Certificate of Outback Training

Smart Grid

What is a Smart Grid?

The main factors that concern us is the ability of the grid to accept renewable energy mostly via Solar PV and some Wind.   These sources are low cost and clean, but when the sun goes away, the incoming power goes away.  

So a method to make up that power supply is needed, because the demand will not change quickly.    At lower levels of renewable, it hardly matters, but when you get to say 30% renewable, it will matter quite a bit.     The utility generation rolling reserve has to be ready to quickly pick up the load, AND/OR energy storage devices need to be built into the system.

More on all this later, for now, I just found this Smart Grid write-up under "Governing" which is a good periodical:

http://www.box.com/s/3kldjayjcmq22uu68c3z

I haven't read  this yet, but a quick skim showed it to be better than 90% of the "Internet Fluff" which is out there related to renewable energy.    Seriously, it is that bad ---- 90% of what is on the net is either just plain opposite wrong, non-applicable, or just someone writing stuff who has no engineering or practical application experience.    Much of what is written is done by parties with a vested interest and they have some point to prove or some ax to grind. 

Considering that this is one of the major issues facing humanity right now, all the Fluff is curious at the least.

How to Read a Dial Electric Meter

How to Read Your Meter
Your electric bill contains all the information you need about your power usage. However, if you would like to read your own meter, here's how to do it.

As you can see from the arrows in the illustration below, the dials on your meter move alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise.

Always read from right to left.

When a hand points between two numbers (as in A, B, C and E) always read the lower number.



Sometimes a hand appears to be pointing directly at a number (as in D). To find out if that number has actually been reached yet, look at the dial to its immediate right (in this case, C). If the hand on dial C has passed zero, then write down the number on dial D to which the arrow is pointing (4). If C has not passed zero, as is the case in this example, write down the number that is lower than the one on dial D to which the arrow is pointing (3).



The correct reading for this meter is 13924 kilowatt-hours.

For information on how to read a net meter, see meter handout.

Solar for around 3 Cents per kWH

Solar a Real Life Study, 1 year Operation 20 Panels PV, Mr. Row

Real System, Full Year of Energy Production Data, Day by Day

Solar is incredibly cheap, less than 10% of the cost of buying power from the utility here in Hawaii

This Actual 20 panel System produces at 3.3 cents per kWH.    Larger systems like 30 panels can be under 2.9 cents.

You can download the Excel here----

http://www.box.com/s/ipn0l6nc3hafxs988689

Here it is Embedded into this post.

Exploding Water Heater?, do the Solar Tune-Up

Urban Myth or reality?    Does is really make sense to maintain the safety features of your water heater do doing the Solar Tune-Up?   Yes it does.

Check this Discovery Video
  

In all likelihood your water heater won't blow up, in fact since the heater is directly connected to the piping system of your house, it is much more likely that increases in pressure would cause a rupture in the piping somewhere else.

That is, IF, your P&T Valve (pressure and temperature relief valve) didn't work properly.     The P&T is a VERY important piece of safety equipment.    Just think is a hot water pipe underneath your house ruptured, what would be the cost to find and fix it?    You wouldn't even know about it until you got a $600 water bill and $600 electric bill.  

Tax Information from the State of Hawaii

The combination of new technology, and State and Federal tax credits has made the Photovoltaic Energy a confusing field for some people.    Some are confused even when there is no reason to be confused.   

We always recommend that customers and potential customers review their exact situation with their tax preparer for a few reasons:

1) The money involved is substantial
2) Your income and your tax situation in this year and upcoming near term years, for both Federal and State, could influence your deicsion making process in accordance with advice of your tax preparer.
3) Ultimately, the tax preparer may have to defend your tax return, so they do have the responsibility for due diligence. 

The State of Hawaii occasionally puts out some Tax Information Releases, the colored link below takes you to a PDF of Tax Release No 2007-02 from September 17, 2007.    I call this one the "12 page clarification".

TIR 2007-02

Below is an excerpt from this TIR, on page 3, that then goes on to define a "system".  

Further down, is some information on what justifies making a "system".  If you make lots of little systems JUST to capture tax credits, you could find some of your credits disallowed.   

Click on the image below for a larger view.

  In the link just below, is a clarifying Tax Information Release TIR 2010-03 to further define what is meant by a system.    


http://www.state.hi.us/tax/tir/tir10-03.pdf

And then in the final paragraph Mr. Kawaguchi summarizes LEGITIMATE design reasons for making multiple systems.    Maybe you want a future electric car, maybe you suspect that your inlaws are going to move in, maybe you can't afford all the panels now--but you want the main infrastructure in place to support the future panels, maybe you want to keep the I(Squared)R wattage losses to a minimum maximizing the overall inverter efficiency.    Review with your tax person.

If you have insomnia, you can read all the TIRs right here!   LOL

http://www.state.hi.us/tax/a3_1tir.htm#tir2009

And right nearby are what they call DOTAX annoucements, not sure what the difference is.    

http://www.state.hi.us/tax/a3_2announce.htm

One thing is clear though, we all need to spend more time producing products that are really needed by our society, and less time messing around with endless clarifications, misinterpretations, specialtiy interest group disinformation campaigns, and all that silliness that doesn't increase our standard of living by hard work and reward of efficient allocation of resources.  


Now that solar is "going mainstream" it seems like every old school control group of the past is trying to dip their fingers into the pot and extract benefit for themselves, AT THE DETRIMENT of those who really need the solar, the working citizens of Hawaii.







 
 

Certified Energy Manager Certificate - Just Renewed

American Savings Bank - Financing Option

American Savings Bank - Financing Option

Another Happy customer sent us HECO bill

HECO Bill from PV Customer