PC Packet 10-18-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Barley John's Brewpub Solar Electric Array Project Narrative Why install Solar? Barley John's Brewpub is the smallest brewpub in the state,but its small footprint is packed with energy-consuming devices like walk-in coolers, dishwashers, and ventilation fans that are essential to running a restaurant,not to mention the pumps, tanks and heaters required for the brewing operation. Currently the pub uses over 70 kilowatts (kW) of electricity annually. As the global demand for energy grows, so does the cost of energy and the environmental impact of mining, drilling, refining and using fossil fuels. Existing sources of fossil fuels are rapidly being depleted, and new sources (such as those located in tar sands and deep-ocean wells) are more difficult and expensive to extract and refine. There is every reason to expect that energy demand will continue to rise, leading to increased costs and environmental impacts. In order to protect its bottom line from energy price surges and reduce its fossil fuel demand, Barley John's Brewpub proposes to take advantage of the current federal and state incentives and install a solar electric array on the north end of its property. Proposed Technology The proposed solar electric array will generate approximately 5 kilowatts (kW) of electricity, enough to offset about 7 percent of the Brewpub's average annual electric use. During times when the pub is closed, any excess energy generation will be sold back to the utility. The proposed array is a Rais Wave system pioneered by Minneapolis- based tenKsolar consisting of photovoltaic (PV) panels and reflector panels mounted on rails. The rails will rest on a concrete slab. This system has several unique capabilities that make it the most productive and safest PV array in the world: - It's modules can convert non-uniform reflected light into energy - It's panels continue to operate in partial shade conditions - It is the only solar PV system that operates at low-voltage, so it cannot arc. - The individual modules stop producing power when the system is disconnected and are self-grounding for additional safety Array location and configuration Many different array locations were considered. Most solar installations are on rooftops, but in this case the building roof is too small, has too much equipment and would require structural improvements disruptive to business operation. The area east of the building is too small and shaded to be viable for solar. The areas south and west of the existing building are taken up by patio seating, parking and drive lanes essential to the business. Placing panels on posts over parking stalls was considered on the south, but this approach was discarded as being both too expensive and having too great a visual impact on adjacent properties. Trucks use the area directly north of the building to collect trash and Page 2