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Photon Power
A Power-Hungry World
Ageing Grid, Exceeding Life Expectancy:
$17 Trillion (2013) Needed Globally
Why Invest In Failing Centrally-Controlled
Infrastructure?
Energy Delivery of The Future
Drivers Of Change
 Falling
cost
 Rate
hikes – 28% by 2018 in B.C.
 Grid
parity – 75% in 18 months.
 B.C
is already there !
 Incentives
 Fossil
fuels – Climate Change
How do Solar PV Modules Work?
Large Scale Commercial
T’Souke First Nation:
Population 250.
Plan to reduce energy
consumption by 75%
and then net zero.
75 kW of solar
Small Scale Residential
3 kW (12 Panel) Grid Tie System
10 kW (40 panel) Grid Tie System
Process

Yearly Consumption
Budget
Replacement decision

Physical site analysis – sun exposure,
obstructions, space, roof vs ground,
stresses re wind, structural issues, visual
impacts, neighbours, bylaws, security and
other considerations

Determine system size, number of panels,
wiring requirements, location.

Coordinate the install, permits and
inspections necessary to complete.
Traditional Systems
Microinverter System
Advantages Of Grid Tie Microinverters

240 volt AC, not 600 volt DC

Lower installation cost

Partial shading not a problem

Redundancy—no system failure vs string
inverters

Cost for system units on par with string
inverters
Racking System With Microinverters
Panel Mount over Microinverter
Before installing PV,
reduce consumption
Do we have enough Sunshine?
Look at Germany
Solar power works on cloudy days!
The small demonstration inverter,
rated at 1100 Watts is putting out
close to 50% capacity.
On a full-sized system (10 kW),
this would be 4745 Watts.
That’s enough to run 47 100 Watt
light bulbs at the same time.
To Battery or not to Battery
To Battery or not to Battery

Costly, high maintenance, and
cannot transfer power for more than
a few days. Not enviro friendly.

Use the Grid as a battery.

Accounting shifts summer surplus to
winter deficit.
Three Meter Options

Analog: No credit for surplus

RF off: Reading fee

RF on: Automatic credit for surplus
The Fortis /B.C Hydro Tariff

To qualify for net metering, a Grid Tie System
must have an approved bi-directional (smart)
meter installed.

From The Fortis Net Metering Guidelines
http://www.fortisbc.com/Electricity/CustomerS
ervice/NetMeteringProgram/Docum

Section 3.1.5 "It is required that the
customer's facility be equipped with a bidirectional meter (or a meter approved by a
Fortis designer)
Photon Power
- GabEnergy A Non Profit Society
The purposes of the Society are to:
 promote
and facilitate the development
of sustainable alternative energy sources
for Gabriola;
 conduct
educational outreach for
alternative energy projects;
 build
skills and expertise on Gabriola for
alternative energy development; and
 facilitate
the provision of low cost
infrastructure for alternative energy
systems throughout British Columbia.
How

Portal connecting buyers to the wholesaler –
not resellers

Provide advice, coordinate ordering, shipment
and delivery of system components.

To cover fixed costs, a five percent donation for
above services is requested.
*Prices do not include shipping, GST, installation & donation.
The Economic Case - Austin Texas
Levelized Cost (LCOE) for Solar

LCOE is the industry standard for analyzing
delivered energy costs.

Cost divided by power produced

10 kW.h system on Gabe

$26,000.00 / 275,000 kW.h

$0.09 per kW.h
Levelized Cost (LCOE) for Solar

LCOE for this installation is just Nine cents
Per kW.h Guaranteed for 25 Years into the
future! *

No other Energy Source can match that; not
even close!
10 kW Installation
Option A
Per watt costs
Components
DIY Mounts
Wiring
Inspection
Shipping
Taxes, fees
Misc Labour
Total
$1.47
$0.10
$0.12
$0.05
$0.12
$0.15
$0.15
$2.16
Option B PerTurnkey
Watt Costs
Components
Wiring
Inspection
Shipping
Taxes,Fees
Labour
TotaL
$1.73
$0.12
$0.05
$0.12
$0.15
$0.35
$2.52
The Numbers….. What To Look For

LCOE of $0.09 per kW.h

Installed cost no more than $2.60 / watt

In fact we just did an install where the
LCOE was $0.07 per kW.h and the
installed cost was just $2.04 per watt!
Other Approaches
IPP
Over 1 MW
Municipal / Private
Kimberley
1 MW
4,200 Panels
Azimuth tracking
Net Metering

Up to 100 kW

Existing service to property

Physical size

400 panels - twice the size of a basketball
court
Net Meter
Earth Heartbeat
Investor Co-op
Investor Co-op

Many Models: Europe, Ontario

Shares, usually a module multiple

Regular stock options

Member owned and controlled
Community Project
Community Project

One time initiative

Salt Spring School

On going small administration
Community Co-op
Community Co-op

Donations

Membership owned & controlled

Expands over time

Directs benefits to a mix of community
programs

Volunteer Board & Admin

Eventually will need paid staff
Site Selection
Site Selection

Physical parameters

Private, Crown or other

Legal, lease, covenants, rate of return

Eventual replacement of infrastructure
Technical, Regulatory
Technical, Regulatory

Bylaws

ALR

Tax, zoning implications
Legal
Legal

Legal Structure

Business details
Communications
Communications

Internal

External

Expansion, fund raising
www.gabenergy.com