Learning about solar energy systems

[capebretoner]

I am starting to research "off the shelf" solutions for medium scale projects. Does anyone have any information that may help me, I would require a Canadian solution or a low cost international solution

Thanks in advance

[mgopilot]

You can shop the internet for individual components, to get the best bang for the buck (incl. shpg.) Charge controls, solar panels(Unisolar is my favorite), Air 403 wind generators(marine grade). Mounting is best done with local L-aluminum and bolts(easy to make), local wire, fuzes, silicone, and deep cycle batteries.
There are probably books at your local library about Independent Homes, or the Solar Living Sourcebook.

[capebretoner]

Thanks for the information, but currently don't have the time to do too much research up front, and would rather learn about a company that I could contact to get the relevant design information.

I am in charge of designing service station standards for a large company in Canada that will be building upwards of 150 of these sites. I am thinking that the canopy may be a good place for solar panels and adding supplemental power to the site.

This is the idea, I would like to bring a proposal to the powers that be within the next month but have been working 60 hour weeks and don't have a lot of time for the initial design.

[dburdenbates]

This probably isn't exactly what you are looking for, but just in case you can try...

http://www.recycling-revolution.com/solnrg

http://www.recycling-revolution.com/solarebook

http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com/

Best of luck to you in selling this to the man.

[capebretoner]

Thanks,

This is going to give me a bunch of reading to do.

[MarkuisMellvile]

BPSolar have installed wind and PV combination systems on a number of their forecourts and sites over the last ten years.

BPSolar also provide the majority of the polycrystalline PV cells to the UK market.

I'm sure such a large company as British Petroleum (BP) has an outlet in Canada that you might approach in the first instance.

MM

[capebretoner]

Originally Posted by MarkuisMellvile

BPSolar have installed wind and PV combination systems on a number of their forecourts and sites over the last ten years.

BPSolar also provide the majority of the polycrystalline PV cells to the UK market.

I'm sure such a large company as British Petroleum (BP) has an outlet in Canada that you might approach in the first instance.

MM

I think that IOL might have problems with buying products from a competitor

[MarkuisMellvile]

The number of low cost international solutions or Canadian solutions not being sold off-the-shelf by what IOL could regard as direct competitors are relatively small I'd have thought.

What sort of numbers are you thinking of when you say "medium-scale" projects?

50kW, 200kW, 1MW, greater or less?

You must have the equivalent of Solar Century, Genasys or suchlike on that side of the Atlantic.

MM

[capebretoner]

I have been going through the information and I think that it will be a viable solution for the 2007 standards.

The biggest hurdle is still getting IOL to sign on, I gave them an estimate of what the system would cost and he wasn't favourable to the idea, but I might just have to go alittle higher up the chain

I will keep you guys posted on the progress

and MarkuisMellvile thanks for all of the help

[capebretoner]

A site that I found to be very helpful was
http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/technologies.html

If you are not sure about the jargon, check out the FAQs on this site