<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Reference PV System</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><BR>
I am working with the City of Edmonton, Alberta to develop a reference system. The intent is to provide accurate data for owners of systems within the city limits to use to verify their system performance. It is seen as a great way to insure quality installations under their municipal grant program, as well as a way to provide some real life performance data for system sizing and installation recommendations. The City is considering tying the dispersal of system grants to verified performance. (We are hoping to eventually have a municipal performanced-based FIT, but until then...) <BR>
<BR>
At this point the plan is to permanently install modules at eight different orientations to imitate common installations:<BR>
<B><BR>
</B></SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>True South 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)<BR>
True South 26.6 degrees (Equivalent to a 6 in 12 pitch roof)<BR>
True South 45.0 degrees (Equivalent to a 12 in 12 pitch roof)<BR>
True South 53.0 degrees (Latitude)<BR>
True South 70.0 degree pitch (the estimated best angle for year round performance in Edmonton when snow is not removed)<BR>
True south 90 degree pitch (Equivalent to a vertical wall installation)<BR>
SE 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)<BR>
SW 18.4 degrees ( Equivalent to a 4 in 12 pitch roof)<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>We will probably install two modules at each orientation to provide redundancy to back up possible equipment malfunction. Each module will have its own micro-inverter uploading data to a website. The system will be installed on a municipal building, probably a firehouse.<BR>
<BR>
We are also considering installing a second, identical system which would have snow removed once a day (at daybreak). This would provide owners considering snow removal with comparative data. The challenge here is how to consistently remove accumulated snow. We probably will not be able to get municipal staff to carry this out so we are looking into automated systems.<BR>
<BR>
So gentlemen I would love to get your thoughts:<BR>
<BR>
<B>Anybody familiar with PV reference systems developed by other municipalities? Have they been successful?<BR>
Have you found the Enphase Envoy to be consistently accurate?<BR>
<BR>
Does anyone have a reliable automatic snow removal scheme with a track record?</B> We are putting it out to the University of Alberta mechanical engineering department to see what they come up with but I know this has been grappled with many times before.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks <U>much</U> in advance for your input.<BR>
Rob<BR>
Rob Harlan<BR>
Executive Director<BR>
Solar Energy Society of Alberta<BR>
www.solaralberta.ca<BR>
<a href="office@solaralberta.ca">office@solaralberta.ca</a><BR>
(780) 439-5608<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT>
</BODY>
</HTML>