COSTCO charges up its first solar warehouse.

[skids]

Positive move by a progressive company.

At 600kW (DC), covering nearly 45,000 square feet, the PV system, which sits among more than 200 existing skylights, will be among the largest privately owned, commercial PV systems in the U.S.

...

The 600kW system will use 1,860 SCHOTT Solar ASE-310 (310-watt) panels, the most powerful solar panels available on the market. A patent-pending adhesion (racking) system, developed specifically by Permacity for COSTCO's classic big box warehouse design holds the modules up off the aluminum roof at a 10 degree angle, increasing system performance while blocking the sun from beating down and heating up the roof, decreasing air conditioning load. Permacity will also install its unique real-time system capable of monitoring the performance of each PV panel string.

http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/market/business/viewstory?id=45530

The more the commercial sector wants to foot the bill for the whole "today's panels pay for tomorrow's cheaper panels" the better, IMO. They are certainly in a better position to make PV work financially than a private homeowner at this point.

On a related note, it looks like solar prices may have started to round the Si shortage peak. Price surveys from future months will be something to watch. One can hope:

http://www.solarbuzz.com/Moduleprices.htm

[Sherman A1]

1. Super

It's good to see this type of thing. Locally (St. Louis) one of the major construction companies took over an old warehouse, converted it to their HQ, using a combination of solar and the biggest darn windmill I have ever seen. Needless to say they didn't suffer any problems during our recent power outage (created by a combination of Mother Nature and incompetent management by the utility company)

[jarnocan]

2. I like Costco, you wonder why

more aren't doing this. Cool. Hopefully more companies will. We have such a long way to go and this intense heat should clue some folks in.

[LiberalEsto]

3. I wish they'd sell residential solar systems

at an affordable price. Anyone who can figure out how to make and sell home solar for under $5,000 is going to sweep the market.

[skids]

4. They do sell panels online...

...and their prices aren't all that bad.

I wish they'd put them out on the shelves for folks to see, though. Get people thinking that normally wouldn't.

[MelissaB]

12. Can you give me a link to two?

I'd love to "look". Thanks in advance!

[skids]

13. Just type solar into the search box at costco.com

They aren't the best prices you can find anywhere, but they aren't exhorbitant either.

[MelissaB]

15. Thanks so much!

Link for the lazy: http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=&topnav=&search=solar&N=0&Ntt=solar&cm_re=1-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search

Now I need to educate myself on all the terms so I know what the heck I'm reading.

Watt, amp, volt...

I need a "solar for dummies" to know how much I need for what.

[skids]

16. The most basic of basics:

Watt = amp times volt

Watts are a unit of power. Watt hours (Wh) are a unit of energy.

Watt ratings of panels are in peak sunlight facing directly at the sun.

Charge controllers sit between the panel and the batteries.

Inverters sit between the batteries and normal AC household appliances.

The volt ratings (usually multiples of 12V) are used to match panels to charge controllers to batteries to inverters. You can stack up (identical) panels (e.g. two 12V panels to match a 24V battery) and you can stack up (identical, new) batteries, but inverters cannot be stacked, and charge controllers can only rarely be stacked -- and only when the manufacturer says it's OK.
This is called "serial" stacking. Panels are sometimes rated at their "open circuit" voltage which will be a bit higher than the 12V multiple, e.g. 15V panels are for a 12V system.

The same goes for the amp ratings -- except it's called "parallel" stacking and you don't have to "match" the components exactly, just make sure each one can handle at least as much as what the panel puts out and what the appliances draw. It's easier to find charge controllers and inverters that can be parallel stacked than serial -- and still manufacturer approval is advised.

To get high power you can go for higher voltage or higher ampherage. Generally high ampherage is a bit less efficient and requires thicker cabling, but 12V systems are much more universally compatible.

That should be enough for "just looking." If you do anything other than one of the pre-matched kits, though, you really need a pro for the design and hands-on.

[lindisfarne]

6. Solar is great but most people can save more electricity by increasing

insulation, caulking places where heat leaks, installing energy efficient windows, buying energy efficient (energy star) appliances (i personally believe people should wait until they wear out because when you calculate in the energy costs of *producing* an appliance, you're not saving by getting rid of one before its useful life is over), using CFL light bulbs, and so on.

I'm not saying *no* to solar, but people should do all of the above *before* thinking of solar - it's cheaper and money better spent.

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Well, a warehouse roof is kind of unique

you have huge amounts of space - often tens of acres - with bugger-all underneath except cardboard boxes, a few lights and a bored forklift driver listening to Led Zeppelin on his walkman (you can guess where I've worked :D). Yet it's probably surrounded by sundry industrial units hungry for power from nine to five.

If there's a better place for PV, I can't think of it off-hand.

Of course houses are, as you point out, different.

[LiberalEsto]

8. I've done all those things

except the windows, and I'd have done those too if I could afford it. We had a lot of extra insulation put in the attic last fall. We have a gas stove and gas water heater.

This past week I got my PEPCO bill -- $230! Most of it is due to their recent 33% rate hike -- thanks to deregulation in Maryland. Part is due to having to run a dehumidifier after a water leak in the basement. And part is due to my kids, 19 and 22, insisting on keeping the thermostat at 76 degrees or lower this summer because the house is "too hot."

We've always kept it on 78 in past years. Since they won't listen to me, and turn it down to 76 or lower whenever I go to work, sleep, etc., I can only wait till they both move out in September. I look forward to their first experience with having to pay their own bills.

I wish we could find a way to get off the electric grid entirely.

[midnight]

9. what if one is thinking of an addition.

Wouldn't it be more economical in the long run to harness the energy from the sun to heat and hopefully cool the space?

[Ready4Change]

5. Power AND shade.

Almost never see shade mentioned when discussing solar.

The idea that got me considering a solar installation on my house was the heat being absorbed by a flat portion of the roof. I was thinking "gee, if only I could shade that somehow." Thoughts of tarps got me thinking, "pity I can't use that blocked sunlight for something..."

At some point I'll have the money together to make those thoughts reality.

[midnight]

10. Don't know what exactly you are refering to when you say shade.

It sounds interesting though.

[midnight armadillo]

11. explanation

Hi there, half-my-name. I think what Ready4Change means is that he gets a two-fer from solar panels: electricity and shading for the roof, which means a cooler attic and less of a heat load on the house.

You can get the same effect by adding trellises to the south and west sides of your house and planting climbing veggies, like tomatoes, squash, and beans. You shade the wall (cooling it), and feed yourself.

In any case, while PV are expensive, solar hot water is extremely affordable, to the point that some solar HW advocates claim the cost savings pay for the loan for the system.

[Ready4Change]

19. Well, I'd LIKE a two-fer from solar panels.

I've not installed a solar system yet. Need more $$$'s.

While I've a geeky fascination with solar PV electric, I'm also interested in solar water heat, perhaps using it to provide a radiant heated floor in the winter.

What I've not yet seen, though, are good options for residential solar AC. There are some industrial grade solutions out there, and some intruguing house designs (like these.) But I can't afford the former, and the people making the latter aren't responding to my info requests.

[NMDemDist2]

14. and you WANT the sun in the house in the winter

passive solar is very good if your house is set on the lot correctly

google "passive solar" for more info

[Ready4Change]

17. Roofs aren't generally used for passive solar heating.

A roof that might seem usable for passive solar heating is usually incredibly bad in terms of heat loss. To all heat to enter in in winter time it allows heat entry in summertime as well, when you don't want it. Further, in winter, the same characteristics that would let solar generated heat enter the roof provide a free pathway from interior warmth to EXIT.

What seem to be the best passive solar designs have very insulative roofs, and large south facing windows to allow in low angled winter sunlight.

[NMDemDist2]

18. that's what I meant. n/t

[Ready4Change]

20. Ah, sorry.

Thought you were saying a roof that passes heat is good for winter. My bad. (I should learn to not read things too quickly.)

[NMDemDist2]

21. ....

:hi:

no worries, so many posts, so little time.......