2009 Solar Decathlon Micro-grid
Electrical Alliance Contractor: |
Kelly Electrical |
The U.S. Department of Energy tapped Kelly Electrical to provide wiring and interconnection of the 20 solar homes created by university student teams on the National Mall for the Solar Decathlon 2009 competition and exhibit.
Kelly coordinated with electrical utility officials at PEPCO, National Mall caretakers of the National Park Service, event sponsors National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the university student teams themselves to create a ‘micro’ electric power grid on the Mall. Kelly connected the solar homes to the local power grid, so that the homes can contribute real-time electrical power to the Washington, D.C. electric grid when the sun is shining.
Kelly installed all power and lighting for the event, as well as the micro-grid net metering for this year’s competition. Judges measured each home’s power production and consumption during the competition. Excess electricity produced by the homes fed back to PEPCO through the micro-grid.
The Solar Decathlon, a biannual competition sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the U.S. Dept. of Energy, provides grants for 20 college and university teams in an international competition to design, build, and operate energy-efficient solar-powered homes that are environmentally friendly while enhancing livability and architectural style.
