paulgoodjohn/SolarPowerClass

Solar power class notes

SolarPowerClass

These are the class notes and supporting material for the class taught to engineers at GE Appliances during engineering week. The class is intended to give a broad overview of the tools and materials that are available but doesn't presume much actual technical knowledge. The class has been taught now for several years, and it evolves each time and as new information is found.

All the stuff in here is freely available for anyone to use - likewise, if anyone out there in the wider internet world has stuff that isn't here please submit the changes you would like via a pull request (the tab above). Feel free to clone this, look at all the documents and please, have a go. The worst thing that could happen is the world gets to be a little bit better :)

• News:

  • As part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2023 a solar project that begins construction in either 2023 is eligible for a 30% ITC.

• Vendors:

  • https://www.solaris-shop.com/
  • https://www.wholesalesolar.com/
  • https://www.savegreenmoney.com/default.asp
  • https://www.santansolar.com/product/
  • https://mannsolar.com/current-inventory/

• Free money

  • If you run a business in a rural area here are loans and grants (Oldham County is considered rural)
  • https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency
  • Federal 26% tax credit

• Local suppliers

  • Nathan Mann - advertises on Craigslist, stand-up chap, recommended. mannsolarenergy@gmail.com and
  • https://mannsolar.com/ He also will install systems if you need that.
  • Jim Piper Pipedream Solar 859-621-6779 - out of Lexington, great prices and decent guy to deal with.
  • In Louisville: https://solarmyplace.com/

• How-to pages:

  • https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/solar-power-101
  • https://www.solarpowerrocks.com/
  • https://www.homepower.com/archive-browse
  • https://www.wholesalesolar.com/blog/step-by-step-diy-solar-installation Off-grid compendium
  • https://www.primalsurvivor.net/wind-solar-hybrid-system/

• List of local installers

  • http://www.kyses.org/installers

• Permit support documents

  • Copies of permit schematics from Anapode (now no longer accessible) are on this site.

• Toys

  • Enlighten - view of my system is here: https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pv/systems/345180/overview?osv=1
  • Sense: https://sense.com/

• Tools and calculators

  • Google has a very cool one here
  • https://www.google.com/get/sunroof#p=0
  • This site has a great "What can I expect" tool:
  • https://www.nrel.gov/
  • Solar Edge design tool
  • https://www.solaredge.com/products/installer-tools/designer#/
  • NEC (electrical code)
  • https://archive.org/details/gov.law.nfpa.nec.2014/page/n2

• Solar power as a retirement strategy

  • https://news.energysage.com/solar-power-as-a-retirement-investment-strategy/
  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/06/14/a-new-spin-on-solar-a-great-retirement-vehicle/#2a20960c561d

• Indiana net meter stuff

  • https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/indiana/issues/net-metering/

• Louisville solar stuff

  • https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability/installing-solar-louisville

• LG&E's page to request a net meter

  • https://lge-ku.com/residential/billing/net-metering

• Politics and the fight to keep net metering

  • https://www.sesre.com/public-comment-on-net-metering-rate-cases/