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Photovoltaic Applications |
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Remote
Power: For those places that may not even be on the map, electricity is a commodity to say the least! Remote weather stations make use of solar panels because there is often no other way to power them. The weather station to the right uses a multi-crystalline solar panel to provide it with electrical power. |
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Supplemental Power: Solar electric systems are often used to off-set utility costs in just about any environment. Many homes are using solar panels to product electricity, and in some cases, they produce enough to sell back to the power companies! To the left is a 2.2 kW PV array at our domes. This array produces a nominal 48 volts DC which is sent through an inverter, converting the current from DC to AC, and stepping the voltage up to |
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| 110 volts. In conjunction with our 4.5 kW wind generator, we produce nearly all the power we need to operate! With the addition of batteries, we have a plentiful backup system which keeps us operating when the utility power goes down. | ||||
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Co-Generation: Co-generation is very important for a sustainable energy solution. The decentralization of electrical generation means more resilient utility grids, and a cleaner environment when electricity is generated by a green power source like solar power or wind power. This is synonymous with supplemental power generation, but |
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| co-generation facilities are generally larger installations, allowing for net excess energy production. The picture above is a solar garage in Florida used not only to recharge solar vehicles, but generate power and sell to the grid when excess power is available. Co-generation can also include energy sources such as heat (solar-thermal or geothermal) and wind energy. | ||||
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