Page 135 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

SOLAR POWER SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 111

It should be noted that solar power PV cells and inverters that are subject to the
California Energy Commission’s rebate must be listed in the commission’s eligible list
of equipment.

INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

1 Experience and technical qualifications
2 Years of experience in solar panel installation and maintenance
3 Familiarity with system components
4 Amount of experience with the particular system product
5 Labor pool and number of full-time employees
6 Troubleshooting experience
6 Financial viability
7 Shop location
8 Union affiliation
9 Performance bond and liability insurance amount
10 Previous litigation history
11 Material, labor, overhead, and profit markups
12 Payment schedule
13 Installation warrantee for labor and material

Solar Power System Design
Considerations

Essential steps for solar power systems engineering design include site evaluation, a
feasibility study, site shading analysis, PV mapping or configuration analysis, dc-to-ac
power-conversion calculations, PV module and inverter system selection, and total solar
power array electrical power calculations. In order to have a holistic understanding of
solar power cogeneration, system designers must have a basic appreciation of
insolation concepts, shading analysis, and various design parameters that affect output
performance and efficiency of the overall system. In view of the California Solar
Initiative (CSI) and other state rebate programs (which will be discussed in later
chapters), the importance of system performance and efficiency forms the foundation
that will determine whether a project becomes financially viable or not.

BASICS OF SOLAR PHYSICS
Insolation The amount of energy that is received from the sun’s rays that strike the
surface of our planet is referred to as insolation I. The amount of energy that reaches
the surface of the earth is by in large subject to climatic conditions such as seasonal
temperature changes, cloudy conditions, and the angle at which solar rays strike the
ground.