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Handbook of Secondary Storage Batteries and Charge Regulators in Photovoltaic Systems

Photo courtesy NREL

Solar photovoltaic systems often require battery subsystems to store reserve electrical energy for times of zero insolation. This handbook is designed to help the system designer make optimum choices of battery type, battery size and charge control circuits. Handbook of Secondary Storage Batteries and Charge Regulators in PV Systems.

NOTE: All files are PDF format

Complete Handbook (4,337kb)

The following files are divided into sections for easier viewing and download if necessary:


Prepared by: Exide Management and Technology Company, 19 West College Avenue, P.O. Box 336 Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067. Work Performed for The U.S. Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 Under Contract No. 13-2202. Originally Printed August 1981; Updated 2003 by AzSC Board Members Lane Garrett and Bill Kaszeta.

Renewable Energy: An Overview - Biomass

vegetation
Biomass can be a significant energy resource when used as fuel. Biomass is plant materials or animal waste used as a source of fuel. In a sense, biomass is really another form of solar energy. Plants store energy derived from the sun and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Waste plant and animal materials still contain energy, which can be captured through "bioconversions."

The most important issue facing the goal of extensive biomass production in Arizona is the availability of land and water for such purposes. While land availability does not appear to be a problem in this state, water availability is.

More on bioenergy here.

Wind Power



Wind turbine


Wind/Solar Electric Array SE of Tucson


Hub of two blade turbines (from NREL Presentation)


Nacelle Cover (from NREL Presentation)


Old and new in Altamont Pass, California - Courtesy, Dr. Martin J. Pasqualetti - more images 
here

Wind Power Introduction

Like hydropower, wind power has been used for centuries, to lift water, propel boats, grind grain. It is an attractive and non-polluting source for electricity. It has only been since the mid 1980s, however, that wind power has contributed appreciably to our supply of electricity. The largest generating capacity in the world at present is in Germany, although Denmark is targeting wind as the source of half of its electricity in the near future, if public opposition to their visual intrusion can be overcome.

Some of the largest "wind farms" in the world area in California. One, that in San Gorgonio Pass, is about 100 miles west of Arizona, near Palm Springs, California, where about 4000 wind turbines convert wind power into electricity power. The other major installations in the US are similarly located in passes where the winds are concentrated. Without such concentration, the density of wind power is usually too low to generate electricity commercially.

Like many other states, Arizona has long used wind power to pump water on ranches. Nowadays, this is not a major use in Arizona. Indeed, few sites in Arizona are consistently windy enough for commercial development. Only northern Arizona (for example, near Winslow) might be commercially attractive. As yet, no projects of this sort are yet in place.

An up to date wind article is available at:

Interesting Facts You Should Know About Wind Energy. (by  | Oct 23, 2021)


Wind Energy: State of the Art and Future Trends - NREL presentation

NREL wind presentationView this NREL presentation in one of the following formats:

Learn about:

  • Recent History
  • Wind Turbines Today
  • Economics and Wind Energy Development
  • Future Trends

Wind Resource Maps (AZ and United States) 
US 2003 Year End Wind Powre Capacity (MW) US Wind Resources Map US Wind Power Class MapArizona 50m Wind Power


Almost Too Much Wind Power in Europe

It’s Been So Windy in Europe  (June 2017) That Electricity Prices Have Turned Negative.  See the article Almost Too Much Wind Power in Europe


APS and sPower, a Utah-based company, have proposed the 477-megawatt Chevelon Butte Wind Farm. (2/2020)

The Arizona Daily Sun - The Utah-based company’s proposal was unanimously approved by Navajo County, the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Arizona Corporation Commission. This project could build turbines that will be some of the largest structures in the state.  Click here for full news story.


APS Wind Integration Study (September 2007)

The final report of the APS Wind Integration Cost Impact Study was produced by Northern Arizona University (NAU), with contributions from EnerNex Corporation, 3TIER, and Arizona Public Service Company (APS). The report is a result of an eight month study to characterize the impacts and costs due to the variability and uncertainty of wind energy associated with integrating wind energy into APS’ utility resources and practices.


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