Solar Decathlon: The UPRM Solar Decathlon: The UPRM Solar House Project and the Solar House Project and the Perspectives for Solar Energy Perspectives for Solar Energy in Puerto Ricoin Puerto Rico

Dr. Gerson BeauchampDr. Gerson BeauchampProfessorProfessorElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico

OverviewOverview

The UPRM Solar House ProjectThe UPRM Solar House ProjectThe Solar Decathlon 2007The Solar Decathlon 2007Photovoltaic (PV) SystemsPhotovoltaic (PV) SystemsThe Perspectives for Solar Energy in The Perspectives for Solar Energy in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

20022002CompetitionCompetition

Images of the Inaugural Ceremony, the Solar Village and a delegation of the UPR Team

20052005CompetitionCompetition

Images of the House Tours, the Cooking Task and the Inaugural Ceremony

The CompetitionThe Competition•• Will take place on the National Mall in Will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.,

from September 21from September 21--30, 2007.30, 2007.

•• Consists of Consists of ten (10) eventsten (10) events that encompass all the ways in that encompass all the ways in which societies use energy in their daily lives.which societies use energy in their daily lives.

Solar Decathlon 2007Solar Decathlon 2007

Twenty (20) universitieswill compete against each other in this challenging decathlon during a week in which the public and the media will be invited.

Solar Decathlon 2007Solar Decathlon 2007

Appliances

Comfort Zone

Energy Balance

Hot Water

Engineering

Communications

100

Architecture

100

Getting Around

Lighting

100

100

100

100100

100

100

Marketability

200Decathlon

EventsDecathlon

Events

Solar Decathlon 2007 Solar Decathlon 2007 ParticipantsParticipants

TechnischeTechnische UniversitUniversitäätt DarmstadtDarmstadtTexas A& M UniversityTexas A& M University

The Pennsylvania State UniversityThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversidad Universidad PolitPolitéécnicacnica de Madridde Madrid

University of CincinnatiUniversity of CincinnatiUniversity of Colorado University of Colorado

University of Illinois at UrbanaUniversity of Illinois at Urbana--ChampaignChampaignUniversity of MarylandUniversity of Maryland

University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri--RollaRollaUniversity of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin

Universidad de Puerto RicoUniversidad de Puerto RicoCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCornell UniversityCornell UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of TechnologyKansas State UniversityKansas State UniversityLawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyNew York Institute of TechnologyNew York Institute of TechnologyUniversitUniversitéé de Montrde Montrééalal

Official SponsorsOfficial SponsorsThe Solar Decathlon is a competition The Solar Decathlon is a competition

sponsored by: sponsored by:

•• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) •• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable

EnergyEnergy•• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)•• American Institute of Architects (AIA) American Institute of Architects (AIA) •• National Association of Home BuildersNational Association of Home Builders•• BP SolarBP Solar•• Do It Yourself NetworkDo It Yourself Network•• SprintSprint

2005 Solar Village2005 Solar VillageLot in the 2007

Competition

PV SystemsPV Systems

Solar CellsSolar Cells

Solar Cell ArraysSolar Cell Arrays

Energy StorageEnergy StorageBattery Bank

Energy ManagementEnergy Management

Charge ControllersCharge ControllersInvertersInverters(DC(DC--toto--AC converters)AC converters)

Stand Alone PV SystemsStand Alone PV Systems

PV Systems that are able to supply all the PV Systems that are able to supply all the energy demand independentlyenergy demand independentlyThey may or may not require the use of a They may or may not require the use of a Battery BankBattery BankThese systems are feasible where utility These systems are feasible where utility services are not availableservices are not availableThey are typically used for remote home sites They are typically used for remote home sites or places where the cost for utility service may or places where the cost for utility service may be prohibitivebe prohibitive

GridGrid--Tied PV SystemTied PV System

PV systems that are interconnected to the PV systems that are interconnected to the conventional utility system.conventional utility system.GridGrid--Tied PVTied PV with Battery Backup with Battery Backup -- designed designed to provide power in the event of a utility outageto provide power in the event of a utility outageProvide a way to sell power back to the utilityProvide a way to sell power back to the utilityThe Utility may be used as a backup for the The Utility may be used as a backup for the systemsystem

The State of RegulationThe State of Regulation

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA)1978 (PURPA)

Utility companies are obliged to purchase Utility companies are obliged to purchase energy from independent producers based energy from independent producers based on a pricing structure referred to as avoided on a pricing structure referred to as avoided cost ratescost ratesThis rate is smaller than the rate the utility This rate is smaller than the rate the utility company sells the energy to the smaller company sells the energy to the smaller producerproducer

The State of RegulationThe State of Regulation

Net MeteringNet MeteringUnder net metering, excess electricity Under net metering, excess electricity produced by the PV System will spin the produced by the PV System will spin the existing home or business electricity meter existing home or business electricity meter backwards, effectively banking the electricity backwards, effectively banking the electricity until it is needed by the customeruntil it is needed by the customerThis provides the customer with full retail This provides the customer with full retail value for all the electricity producedvalue for all the electricity produced

Avoided Cost ConceptAvoided Cost Concept

18-22 cent-kilowatt-Hour

4-6 cent-kilowatt-hour

kWh Meter

18-22 cent-kilowatt-Hour

4-6 cent-kilowatt-hour

kWh Meter

Avoided Cost ConceptAvoided Cost Concept

Net Metering ConceptNet Metering Concept

18-22 cent-kilowatt-Hour

18-22 cent-kilowatt-hour

kWh Meter

Net Metering ConceptNet Metering Concept

18-22 cent-kilowatt-Hour

18-22 cent-kilowatt-hour

kWh Meter

The State of Net MeteringThe State of Net Metering

Net metering is allowed in 40 US States and Net metering is allowed in 40 US States and Washington D.C.Washington D.C.Allowed system sizes range from 10 kW to noAllowed system sizes range from 10 kW to no--limitlimitBureaucracy and governmental barriers have Bureaucracy and governmental barriers have slowed down the growth of gridslowed down the growth of grid--tied systemstied systemsNet metering is not allowed in Puerto RicoNet metering is not allowed in Puerto Rico

Questions?Questions?