assignments
May 8
The latter part of this semester we started work on a proposal for what I have called a "large-scale solar array" at Marlboro. "Large" means in comparison to the solar array at the farm - so something significantly bigger than 4.8 kW. The P&O building uses approximately 12,000 kWh per year of electricity. What size array would we need to offset that usage?
Right now the draft proposal has five sections. Each of you must pick one section to develop further. Your goal is to have a polished draft of language for your section, due on May 8, and approximately two pages long (1.5 or double-spaced, 12 pt font).
- Rationale [Daniel M?]
- Size of proposed array [Ryan]
- Location of proposed array [Dylan]
- Financing/fundraising models for project [Spencer]
- Other proposal elements
For your segment, draw on our own discussions,
the study of solar at Marlboro, as well as the proposals from other colleges. You must do your own work, but you can take inspiration from those other proposals. Cite any language or ideas that are not your own, and are not considered general knowledge.
Two other smaller projects you could write about are:
- Stand-alone car charger [Ben R]
- Solar charging system at coffee-drinking pavilion [Kenny]
Again, you have to indicate which segment or small project you are claiming as your own. We'll finalize on Wednesday, 4/26.
April 12
Read the posted articles on long-term power purchase agreements and answer the following questions:
- What is an "REC"?
- What are two significant attributes of PPAs? Explain why these attributes are considered advantages
- If Marlboro builds a solar array financed with a PPA, would the college still pay for electricity?
- What is the fixed-price scheme for PPA pricing, and why might an institution chose that option?
March 27
Your assignment for Monday, March 27 has two parts:
1. How should we analyze the performance of the solar array at the greenhouse? What questions do you have about its performance, and what information do we need to answer your questions?
2. How should we prepare for the creation of a proposal for a large solar array at Marlboro College? What information do we need, and who should we talk to who can help us with that information?
Please submit your answers in writing prior to class.
due Tue Feb 21
week 5
Use the PVWatts calculator tool (created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) to calculate the annual production of a 1 kW solar array. You will get some value in kWh per year.
The program will ask for details such as
- DC system size (kW) [use "1"]
- module type [use preset, "standard"]
- array type [use preset, "fixed (open rack)"]
- system losses % [use preset, 14%]
- tilt (deg) [experiment with different settings, observe effect on annual production]
- azimuth (deg) [remember what Gary MacArthur recommended here? If not, experiment with this too]
Feel free to choose a different weather station at the very beginning, too.
And don't worry about the "initial economics" section.
Bring your results to class on Monday.
due Wed Feb 15
week 4
Please read the proposal for a solar powered ventilation system in the greenhouse. Write a paragraph on some element of this proposal that we should adapt for the proposal on the solar battery charger. Alternatively, write about what's missing from the greenhouse ventilation proposal - what could we add to our current project that would make it stronger?
due Mon Feb 6
week 3
Add your thoughts to the discussion of the cargo bike project. The goal of this part of the project is to decide where to put the solar panel to charge the bike's battery.
due Mon Jan 30
week 2
How do solar panels work - how do they turn sunlight into electricity?
Please read these two articles that discuss how they work:
Questions to answer for Monday:
- One article states that solar energy can be used to cool homes - how would that work?
- What happens to all the energy, in the form of sunlight, that falls on the earth that we don't capture with solar panels?
- what's the light absorbing component of most solar cells?
- why is a solar panel also called a "photovoltaic" panel?
due Mon Jan 23
week 1
Readings
Response to second reading:
- Find a prediction in the second reading and do some research to see if the prediction seems accurate. Write a brief description of your research.
