“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
My opinions are barely worth the paper they are written on here, but hopefully they can spark some new ideas, or at least a different train of thought
Peter VanDerWal wrote:.....modern meters measure power flow through them, but don't care which way it flows. In order to get credit for energy sent to the grid, you need a meter designed specifically to act as a "net-meter". The power company will only install a 'net-meter' after your installation is inspected and approved. Obviously they will never approve a setup like the one you describe.
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
My opinions are barely worth the paper they are written on here, but hopefully they can spark some new ideas, or at least a different train of thought
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
John Weiland wrote:
Edit--Is the 300W limit in this diagram only due to the capacity of the inverter? If the circuit into which the inverted power was a 20 amp circuit, could one us a ~2000W inverter (GTI) and relevant power source?
John Weiland wrote:Thank you for your excellent response and useful links, Peter, I hope to read through those at my earliest convenience. As I was pondering the possibility of grid intertie last night, I found the following *Coop-Specific* (i.e., just at our own coop's website) verbiage regarding a "Distributed Energy Grid Access Charge" that the Rural Coops have been granted the right to levy by the state PUC:
"The Distributed Generation (DG) Grid Access Charge is $2.86/KW of nameplate capacity of the DG
system above the first 3.5KW of nameplate capacity. The DG Grid Access Charge will not exceed the
cooperative’s fixed costs to serve the member based on the year end Form 7 report and there will be a
cap of $45/month for each DG system.
**For example a 10KW DG system would be billed a monthly DG Grid Access Charge of $18.59/month.
10KW nameplate capacity system – first 3.5KW of nameplate capacity=6.5KW and 6.5KW times
$2.86/KW = $18.59.
The cooperative is given the authority to recover the costs of service through MN State Statute
216B.164, Subd. 3: Purchases; small facilities." [end quoted text]
I guess I find it a bit dismaying that they are able to charge based on the *rated* generating capacity of the system, whereas their payback is based on the actual *generated* flow-back power. If they simply adopted the "reduced-rate payback" model for power generated by the home-owner, wouldn't this be more fair than being a net-metering state and than add on a fixed connection charge that seems to be overly-taxing? What if I (hypothetically) get no sun or no wind?....Aren't I still paying the grid access charge anyway according to this language? (And of course, I'm already paying an 'access charge' of sorts since the coop will charge a monthly service fee irrespective of my use of their own power.) Maybe this is just the ins and outs of grid intertie that all home generators of power have had to deal with before and I'm just experiencing newbie frustrations...(?)
John Weiland wrote:
"The Distributed Generation (DG) Grid Access Charge is $2.86/KW of nameplate capacity of the DG
system above the first 3.5KW of nameplate capacity.
My opinions are barely worth the paper they are written on here, but hopefully they can spark some new ideas, or at least a different train of thought
frank li wrote:[
good way to meet code with a lower budget and without optimizers or microinverters is to wall mount the array overtop or adjacent to the service entrance and place an integrated ac/dc disconnect string inverter right there. It avoids requirement of additional remote disconnect/ rapid shutdown equipment and wiring, $600-$1000 or more.
My opinions are barely worth the paper they are written on here, but hopefully they can spark some new ideas, or at least a different train of thought
Peter VanDerWal wrote:Even if you needed to use a 5KW system, that is less than $5 a month for grid access, I'd consider that a good deal.
My power coop is phasing in a grid access charge for their solar customers, but it's a flat rate fee and in 3 years, when it's fully phased in, it will be $50 a month. At that point I will only be saving about $5 a month over not having any solar at all, so I plan to disconnect and go off grid when that happens.
frank li wrote:
I have seen the plug and plays work.... most are only 500 or 600w so, the output is absorbed by loads before double billing as long as standing loads are higher.
“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein
Peter VanDerWal wrote:
frank li wrote:[
good way to meet code with a lower budget and without optimizers or microinverters is to wall mount the array overtop or adjacent to the service entrance and place an integrated ac/dc disconnect string inverter right there. It avoids requirement of additional remote disconnect/ rapid shutdown equipment and wiring, $600-$1000 or more.
I don't understand what you mean here. All grid-tie inverters include rapid shutdown capabilities when grid power goes away, so regardless of where you mount them there is no additional cost.
If the power company wants the capability to do remote shut down, that is usually built into THEIR equipment (meter or transformers) and THEY bear the cost not the consumer. Even if the consumer had to pay for it, the requirement would exist regardless of where you located your inverter.
My opinions are barely worth the paper they are written on here, but hopefully they can spark some new ideas, or at least a different train of thought
Tog.
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