Page 172 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

148 SOLAR POWER SYSTEM PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGIES

35
30
QUADRILLION BTU 20 SERIES 1
25

15

10
5

0
CHIN RUS JAP GERM CAN IND FRAN UK BRA
Figure 3.74 Top 10 energy consumers in the world by CO 2 emissions
and region.

It is estimated that the cost of nonrenewable energy will, within the next decade, be
increased by approximately 4–5 percent by producers. When compounded with a gen-
eral inflation rate of 3 percent, average energy cost over the next decade could be
expected to rise at a rate of about 7 percent per year. This cost increase does not take
into account other inflation factors, such as regional conflicts, embargoes, and natural
catastrophes.
In view of the fact that solar power cogeneration systems require nearly zero main-
tenance and are more reliable than any other human-made power-generation devices
(the systems have an actual life span of 35–40 years and are guaranteed by the manu-
facturers for a period of 25 years), it is my opinion that in a near-perfect geographic
setting such as Hemet, their integration into mainstream architectural design not only
will enhance design aesthetics but also will generate considerable savings and mitigate
adverse effects on ecology from global warming.
As indicated in the solar power cogeneration study, the average cost per installed
watt of electric energy is approximately 40 percent of the total installed cost. The unit
cost encompasses all turnkey cost components, such as engineering design documen-
tation, solar power components, PV support structures, electrical hardware, inverters,
integration labor, and labor training.

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS

As mentioned earlier, solar power systems have a near-zero maintenance requirement.
However, to prevent marginal degradation in output performance from dust accumu-
lation, solar arrays require a biyearly rinsing with a regular water hose. Since solar
power arrays are completely modular, system expansion, module replacement, and
troubleshooting are simple and require no special maintenance skills. All electronic
dc-to-ac inverters are modular and can be replaced with minimum downtime.