Solar Power Research Project

Location: Butler REC offices, Oxford, OH
Cost: Approximately $30,000 (including data monitoring and other specialized equipment)
Panel: 230-square-foot Evergreen Model EC-115
Estimated solar output: 250 kWh/month
Contacts: Miami University - Dr. Catherine Almquist, 513-529-2203; almquic@muohio.edu
Installation date: Sept. 20, 2006
Installer: Third Sun Solar and Wind Power, Ltd., Athens, Ohio
Capacity: 2.3 kilowatts
Data: www.buckeyepower.com Butler REC - Lisa Staggs Herrmann 800-255-2732; lisas@butlerrural.coop

The "economics" of a 2.3KW photovoltaic system based on the Butler REC/Buckeye Power Solar Power Research Project:

Size of photovoltaic (PV) system: 2.3 kilowatts (KW)
Initial cost: $23,000
Annual cost: $2,400
Monthly kWh: 250 kWh/month or 109 kWh/month/kW
Annual kWh: 3,000
Projected capacity factor: 3,000/(2.3 kW x 8,760) = 14.9%
Cost of PV electricity: $0.80/kWh (80¢/kWh)