Solar Treasure Hunt
Can you find the solar on this roof?
The roof is on, and barely visible to the eye are 14 arrays of photovoltaic laminates laid down between the standing seams on the metal roof.
Beautiful job Brett and Brian! Now comes the final electrical connection. Next week, Chuck of Arctic Electric will install the inverters, ready for connection to the Mountain Utilities transformer.
We are coming down the home stretch of this project, eagerly anticipating the day we can watch the solar production recording on the meters. We expect to generate between 12,000 and 14,000 kWh per year. All clean—no fossils fuels, no toxic emissions!
G-O S-O-L-A-R !
Update
September 9th
The PV solar project at Raejean’s house began yesterday, in spite of some rain, sleet and even a little snow! Brett Johnson and his able crew continue today, tearing off the 16 year-old comp roof.
Both North and South roofs will be covered with Uni-solar’s 144W PV Module, Amorphous material. The laminate is more slippery than a metal roof alone, and will shed snow. The amorphous solar material collects energy a bit better than crystalline on cloudy days or through shade. Due to the laminate laying flat on the metal, neither snow load nor wind are issues. The system will be net-metered through the utility company, providing an excess of what the home consumes, helping to reduce the amount of fossil fuel burned in our community. This solar project is the second in the valley, and stands on the shoulders of Al Graf’s pioneering solar shingle project.
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- Solar Tile
Solar Tile
I have installed several UniSolar Photovoltaic systems. For around 10 years now, I have monitored how these systems preform. I am pleased with UniSolar’s product. It is a very reliable system. The electrical product is good. The manufacturer provides tables for estimating production. These tables are highly accurate.
Many new types of solar PV’s are coming onto the market. It has been my experience, when new products are introduced, they often fail. I have had no problems to date with UniSolar. A major concern for me is the snow loads placed on any roof solar system. Very little snow can destroy a system. Since snow both slides to impact roof structures, and has a constant slow glacier pulling movement, the potential for disaster is present. UniSolar’s panels are very well bonded (an adhesive backside) to metal roof panels. I have seen roofs with massive snow loads, yet UniSolar panels remain intact. Also, the sensitive electrical connects are kept under the metal roof system. This removes the dangers of conductors(wiring) and connections being pulled or stressed.
It is to the owners credit that she selected UniSolar’s system. A wise choice with her.
It is in the interest of the entire Kirkwood Meadows area to consider alternate energy systems. The current diesel generation plant is archaic. I mean, was not that how they made electricity in the 19Th century?