Solar Power Case

[Nayme Cutforth]

Scenario1: Has anyone tried powering the T-Beam directly from a regulated 5V solar panel by connecting to the power input? The thinking is that the solar panel will power the T-Beam during daytime and when light dies down, the onboard 18650 will power throughout the night. I do not believe the T-Beam can re-charge via solar like RAK does. But if this works, it will extend the operational time of T-Beam.

Scenario 2: Has anyone tried powering the T-Beam from an external power bank? The idea is similar to Scenario 1 with the intention to extend its operational time. The question is, will the onboard 18650 kick in when the external power bank runs dry.

the 18650 will take over for a running T-beam when external power fails - you can verify that by pulling out the USB cable. Your problem may come when the 18650 runs down past the point the the power management (on the newer T-beams > v0.7) pulls the power.

i had a t-beam on my roof, running on solar for some time.

it was a 6V 3A connected to USB input via a 5V buck-converter.

i did remove the onboard 18650 connectors and connected a 5000mAh 26650 by some wire.

that worked , but i did not like the big solarpanel and ched the setup to a rak4631 that only needed a 1 W Module.

Thank you! I dont expect the T-beam to run like RAK4631, which I have one set up for solar powered. T-beam is much more compact in size and easier to deploy for a short period of time. A possible user case can be swapping out the external power bank periodically to ensure continuous running.

Thank you! I can try connecting the T-beam with external power bank which connects to a solar panel. The power bank will act as the main power supply and periodically recharged by solar; the onboard 18650 will function as the back-up power. When needed or when the main power bank is low on power, swapping it out is much easier than taking out the onboard 18650 battery.

once again, spending 30 on powerbank, another 50 on solar.

you would be much cheaper and more easy and smaller with a RAK wireless / or T-echo device, consuming about 1/10 of the energy than an esp32

you spend 20 more for the device, but it will run endlessly with a simple 18650 or pouch Lion battery and 1 Watt solar. the rak device even has its own solar controller (solar maximum 5V!)

I know the solar panels on these are very low-power, in fact next to useless for almost all practical applications. But given that the nrf52 devices are very low-power, too, maybe it is sufficient? Did anybody ever try something like that? It would be a very simple and cheap solution if it worked. Could basically sit on the shelf for quick deployment in case of an emergency situation. And one could still use the T-Echo as a mobile unit otherwise.

Andy, you are right, pass-through charging could be the show-stopper here. Unfortunately, typically this is not detailed in the specs when buying one. So would be very nice if you could try whether that works on the Anker model!

When farmers were asked at the 2016 and 2017 Powering Michigan Agriculture Conference to rank the factors they would use when deciding to implement a renewable energy or energy conservation project, they said return on investment was their most important consideration. Many farms throughout Michigan have completed a renewable energy assessment or certified agricultural energy audit and used the information to make investment decisions regarding a renewable energy project and/or energy efficiency practices. One such farm is Black Star Farms.

The solar energy project implemented at Black Star Farms was a fixed, ground-mounted solar array with a vibrated I-beam structure including a single array of 204 260 W modules for a total of 53.04 kW. It was installed by Harvest Energy Solutions, implementing SolarEdge optimizers and inverters. The solar field, consisting of three physical structures, was positioned next to the on-site petting zoo with an overall footprint of 7,232 square feet (64 by 113 feet). The system was designed to offset 90% of annual energy usage for the nearby wine tasting room. Cherryland Electric Cooperative commissioned the system on November 1, 2015.

When electricity production exceeds farm use for the day, the excess production is banked on the farm account and can be used at a future date, but they only get a $0.06/kWh credit on their bill for it. That excess electricity production can also be sold to Cherryland Electric at $0.02/kWh. Given these scenarios, the take home message is that it is best to match solar system production to daily consumption to attain the best value received for the electricity produced given current Net Metering guidelines in Michigan.

Black Star Farms conducted a company-wide energy audit in 2015 (contact Al Go about energy audit options and funding) and has implemented many energy and cost-saving initiatives since then, such as converting luminaires to LEDs and installing high efficiency boilers in their winery. The managers highly recommend that other farmers conduct an energy audit to start reaping the benefits of improved energy efficiency.

A full specification sheet of the solar energy system as well as an aerial view of the system and surrounding property, monthly data of actual and predicted electricity production and the solar energy system cost breakdown can be accessed in the Black Star Farms Case Study. Monthly production data for 2017 will be included in the updated version of this case study by the end of the year.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

In a case of wide-reaching impact, the North Carolina Supreme Court on Friday, June 17, 2022, issued its decision in Belmont Association, Inc. v. Farwig. An earlier blog discussed the factual background and decision from the Court of Appeals in detail.

By way of brief summary, the homeowners in this case installed solar panels on the front facing faade of their roof without approval and the homeowners association commenced fines. Nothing in the declaration explicitly regulated solar collectors, but the association, pursuant to its general authority over architectural matters and aesthetics, refused to allow their installation on the front roof.

The first exception appears in the statute itself and allows an association to prohibit solar installations in three general areas: on the faade of the home, on front roof surfaces, and in the front yard. Despite this language, the Court held that because there was no specific prohibition against solar installations in the declaration, the Association could not take advantage of this exception.

This decision from the Supreme Court is brand new and we are still considering how it will impact specific communities in North Carolina. If you have questions about how this decision may impact your community, please feel free to contact any of our experienced community association attorneys.

Case Western Reserve University computer scientists and energy technology experts are teaming up to leverage the diagnostic power of artificial intelligence (AI) to make solar-power plants more efficient.

Solar power uses energy from the sun collected by photovoltaic (PV) modules to create clean and renewable energy. Making solar-power plants more efficient will benefit industry and, eventually, consumers, researchers say.

SETO also encourages the project teams to form partnerships with AI experts and industry representatives, such as solar power plant operators or owners, electric utilities, photovoltaic module manufacturers, and others.

Central Storage & Warehouse (CSW), a large refrigerated warehouse company, partnered with SunPeak on three of its largest facilities. SunPeak helped CSW receive federal and state incentives, allowing the projects to be cash flow positive immediately. CSW has the most installed rooftop solar capacity of any private business in the state of Wisconsin.

Alliant Energy, a publicly-traded utility with power generation and distribution subsidiaries throughout Wisconsin and Iowa, partnered with SunPeak to establish its customer-hosted renewables portfolio in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

SunPeak worked closely with Alliant Energy and its customers Kohler Company and the City of Sheboygan, to develop and install ground-mounted solar PV systems for both customers. These systems support Alliant Energy's clean energy expansion plans and will help the utility reach its goal of NetZero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. The projects also complement Kohler and City of Sheboygan's established environmental sustainability and community-building initiatives.

Certco, an independent grocery distributor servicing over 200 retail stores throughout the Midwest, engaged SunPeak to build a rooftop solar system on its headquarters. The system allows the organization to operate more sustainably while saving money on its electrical needs.

DePauw University, a liberal arts college near Indianapolis, partnered with SunPeak to design and install a rooftop solar PV system for its indoor Tennis and Track Center. The project supported a campus-wide environmental stewardship initiative to both neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and provide educational opportunities for students and faculty around sustainability.

KwikTrip, a large Midwest-based chain of vertically-integrated convenience stores, has worked with SunPeak to improve its cost efficiencies and reduce its carbon footprint with solar. Metrics provided showcase savings for a single convenience store.

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