AEC OREGON PV TEST FACILITY
Click here for live solar data from the AEC Oregon PV Test Facility!
In the summer of 2004 a group of electrical engineers employed by Balzhiser
Hubbard Engineers formed an LLC for the expressed purpose of acquiring and
installing a unique and educational PV Test Facility in the Willamette Valley.
Working with Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) and the Oregon Department
of Energy (ODE), Advanced Energy Systems (AES) helped to negotiate a 10
year feed-in contract with EWEB at 25 cents per KWh for the entire production
of the PV test facility. In addition, low interest financing through the
SELP program was instrumental in making this project a reality.
The 8 discrete systems are mounted universally on non-penetrating ballasted
rack systems from Direct Power and Water, tilted at a 30 degree angle and
arranged in a saw tooth configuration to minimize shading. The solar modules
are held in place with a combination of their own weight and the ballast
material. This method is preferred for commercial flat roof installations,
whenever a concrete slab is installed under the existing roof and insulation
materials.
The 8 discrete systems are each ~ 3KW small commercial systems, supplying
3 phase AC power to the grid. The majority of PV manufacturers are represented
in this system, installed on top of the new B H Engineers building located
at 13th and Olive St. in Eugene. Each 3 KW system utilizes a different module
from either Kyocera, Sharp, Sanyo, Isofoton or BP. The system is designed
so that either module to module, module to inverter, or inverter to inverter
comparisons can be made. The information gathered by the monitoring system
is a valuable educational resource that is available online (for comparisons
click the live data link above, then click the Detail tab).
Project Partners:
Eugene Water and Electric Board
Oregon Department of Energy
Balzhiser Hubbard Engineers
M. R. Richards Engineering
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| AEC 25 KW Oregon PV Test Facility | AEC Solar Array | ||
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Isofoton 150W Modules |
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