Solar Electric Power

in Texas
How does this work?
How Power Grids Work

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm
CAN THE “POWER PLANT”
USE SUNLIGHT TO
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY?
Photovoltaic (PV) Solar
Photovoltaic Effect PV Solar Panels

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/solarcells/
Concentrating Solar

http://solareis.anl.gov/guide/solar/csp/

http://ivanpahsolar.com
Solar Power for Your Home
 WHY SOLAR?
Engineering - the application
of science, technology, and
math to get things done… the
right way
How much power are those
fan lights using?
Power vs. Energy

POWER ENERGY
 Rate at which work is done  Amount of work done
 Watts (W)  Kilowatt-Hours (kWh)
 Four light bulbs in your fan:  Leave your lights on all day:

4 x 60 Watts = 240 Watts x 8 hours =

240 W 1920 Wh = 1.92 kWh

www.diffen.com/difference/Energy_vs_Power
How much does electricity cost?

$126.07 / 1233 kWh

= $0.102 / kWh
Should you turn off your lights?
Or buy a solar panel?
 Lights:
– 240 W
– 8 hours / day
– $0.10 / kWh
 Solar Panel:
– 240 W ~ $500
– 8 hours / day
– 25 years
 Cost of Lights vs. Solar Lifetime:
(240 W / 1000 W/kW) * 8 hr/day
* $0.10/kWh * 365 days * 25 years
= $1,752
 WHEN DO YOU
USE ELECTRICITY?
Months of the Year
Time of Day
WHERE DO YOU FIND
LOTS OF SUN AND
LOTS OF PEOPLE?
P=I*V
WHY SOLAR?
Electricity generated:
• When you need it
• Where you need it
• With no fuel cost
• And no pollution
WHY NOT SOLAR
NOW?
How Power Grids Work

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm
The Electric Power Industry
Electricity Generation 2013

1% 6%
7%
39% Coal
19% Natural Gas
Nuclear
Petroleum
Hydro
28%
Other

Copyright Principal Solar, Data Source: EIA.gov

24
The Power Industry - Nuclear

Nuclear
• Clean
• Expensive
• Reliable
• Dangerous?

25
The Power Industry - Coal

Coal
• Abundant Fuel
• Cheap Fuel
• Reliable
• Dirty

26
The Power Industry - Gas

Natural Gas
• Clean
• Abundant fuel
• Reliable
• Low cost

27
 The Power Industry - Solar
Powerhouse-1 Fayetteville TN
4 Sites of 750 kW
= 3 MW peak capacity
 LEARN ABOUT
ELECTRICITY IN TEXAS
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas
“ERCOT”
Search App Store for “ERCOT”
 Rick Borry, Ph.D.
Rick.Borry@principalsolar.com