a 30% tax credit for renewable energy equipment (solar electric, solar thermal and wind powered systems). In addition, there is an accelerated 5-year depreciation schedule that allows businesses to write 100% of a system’s cost off their taxable income over the first five years. Other states offer various rebates and incentives to homeowners to lower the installed cost of a utility-connected power system. Go to www.dsireusa.org for the latest comprehensive information about incentives in your area.