[RE-wrenches] Wattsun AZ-225 reliability and Production

Drake Chamberlin drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org
Tue Apr 14 07:22:43 PDT 2009


Allan,

Thanks for the update.  I will be open to specifying trackers again, 
at least for grid tied systems.  I appreciate the quantification of 
the costs and efficiencies.

Drake




At 01:55 AM 4/14/2009, you wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>It is great to hear that Wrenches are having better luck with
>trackers.  This recent thread, on the subject, is way different that
>what has been stated in the past.  It sounds like trackers might
>really be a cost effective approach to net metering.  Is it really
>more cost effective than adding more modules, as we had figured in the past?
>Drake
>
>Drake,
>Yes it is, clearly, if the homeowner has the unobstructed space to take
>advantage of the long summer sun path. It won't help much in a forested site
>with a narrow south solar window.
>
>The logic about adding more modules is a holdover from the off-grid days. A
>tracker adds 35-40% more output in summer and ~15% in winter. Off-grid needs
>to maximize winter gain when tracking provides the least benefit. Grid tie
>allows all of that summer gain to be harvested, provided that the utility's
>true-up is annual and not monthly.
>
>Our rule of thumb: tracking adds about 15-20% to overall system cost, and
>adds 30-35% to annual production in our region. We install quite a few, all
>Wattsun.
>
>Allan at PosE
>
>_______________________________________________
>List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
>List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
>Options & settings:
>http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
>List-Archive: 
>http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
>List rules & etiquette:
>www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
>Check out participant bios:
>www.members.re-wrenches.org

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
740-448-7328
740-856-9648  





More information about the RE-wrenches mailing list