Solar panels in the Bay Area?

Question

Does San Francisco get enough sunshine to really make solar panels a viable option for creating a self-supporting home? Certainly a wind turbine would be a good source of energy, but what about solar panels? Does S.F. get enough sunshine to justify using solar panels? It's overcast a lot in the Bay Area, are there any solar panels better than others for a climate like this?

Answer 1

I just saw an episode of Renovation nation on Planet green.  They built a house is Washington State that ran on solar.  It was still hooked to the grid but it was project to be a net 0 home.  So if they can do it there you should be able to do it.  I have also been looking at solar.  Good Luck.

Answer 2

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

The house is built utilizing natures natural elements, in the shape of an octagon with 8ft wide arch doors on every wall to catch every angle of wind (typical 4 sided homes have half the chance as one with 8 sides. A circle being the most efficient design). Woodburning stoves, solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet.

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

The fallowing steps were taking directly out of a DIY guide I offer to those who would like to run their homes on solar power safely, reducing their monthly utility bills or even selling power back the the electrical companies. The entire guide is available at www agua-luna com. Its pretty simple but if you have any problems feel free to contact me directly I can walk you threw the process.

Materials you will need

A sheet of copper flashing from the hardware store. This normally costs about $5.00 per square foot. We will need about half a square foot.

Two alligator clip leads.

A sensitive micro-ammeter that can read currents between 10 and 50 microamperes. Radio Shack sells small LCD multimeters that will do, but I used a small surplus meter with a needle.

An electric stove. My kitchen stove is gas, so I bought a small one-burner electric hotplate for about $25. The little 700 watt burners probably won't work -- mine is 1100 watts, so the burner gets red hot.

A large clear plastic bottle off of which you can cut the top. I used a 2 liter spring water bottle. A large mouth glass jar will also work.

Table salt. We will want a couple tablespoons of salt.

Tap water.

Sand paper or a wire brush on an electric drill.

Sheet metal shears for cutting the copper sheet.

The first step is to cut a piece of the copper sheeting that is about the size of the burner on the stove. Wash your hands so they don't have any grease or oil on them. Then wash the copper sheet with soap or cleanser to get any oil or grease off of it. Use the sandpaper or wire brush to thoroughly clean the copper sheeting, so that any sulphide or other light corrosion is removed.

Next, place the cleaned and dried copper sheet on the burner and turn the burner to its highest setting.

As the copper starts to heat up, you will see beautiful oxidation patterns begin to form. Oranges, purples, and reds will cover the copper.

As the copper gets hotter, the colors are replaced with a black coating of cupric oxide. This is not the oxide we want, but it will flake off later, showing the reds, oranges, pinks, and purples of the cuprous oxide layer underneath.

The last bits of color disappear as the burner starts to glow red.

When the burner is glowing red-hot, the sheet of copper will be coated with a black cupric oxide coat. Let it cook for a half an hour, so the black coating will be thick. This is important, since a thick coating will flake off nicely, while a thin coat will stay stuck to the copper.

After the half hour of cooking, turn off the burner. Leave the hot copper on the burner to cool slowly. If you cool it too quickly, the black oxide will stay stuck to the copper.

As the copper cools, it shrinks. The black cupric oxide also shrinks. But they shrink at different rates, which makes the black cupric oxide flake off.

The little black flakes pop off the copper with enough force to make them fly a few inches. This means a little more cleaning effort around the stove, but it is fun to watch.

When the copper has cooled to room temperature (this takes about 20 minutes), most of the black oxide will be gone. A light scrubbing with your hands under running water will remove most of the small bits. Resist the temptation to remove all of the black spots by hard scrubbing or by flexing the soft copper. This might damage the delicate red cuprous oxide layer we need to make to solar cell work.

Cut another sheet of copper about the same size as the first one. Bend both pieces gently, so they will fit into the plastic bottle or jar without touching one another. The cuprous oxide coating that was facing up on the burner is usually the best side to face outwards in the jar, because it has the smoothest, cleanest surface.

Attach the two alligator clip leads, one to the new copper plate, and one to the cuprous oxide coated plate. Connect the lead from the clean copper plate to the positive terminal of the meter. Connect the lead from the cuprous oxide plate to the negative terminal of the meter.

Now mix a couple tablespoons of salt into some hot tap water. Stir the saltwater until all the salt is dissolved. Then carefully pour the saltwater into the jar, being careful not to get the clip leads wet. The saltwater should not completely cover the plates -- you should leave about an inch of plate above the water, so you can move the solar cell around without getting the clip leads wet.

now place in the sun with the magnefied on top.

The solar cell is a battery, even in the dark, and will usually show a few microamps of current.

That’s it it’s that simple. If you’d a more detailed process and some pics (ouldn’t put them here) it’s available along with some other DIY alternative energy projects at  www agua-luna com

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming!!!

Answer 3

Solar works even if the sun can not be seen. Germany is using them and with success, even though they do not nave sun like Sacramento. Another option is to use solar concentrating collectors at malls, open fields... But we have to set them up to use the heat when the low BTU's will not turn the turbine. Hilltop is an example of a place to put this type of system. This is what I am working on. I f you want more information go to CoolingEarth.org

Answer 4

yes it does..!

In Indonesia...!!! or any other tropicaL pLace..

wkwkw

Answer 5

1.Recycle

2.Reuse

3.Reduce waste

4.Don't buy milk or juice in cartons since these cant be recycled buy them in something like a glass bottle or plastic bottle instead.

5.Use solar products

6.Turn of your TV and go read a book instead

7.Turn of a light when no one is in the room

8.Take a quick shower instead of a long bath

9.Take the bus instead of a car because for example it holds 10 people and uses as much gas as 1 car instead of 10 people separated in 1 car which will ruin our atmosphere

10.Turn of your computer instead of leaving it on standby

11.Walk to school or ride your bike instead of the bus and car (if it is near)

12.Use environment friendly products

13.When buying electronics make sure they have an energy star logo or another energy saving company logo

14.Only turn on the washing machine or dish washer when full

15.Buy organic cotton clothes or buy second hand clothes

16.Adopt an animal from the pound for the holidays

17.Get something in which to collect rain water then with this water use it to water your plants or something

18.Water your plants in the early morning or early evening to prevent evaporation

19.Set up a recycling club in your school to make others recycle

20.Dont leave the tap running when brushing your teeth

21.Take a lunch box to school instead of paper bags or buy somehting to eat from the school canteen

22.Take exercise outdoors rather than outdoors this saves the lighting needed indoors

23.Buy free range eggs

24.Instead of buying a packaged sandwhich make one your own

25.Most of all join clubs and commities for saving animals or recycling

Dont forget that every little thing you do makes a big difference

Answer 6

Yes, San Francisco gets enough sunshine. That will vary depending on your site location, some are better than others. The best way to find out how much electricity your specific location can generate is to get a quote from a solar company.

I am in the process of getting PV's installed on my home in the Sacto area and got quotes from 3 companies. My home is in a good, not optimal possition and depending on where on the roof I place the panels my efficiency will vary. Also depending on the brand of panels, some will take less square footage on the roof to produce the same amount of electricity. The price on all 3 were very close to each other.

All 3 companies I dealt with gave a no cost/no obligation quote, and they were are very knowledgeable about the specific utility rebates I would be eligable for. I say it is well worth the time to check it out. My system should be going onto my roof in just a few more weeks. I was able to get nearly 50% of my cost refunded by my utitlity, plus my federal tax rebate. My system should be paid for in about 6 years.

Answer 7

PV Solar panels all work the same. There aren't any climate specific ones.

There is enough sun in San Francisco to produce energy using solar panels however, the the same panels located in a sunnier area will produce more energy.

Depending on the size of your system, you will probably need a few more panels than an area that receives more sun to produce the same amount of energy.

But they will still produce energy, even on overcast days.

The solar installers will make all the calculations to determine what size system you will need to produce as much energy as you want. In California, you don't want to produce more than you consume in a 12 month period because currently, you are not able to sell your excess credits back to PG&E after your 12 month cycle.

Your system will cost more to produce the same amount of power than my system because I have less overcast days than you do.

You will have to make the decision if the cost is worth your while.

I expect my system to be totally paid for in around 8-9 years, working in the cost of inflation for electricity. After that, I will be paying nothing for electricty for as long as I stay in my house.

Answer 8

I know nothing about the Bay area, I live in KC. However, I believe that solar is the best answer to alternative energy. We should have solar panels everywhere, the suns going to be shining somewhere. I propose we make gigantic panels in the deserts where the sun shines and nobody lives, and hook everybody up to the grid. They can store energy when they get a lot of sun to make up for the dark days. They are expensive to make so we should start building them one by one all over. The sun is not going to stop shining for millions of years. Plus there is no pollution from solar. So, yes put them in the bay and back here in KC too.