Solar Cells for Windows
ScienceDaily (July 20, 2012) — UCLA researchers have developed a new transparent solar cell that is an advance toward giving windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still allowing people to see outside. Their study appears in the journal ACS Nano…
http://www.opednews.com/populum/linkframe.php?linkid=153351
Luminalt is working to design a solar electric system that can be installed, in consideration of monthly payments that would have a neutral cash flow impact.
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ONE WAY WE CAN SAVE ENERGY AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Design: Luminalt is in the process of designing a 98 kilowatt solar system, comprised of approximately 300 SunPower 308 and 327 watt panels, that will provide around 30% of the power we used in 2011. We prefer to place the panels on the theater roof as it gets the best sun, is closet to the power room, and is not being used for anything else. Use that roof depends on the roof structure, which we are in the process of studying. If we can’t use that roof, for some or all of the panels, we have to design for a different roof and that would entail a different approach. That is why there are no firm figures yet.
Objective: Design a solar electric system that can be installed, in consideration of monthly payments that would have a neutral cash flow impact. In other words the monthly cost of the system to Project Artaud would be equal to or less than cost of the electricity that Project Artaud would be paying to PG&E absent the solar system. We would be looking at a 10-year operating lease agreement with Tech Credit, the funder for the project. At the end of the 10 years, we own the system. I was told to spend no money. Luminalt is working under that premise.
Luminalt Q & A
1. How many parties must be involved in signing contracts and who are those parties?
There are 3 contracts that we must sign:
1 – Tech Credit is the most important contract. We must have a signed contract with Tech Credit by August 31, 2010 in order to take advantage of the safe harbored funds that will be used to purchase the solar panels from SunPower. Tech credit is the financing partner for SunPower and uses the federal section 1603 Treasury Grant to offer a 10-year operating lease. I believe the interest rate is 7%.
2 – PG&E Interconnection Agreement. Luminalt will send an application for their review as soon as the design is finalized. This should set the rates at which we are credited for the energy we produce and answer our questions about future rates and fees.
3 – Luminalt contract with the installer will be signed off prior to the installation of the system. They are a turnkey operation, which means they handle the paperwork for all the applications.
In addition to putting together the financing package, Luminalt will apply for GoSolarSF incentive funds to lower our costs. There are 2 million dollars that will be disbursed over 4 quarters to qualified applicants. How much each gets will be determined by GoSolarSF, and will depend on how many applicants there are.
Dates to apply for the GoSolarSF funds:
2. What is Artaud’s exposure? Must we put up any collateral?
No. This is an unsecured loan and operator’s lease.
3. Are there any additional expenses such as insurance?
We need to finalize the design before we can get that information.
4. What percentage of power can we produce?
We are supposed to get a 30% drop in our draw from PG&E. The system design is based on our electric use during 2011.
5. What is the total value of added capitol improvements?
We need to finalize the plans in order to get the total.
6. Will we have to pay for any city licenses, inspections or fees?
This appears to be a part of the package deal.
7. Is there a balloon payment or closing costs?
This is supposed to be rolled into the ten-year payments that are covered by the 30% savings.
8. What is the cost to PAC, over ten years?
We will know once the design is finalized.
9. What is the benefit to PAC over those 10 years?
Energy savings. Knowledge that we are doing a lot for the planet. The real financial savings for PAC will come at the end of 10 years, when PAC should reduce payments for electricity to PG+E by at least 30%. We could further reduce our payments be adding more panels if and when politics allow. Theoretically we could produce most of our power in the future if we want to cover our roofs with panels.
The header requires a 960 x 260 shape image. Please send us some new roof photos for this blog if you have any.
We anticpate informal monthly discussions about how we can move ahead to plan for a solar system an other environmental upgrades on our property.
Art of Solar 
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