Beyond Sun Power: An Enterprise Approach to Energy and Learning Solutions

 
 

216 W Sharp Poly-Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Module

Hawaiian Electric Company provided 8 of these modules for the YET site as part of a research and development project with the Electric Power Research Institute

At the heart of this system are DC electronic ballasts that replace the AC electronic ballasts that are normally provided with the lamp fixtures. 

                 

  
   Nextek DC Ballast for Linear                   Nextek DC Power Supply 
                T-8 Lamps

The system provides the space lighting for three offices, a conference room and a workroom at the YET building.  In keeping with energy conservation, the DC ballasts are interfaced with room occupancy sensors.

As this is an R&D project, we have also deployed an innovative wireless modbus to Internet data logging system to monitor weather conditions (solar irradiance, outdoor air temperature and relative humidity, PV module temperature, wind speed and wind direction) as well as DC and makeup AC input power to the two DC power supplies and output power to the DC ballasts. We hope to accurately calculate the efficiency of the system and determine how solar availability plays a role in system efficiency. 

                  

   Data Acquisition Panel                             Rooftop Weather Station
next to DC power supplies

The project also has an educational component.  We are providing the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii with this web-based dashboard that displays weather conditions, DC lighting system AC and DC power breakdown and load profile data.  This data is displayed in the form of flash graphic charts and gauges.  To engage the youth at the YET clubhouse, we hope that this web interface will serve to communicate sustainable energy concepts and the data in a youth-friendly way.  We also will provide a means for the youth to communicate online with other sites with the goal of promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.