Renewable Energy Education at Appalachian Marcus Taylor Renewable Energy Workshop Walters State Community College Morristown, TN August 25 2010

Appropriate Technology in a Nutshell Appropriate Technologies are small scale, energy efficient, environmentally sound, labor-intensive, controlled by the local community, and simple enough to be maintained by the people using it.

Renewable Energy Education at Appalachian B.S. in Appropriate Technology Introduction to renewable energy Very hands-on Interdisciplinary Reflects the goal of appropriate technology well Also available as a minor

Courses available in TEC dept Photovoltaic System Design & Construction Wind & Hydro Power Technology Solar Thermal Energy Technology Biofuels Technology Sustainable Water & Wastewater Technology Sustainable Resource Management Sustainable Transportation Building Science Sustainable Building Design & Construction Computer Modeling of Renewable Energy Systems Contemporary Problems in Appropriate Technology Renewable Energy Engineering ...and more

Renewable Energy Education at Appalachian M.S. in Technology Focuses on sustainable technologies Emphasis on: renewable energy energy efficiency Widely recognized for the contributions made by faculty and students in energy studies sustainable applications of technology concentrations in Appropriate Technology & Renewable Energy Engineering

EPA P3 grants Phase II Winners (Top Awards) 2009/2010: Biomass Gasification for Agricultural Energy Sources and Soil Enrichment 2006/2007: The Affordable Bioshelters Project: Testing Innovative Technologies, Working to Make High Performance Solar Greenhouses Cost Competitive 2005/2006: Closing the Biodiesel Loop: Self Sustaining Community Based Biodiesel Production Phase I Winners (Honorable Mention) 2008/2009: Closing the Carbon Loop: Growing Algae Using Sustainable CO2 from Bio-waste Fair Trade Ethanol: Fuel Production from Coffee Wastes 2007/2008: The Boone Bicycle Initiative: A Community Based Project to Promote Bicycles as an Alternative Mode of Transportation

Wind Energy Outreach & Education Key stakeholder groups Renewable energy tours Public education & forums

Previous workshops

Workshop series

Hands-on wind workshops

Expect classroom time – siting, safety, details about the technology, etc.

Planning and tower layout

Civil work very important but not fun for workshop

When you show up for the workshop, the civil work is done

Parts inventory (where’s the tower base?)

Our 1st Skystream workshop… Installation by 40-person mob

Now we do small groups and everyone gets a turn at the griphoist

Assemble the kit start working on your tool list

Tilt-up towers they can be tricky puzzles to solve - read the manual

Networking opportunities

Move back, raise the tower

Up and ready to go in a weekend.

Microhydro workshops

Gross Power Calculations Power (watts) = Head (ft) * Flow (GPM) 10 The equation assumes a turbine efficiency of 53%. Actual efficiency varies with conditions. Power output is proportional to the combination of head and flow

Measuring Head Sight level (2 people) Eye level

Methods of Flow Assessment 5-gallon bucket Small stream, small waterfall Float method Larger, flat, uniform stream V-notch Weir Rectangular Weir Make several measurements to assess seasonal variation

Battery Bank Sizing Battery storage for PV and Wind systems typically require 3 or more days of battery storage Hydro systems run all the time Batteries in a hydro system typically need to store energy for less than a day Often, the battery is sized to provide sufficient current to the inverter rather than an amount of storage

VDI Chart 24V VDI = 28.9 2 AWG wire That’s pretty big wire What if we make it a 48 volt system?

PV and the NEC with John Wiles Continuing education credits available for Electrical Contractors and other professionals Participants will learn how to install a Code-compliant PV system and receive critical information on the latest installation techniques that are being used by the top installers and systems integrators throughout the country Wednesday, August 25 2010 8 AM – 5 PM

Bioenergy Systems for Community & Farm Scale with Jeremy Ferrell Bioenergy systems will cover energy sources from biological materials appropriate to the farm/community scale for heating, power, and transportation needs. Technologies discussed include biodigesters, biodiesel, straight vegetable oil, ethanol, gasification, and combined heat and power systems. Friday & Saturday, September 10-11, 2010 1 PM – 5 PM & 9 AM – 5 PM $150 ($75 for students)

Solar Domestic Water Heating with Brian Raichle Participants will learn how to design and construct various freeze protected solar water heating systems for domestic hot water and space heating needs. Covered topics include system design, component selection, performance, and economics. This workshop will be appropriate for interested homeowners as well as businesses interested in getting into solar. Saturday, September 25, 2010 9 AM – 4 PM $150 ($75 for students)

Microhydro with Don Harris Held on the campus of ASU Field trips to 2 microhydro sites Participants will learn about: Site assessment techniques Measurement of head & flow System design Types of turbines and their associated performance and cost Maintenance and troubleshooting System components such as: Intake Penstock Balance of system Friday & Saturday, October 1 - 2 9 AM – 4 PM $300 ($150 for students)

Photovoltaic System Design and Construction (two weekends) with Rebecca Hren 40-hour workshop Introduce participants to design and construction of both battery-based and grid-tied photovoltaic systems Focuses on the key competencies addressed in the NABCEP Entry level PV exam and will include the test on the last day of the workshop Friday, Saturday, & Sunday October 22 - 24 November 5 - 7 $750 ($375 for students)

NABCEP-approved PV instructors Appalachian State University Boone NC Cleveland State Community College Cleveland TN Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville TN Within a 3 hour driving radius...

Who should attend these workshops? ... basically anyone: Renewable energy Installers, contractors, dealers Electricians and plumbers Land, home, business, or farm owners Students, tradespersons and inventors Teachers Elected officials Utility companies/cooperatives Any energy user interested in harnessing power from solar, wind or water

Thank you! Marcus Taylor Appalachian State University Wind Applications Center www.wind.appstate.edu 828.262.7333 wind@appstate.edu