Art Lebermann: April 2008 Archives

Yesterday the electricians connected the circuit between the solar panels and our main PG&E feed. When the complete system is up and running, power from the solar panels will feed into the same circuit that carries our PG&E power.  In order to make the connection, we had to turn off our PG&E feed, start our diesel generator, and then pull the main disconnect switch.  While the electricians worked on the (now "cold") PG&E side of the switch, our  automatic transfer switch fed generator power to the building.



(The diesel generator is noisy, hence the ear protection the electricians are wearing in the photo.)

This is a delicate operation, and Chief Engineer Joe Talbot was on hand to make sure we didn't lose power and go off the air.  Fortunately, Joe reports, "It was flawless and took less time than expected."

With this work completed, there will be no future interruptions to our PG&E service when the two solar systems are placed on line.

And in other good news, work on the SolFocus system is scheduled to resume next week.

In launching KGO's solar initiative, we wanted to make use of readily available technology, but we also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be pioneers in exploring the benefits of emerging products -- i.e. the new solar tracking technology from SolFocus.

This technology offers two advantages not available in today's mainstream products: its CPV (concentrated photovoltaic) panels use innovative optics to concentrate the sun's rays for maximum energy generation. In addition, the panels are mounted on dual-axis trackers that allow the panels -- like much of the plant world -- to follow the sun as it moves across the sky during the day. This means that unlike traditional fixed panels, the SolFocus panels are positioned for the best possible energy generation during all daylight hours.


As is common with new technology, unexpected delays have come up in our SolFocus installation.  Nancy  Hartsoch of SolFocus explains:


"Some very recent upgrades to our solar tracking technology have caused a slight delay in the installation of the SolFocus CPV panels at KGO's transmitter site. However, there is no doubt it will be worth the wait! The new technology, developed in Spain and custom-designed for us, allows us to track the sun more accurately, resulting in a more efficient, effective and long-lived system.  The significance of this project demands that we 'get it right' and use the best technology available.  Stay tuned..."

While delays are always unfortunate, we agree that in this case the time is well spent to ensure better performance -- and additional knowledge -- once our SolFocus installation is up and running. We'll keep you informed as things develop.