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There are very few options when it comes to solar for residential homeowners, they can look at going solar ready, or getting either an off-grid or grid-tie solar system. Solar ready is something that can be done at either the design or construction stages of building a new home. Either of the two solar systems can be installed during the construction stage or can be installed as a retrofit to an already existing home.

SOLAR READY

Dandelion Renewables has developed a 4 step process to ensure that a new home is truly solar ready.

1. Dandelion Renewables consults with the builder about best practices for a specific home at either the design or construction stage;
2. Either the builder or Dandelion Renewables installed the recommended Solar Ready components and takes into account the design recommendations;
3. Dandelion Renewables visits the site to inspect and measure the solar potential and supply Solar Ready labels;
4. Dandelion Renewables issues an Alberta Home Solar Ready Certificate with both qualitative and quantitative items reported.

There is an average of 15 items on the certificate that would help a homeowner appreciate the builder’s commitment to green building. While our approach of quantifying Solar Ready components is unique, it is essential in order to help builders optimize the solar efficiency of house designs. Refer you builder to Dandelion Renewables and we will be happy to educate and train them in how to build Solar Ready items at your home. Capturing the maximum solar potential at the construction stage helps the homeowner to switch to photovoltaic power, or solar thermal energy sooner. Benefits to the homeowner include:

• It saves 50% of the cost compared to doing it at a later date
• It helps show the builder’s commitment to green building practices
• Each Solar Ready component is explained and measured in the certificate

GRID-TIE SOLAR

How a Grid Tie Solar Power System Works Grid-tie solar systems work by taking the electricity produced by the solar system and routing it directly to the utility grid, this setup allows us to:

• Consume the power produced by the solar system when the system is producing electricity and the utility grid is functional
• Purchase electricity from the grid when the sun is not shining
• Sell excess solar power to the grid and receive a credit for exporting power, this is also known as net metering

While grid-tie solar systems with net-metering are the most cost-effective way to produce and consume your own solar electricity, they do have the disadvantage of not being able to operate during a power outage. Adding a battery backup system adds cost but means that when the power goes out you will still have power to your home. More information about grid-tie solar systems can be found on either our Grid-Tie in Alberta or Grid-Tie in BC pages.

OFF-GRID SOLAR

Why Off-Grid Living? There are a variety of reasons that people choose to live off-grid, for some it makes sense economically, others like the independence it provides, other still prefer it for the reduced environmental impact. Whatever your reasons Dandelion Renewables can design and install a system to suit your needs. What is an Off-Grid PV System? An off-grid system is a solar system that is not connected to the electric grid, these systems are most commonly used in remote locations but works well anywhere. Off-grid systems have a few more components than grid-tie systems, such as a charge controller, a battery bank, as well as optional monitoring and automation equipment. If properly designed these systems require only basic maintenance. Living with an off-grid solar system will likely impact how and when you use electricity. As there is only as much power available as what has been generated by the solar system, once the battery bank has been depleted, if there is no backup power source then there will be no power. More information can be found on our Off-Grid Solar page.

What is the capture price of solar vs wind in Alberta?   The positive correlation between Alberta hourly pool prices and hourly solar generation results in solar capturing higher prices than an average power pool price. In fact, the power pool naturally observes higher power demands from businesses during a daytime. Also, the air conditioning load increases during hot summer days. These are the hours when solar tends to generate most of the power. Unlike solar, wind generation in Alberta currently has a negative correlation with hourly pool prices. The main reason is that wind constitutes 6% of the total installed capacity and most of the wind capacity is concentrated in Southern Alberta. If it is windy in Southern Alberta, over 1,000MW of wind tend to supply the grid at the same time. With Alberta power prices determined by a supply-demand, that means lower capture prices for wind. Based on our analysis, a solar power array installed at 45 degrees tilt without shading and facing South captured 174% of the average pool price in the last 12 months. In other words, for an average annual power price of $0.085/KWh, our solar generation captured $0.149/KWh on average. The best wind farms in Alberta are reporting 73% capture factors in 2013. Each KWh produced by solar has now a higher value than an average power price and a higher value than a wind capture price. Unfortunately, this higher value is currently not recognized for small-scale solar micro-generators. As Alberta is slowly becoming the leader in renewable energy, it will be a matter of time when this value of solar will be acknowledged for all solar power producers. Larger commercial and industrial consumers who qualify for interval meters, are currently in more advantageous position as they can benefit both from the higher solar capture price and economy of scale on larger solar power installations. The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) forecasts lower reserve margins in 2014 and 2016 onwards, which means higher volatility for power prices. For renewables in Alberta, that means that we shall expect lower wind capture factors and higher solar power capture factors in the future. However, if Alberta solar installed capacity rapidly increases from under 2MW today to over 1,000MW, as wind, capture price factors for solar will decrease.

Dandelion Renewables is installing this week solar power systems on 4 community leagues in Edmonton: Rossdale, Riverdale, West Jasper Place and Ritchie. Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues and City of Edmonton contributed last year $110,000 to facilitate installation on seven community leagues and EFCL building as well. Each system will have a web monitor installed in a hall that will demonstrate in real time the solar power system production. If your community league is participating in the program, come and see on the coming sunny days how we turn the meter to spin backwards!

Another exciting Government of Alberta energy efficiency program has just been announced! The Growing Forward 2 program has launched On-Farm Energy Management which covers up to 50% of the cost of investments that improve energy efficiency on Alberta farms. Dandelion Renewables is recognized by the Alberta Agriculture as an approved contractor for this program; we will be conducting energy audits and feasibility studies to help target energy efficiency investments to get the best bang for a buck!

We are excited to spread the good word about the Saskpower Net Metering Rebate program! Saskpower is paying back 20% of the costs towards the installation of grid-connected environmentally friendly power. This rebate program is available to Saskatchewan residents and is a perfect for anyone who wants to generate some or all of they power they use and reduce their carbon footprint.

Hot Sun + Tropics + Turquoise Ocean Waters + Solar Power = Paradise Solar. While in Samoa, Dandelion Renewables in partnership with locals registered a satellite business under a name Paradise Solar Samoa. Many Western companies approached Samoan government with offers and suggestions, but Paradise Solar seems to be the first company to actually build a working commercial solar power system. This off-grid system will supply power for two vacation homes at the Samoan Highland Hideway. In addition to the succesiful commissioning of the first commercial system, Paradise Solar has also donated PV modules for a small solar power system at Namu’a Island to help the island to recover after the devastating Cyclone Evan. Our work was covered in the local paper Samoa Observer (see the link) and the local TV.

Come to join us for an interesting discussion at Grant MacEwan University – CN Theatre Rm 5-142 on January 23rd, 2013. Dandelion Renewables will present on permit fees for solar power installations across different Alberta municipalities. We will talk about the impact everyone can make to remove barriers for a wide deployment of the solar power. By attending this seminar you will learn about the true and the latest costs of the solar power in Alberta.

One of the most cost effective ground mount solution for larger solar power farms is now tested in Alberta grounds. Gayk RAM and Schletter racking were shipped all the way from Tuscon, AZ. With such a great supplies and equipment our installations just fly. Please check out a short video from our first day working with Schletter equipment.

What could further facilitate spreading of the renewable energy to the fertile Alberta ground? As a development of new rebates, incentives and regulations for renewable energy is under way in Alberta Energy and City of Edmonton cabinets, we would like to share Dandelion Renewables thoughts on this question:

1. Allow residential, small commercial and farmers to get hourly price for generated power. Alberta hourly power prices tend to be higher at the times of a day when there is more solar power. As a result, solar power generators could capture higher revenues if hourly, not monthly prices are used for settlement.
2. Pay back to distributed generators credits for transmission charges and partially distribution charges. Locally generated power is either consumed right on the site or by a neighbor next door, thus distributed generators elevate the load on transmission and distribution systems, and hence shall qualify for transmission and distribution credits.
3. Subject to transformer capacity, approve net-positive micro-generators who produce more energy than their electricity consumption. If managed properly this change can improve the grid reliability and minimize the cost of distribution systems.
4. Revise the micro-generation rules to permit virtual net-metering, where power generation and power consumption take place at different sites, possibly within the same municipality.
5. Expedite the development of a protocol that will allow recognizing micro-generation GHG offset credits.
6. Protect the regulation for $0.15/KWh paid to micro-generators for the excess of energy sold to the grid.
7. Reward new buildings with high EnerGuide rating to support “Solar Ready” building best practices.
8. For City of Edmonton, introduce Class “0” development permit (no cost) for roof-top solar arrays mounted flash to the roof.
9. Set a time limit for wire service providers to install bi-directional meters. Once an interconnection agreement is signed and a final electrical inspection is passed, local wire service providers should have a limited timeframe to install bi-directional meters.
10. Educate consumers about true cost of the renewable energy, power conservation and good practices for making optimal energy choices.

Let us know your thoughts?