Solar Energy International Annual Report 2004

SOLAR ENERGY INTERNATIONALRenewable Energy Education for a Sustainable Future2004 Annual ReportSEI'S MISSIONSolar Energy International (SEI) was founded in 1991 as a non-profit educational organization to help others to use renewable energy resources and natural buildingtechnologies through education and technical assistance.Barbe Chambliss, PhDMediator & TherapistJeff DickinsonEnergy and Sustainable DesignLinda LungNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryDon PhillipsonPhillipson Sustainable Energy OptionsRandy UdallCommunity Office of Resource EfficiencyJohnny WeissSolar Energy InternationalDr. Donald W. AitkenDonald Aitken AssociatesDr. J. Douglas BalcombNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryDavid BarsamianAlternative RadioPliny Fisk IIICenter for Max. Potential Bldg SystemsMark FitzgeraldInstitute for Sustainable PowerJoe JordanNASABarbara KerrCenter for Sustainable LivingThomas A. LawandBrace Research InstituteAmory LovinsRocky Mountain InstituteMaureen McIntyreConsultantDr. Don OsbornSpectrum EnergyJay PeltzPeltz PowerKaren & Richard PerezHome Power MagazineLaura StreumplerStreumpler ConsultingSam VanderhoofSMA AmericaNeville WilliamsSolar Electric Light CompanyDr. Robert WillsAdvanced Energy Systems Board of DirectorsInternational Advisory BoardTHE NEED FOR RENEWABLEENERGY EDUCATIONSOLAR ENERGY INTERNATIONALP.O. Box 715 • Carbondale, CO 81623 • tel: 970.963.8855 fax: 970.963.8866 e-mail: sei@solarenergy.org • www.solarenergy.orgSEI IS A LINK BETWEENPEOPLE AND THEIRRENEWABLEENERGY RESOURCES.SEI provides information, educationand training to people who want toshape a sustainable future. A sustainable future requires aninvestment of knowledge and skillsin the people who will shape thatfuture. The renewable energies ofsun, wind and water are clean andabundant, yet underutilizedresources. Renewable energytechnologies are mature, but few areskilled in their use. Decision-makersneed information to makeappropriate choices withconfidence. Technicians need skillsand experience to service thetechnologies. End-users must learnhow to operate and maintain self-reliant renewable energy systems. Solar Energy International is an educational non-profit Colorado corporation. SEI is recognized bythe IRS as a tax-exempt charitable organizationunder section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.Solar Energy International is a non-profit educational organization and an Equal OpportunityInstitution and Employer. SEI is not affiliated with any manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or anyother renewable energy commercial enterprise.THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERSSUSTAININGMEMBERSAndy BlackCensolarDon PhillipsonCORPORATEMEMBERSAkin A. AdewoleBrooks Solar, Inc.Butler Sun SolutionsCity of HemetFredrickson & LyellRichard GravesGSL Grupo SimosolLatinamericano S.A.High Country CitizensAllianceJon RovickConstruction, Inc.Kennan-MeyerArchitectureRenae Kofford & BrianLarsenMichael LawsonNRELProductive EnergySolutions, LLCJanet RazbadowskiREgrid PowerSMAAmerica IncSolar & Wind FX, IncSolSource, LLCThe Solar StoreMichael & ElizabethTheleTriangle ElectricalSystemsTrimline Design CentreSuzanne & TomYoungWhidbey Sun & WindRenewable EnergyCONTRIBUTORMEMBERSArchitectural &Enviromental Assoc.Backwoods SolarElectric Inc.Hal BrillDavid ConnaCorporateCommunicationsDavid HarakGreg KeithMark KuhlLarry KwicinskiKyocera Solar, Inc.Meridian EnergySystems Inc.Missouri ValleyRenewable Energy Don MuellerDavid T. NeeleyNoel ProctorKatherineRipley-WilliamsSolar SolutionsSolutions in SolarElectricityBUSINESSMEMBERSAbundant RenewableEnergyAffordable Solar GroupAkeena SolarGerry BarrettCarbondale Power andLight Co.Clay CenterCOSEIACreative EnergiesEnergy OutfittersGreen CampusConsortuimGreen MountainEngineeringHarris HydroelectricHitney Solar ProductsLake Michigan Wind &SunGarrido FrancineLoomillerMountain Solar DesignOut on BaleShuksan EnergyConsultingSigma DesignCompanySolar Plexus LLCSustainable SystemsDesign, IncThe Solar StoreJavier YarzaNON-PROFITMEMBERSGreg BournEagle Valley AllianceEngineers WithoutBorders - AustraliaOregon EnergyServices, Inc.Eric D. SmithSonLight PowerRaoTummalaINDIVIDUALMEMBERSJean AaroDean AbneyHughmendesAllahBarb AndereggEric AndersonBrenda AppleFred ApplegarthPhilip ArcandTom ArchibequeTodd ArendsAlbert Arline, JrThomas A. &Molly ArmsAaron AronsonRandolph AtwaterDaniel AyersStefanos BabalisSameera BalayLawrenceBarbulaLee BarhaughLinda BarreraLeonard BarryDaniel J. BeckerNicholas BehreDonald BensonBrett BergerMarilyn Bobeck-JohnsonJames BorgardtSteven C.BorgeltMarty BosworthManfredBrancardHarmahesh BrarTom BraunDavid C. BrearleyAnne BrennerJay BreunerDavid BrewleyHarry BrownTom BuchananJ.D. BurkeHenry CaldwellHector CamposKenneth CantorDave CareyLarry ChambersBarbe ChamblissKingsley D. ChenV. Kate ChoplinMichaelChristopherCary ChurchSharon ClarkeVinny ConzoJim CooleyStanley CooperJim CopelandLorraine CornnellWilliam CrissHoward CumminsJoanne DaukBob De LumeauDoug DeNioMichael DivverPaul DonohoeJim EchnozKristina EganDavid EichenbergHarold ElliottC. Michael EvansTrey EvansWilliam EverettAlan EwellSteve FainJay FarmerDick FarnellLois FaunceJohn FemalScott FlemingSuzanne FosterJohn F. FoxSarah FrancisRichard FrankMark FrieseRichard GarciaJohn GiesenAlex GojildeVince GosselinDoug GraybealConnie GriffithsBill GrindleMari GrunerNancy GutzDaniel GuzmanJane E. HaaschThomas HaganEric HalberMatthew HaleColin HamiltonKristi HansenBill HargleroadGregg HarriesJeremy HarrisJennifer HeathElaine T. HebertIan HeffronDawn HeinChristopherHendersonBonnie HenriquezRobert HillRon HobsonAndrew HollandJames R.HoogestegerRichard HoopsPatricia A. HornerLarry HorsmanJack HowellJohn HutsonOwen HylandAaron Infante-LevyPeter JacksonRolf E JacobsonRobert JeffersonPatrick JenkinsTom JohnsenBrian K. JohnsonBrandt JonesDavid JonesRichard JonesJim JudgeRobert JustmanMichael KampenBill KappenRuth J. KaryRobert G. KeeseyBrian KellyArti Ross KelsoBruceKiesewetterRichard KinkelBeth KiyosakiMatthew KlineSandra KocherAndrew KotilaPaul KroesSusan KunerKerri KuntzMelville LaiteAndrew LambSonja LandauBonnie LandonJoel LaneMerijane LeeFred LeederJay LeGoreDavid LeithauserRichard LeonardFrank LeoneJames LevisChristopher LittleW.J. LoomisCatherineLoughmanNed LovejoyBill LucasDara MacDonaldMabel MacdonaldBruce MaceSusan MahoneyMichaelMakofskeBenedettoMarescaBob MartinModesto MartinezEdward MarueJoani MatrangaMary Mc CrackenVicki McAninchKim McBrideSherry McDonaldPhyllis McKenzieJames McMahanScottMessersmithClarence MillerIan MillerDon MitchelllJan MooreJeannette MooreNora MorrisWick MosesElizabethNewmanMoskowitzT. MurphyJanet NashRichardO'ConnellJulie OdendahlColleen O'NeillTom O'ReillyTrevor S. OrtizNieba C. PaigeMike ParadiseJulian A. PierceTommy PinkstonLindsay PlattBruce PlenkRichard PlevinJeff PomeroyJim QuirkBarry RaleighGuy S. ReanoLeanne RellstabDave RichElizabethRobbinsDerek RoffE H RoyJan RutaRandy SadewicWayne SardulloLatif SarkisRiver SchmidtMarkSchuememanMarta SchultzBob-O SchultzeKathleen-JarschkeSchultzeAlan ScottRichard SevignyFred SharkeyJames ShearerMaria & AnthonySicuranzaFred SieversDeborah A. SmithDebra SmithGail D. SnowMartha E.SolerBob SolgerBrian SpirtLannie SproulKent StanleyGlenn StansburyMatt SteinmanDavid M StewardJerry StollSusana StoverArchie StrazzellaLaura StucinMarc SwetlitzSteven SylvesterJeremy TaylorRandall TeedHelen & RickThibodeauWillow ThomasScott ThompsonSteve TiefertNancy UhlGeorge VillecTom & NancyVineskiSandra WalterLaura WaltersGregory WatsonJerry WeaverLarry WebsterMark WechslerErika WeliczkoMike & JulieWelshJanus J WeltonDavid J. WestMargie WhiteSteve WillettDavid WilsonBelinda Wong-SwansonSue WorthingtonWSERCGlen YamashitaJohn YarbroughJoseph YeamansEric YochheimDebbie YoungKim Young-GurlMichelleZimmermanSEI's Renewable Energy Education Program (REEP) teaches the practical use of solar, wind and water power.Our workshops give individuals the knowledge and skills to design, install and maintain renewable energysystems and to build state-of-the-art solar homes that are efficient, practical and earth-friendly.RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION PROGRAM• Solar Hot Water • Solar Water Pumping• Successful Solar Businesses• Utility Interactive PV Systems• Wind Power• Women’s PV Design & Installation• Advanced Photovoltaics• Advanced Straw Bale Construction• Biodiesel Fuel • Homebuilt Wind Generators• Introduction to Renewable Energy• Micro-Hydro Power• PV Design & Installation • PV Design Online• RE for the Developing World• RE for the Developing World - Hands-On• Renewable Fuels• Solar Home & Natural House Building• Solar Home Design Online• Austin, Texas• Carbondale, Colorado• Mastatal, Costa Rica• Grass Valley, California• Kingston, New Mexico• Paonia, Colorado• San Francisco, California• San Juan Islands, Washington• Santa Cruz, California• Summertown, Tennessee• Woodstock, New YorkWORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:• SEI uses a how-to/hands-on approach with commercial products and field installations.• Since 1991, over 3000 people from all 50 states and 55 countries have attended SEI's REEP Program.• The 2004 REEP Program offered 30 hands-on workshops and six online courses. • 621 students attended REEP 2004, including 46international students. Financial Report Summary 2004Tuition $376,471Contracts $144,908Publication/Sales $ 61,563*Equipment donation $ 50,540Grants $ 30,455Memberships $ 23,313Donations $ 10,283Interest $ 3,578Total $701,111Workshops $290,819Overhead $207,076Contracts $123,779 Pub/Sales $ 61,360*Membership $ 3,924 Total $686,089Publications/Sales9%Overhead30%Memberships1%Contracts18%INCOMEWorkshops42%EXPENSESTuition54%Publication/Sales9%Equipmentdonation7%Donations1%Contracts21%Memberships3%REEP WORKSHOPS 2004Grants4%Interest1%* SEI co-published a new PV Manual this year with New Society Publishers.Initial sales of Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual, a 300 pagetextbook, amounted to $25,000 for 2004, starting in July. SEI expects salesof our new Manual to be an additional revenue stream throughout the years.REEP PROJECTSSEI'S HANDS-ON, HOW-TO EXPERIENCESALUMNI OF SEI'S 2004 REEP PROGRAM GAINED HANDS-ON, HOW-TO EXPERIENCE ON A TOTAL OF 13 INSTALLATIONS.REEP PROJECTS REPRESENT PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE LATEST COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS.EACH INSTALLATION REMAINS AN OPERATIONAL SYSTEM, PROVIDING CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR BUSINESSES,INSTITUTIONS, RANCHES, HOMES AND COMMUNITIES. FUTURE PARTICIPANTS WILL VISIT AND LEARN FROM THESEPROJECTS BEFORE MEETING THEIR OWN INSTALLATION CHALLENGES.STAND-ALONE PVIn August 2004, participants in SEI’s PV Design & Installationworkshop helped install a 600 watt stand-alone PV system for ahome in the mountains of Colorado. The PV modules are partof a PV/micro-hydro/generator hybrid system that includes fourinverters and a 48 volt, 846amp-hour battery bank.On Guemes Island in WA,participants helped install a1.7 kW Sharp PV array on thetower that the Wind Powerworkshop installed theprevious week. The PVworkshop also installed six L-16 batteries, two OutBack FX inverters, an MX-60 chargecontroller for the PVs, and metering. The project was directedby Whidbey Sun & Wind and Lance Moore Electric.Particpants in the PV workshop in Olivebridge, New Yorkinstalled a 600 watt stand-alone system.GRID-TIED PVParticipants in SEI’s PV Design & Installation workshops in2004 installed eight grid-tied PV systems.• In May, Scott Ely, an SEI associate and owner of renewableenergy companies Sunsense and Earthsense, updated hishome stand-alone battery based system. SEI participantshelped add another 1 kW of BP PV panels and a SunnyBoyTM inverter to Scott’s ground-mounted system, and tied itinto the grid. • In July, participants installed a 1 kW system for straw balebuilder Jock Jacober,who lives outsideCarbondale.• SEI’s Women’s PVparticipants installeda 1.5 kW of Kyoceramodules on a grid-tied system inPaonia, Colorado. • Women participantsin the WisconsinWomen’s PV workshop, held in conjunction with theMidwest Renewable Energy Association, installed a 1.8 kWsystem on a dual axis Wattsun tracker.• Grid-tied PV systems were also installed by workshops inTucson, San Francisco, Austin, and Salt Lake City.WIND POWERThis year’s Colorado Wind Power workshop installation washeld in Paonia, Colorado. The participants helped install a 1kilowatt African Wind Power turbine at an intentionalcommunity with straw bale structures, a PV system, a charterschool, an organic cafe, and a natural grocery store. It wasinstalled on a 85-foot tilt-up tower, along with an anemometerto monitor wind data.On Guemes Island, WA, Wind Power workshop participantshelped install a 165-foot freestanding tower, with an AfricanWindpower 1 kW wind generator.BIODIESEL FUELParticipants in the Biodieselworkshop made small batchesof biodiesel out of usedvegetable oil from localrestaurants. They also made a40 gallon batch of biodiesel inthe “Fuelmeister” with RudiWiedemann, founder ofBiodiesel Solutions. Rudi waspresent to introduceparticipants to the Fuelmeister,a commercially availablebiodiesel processor. NATURAL HOUSE BUILDINGParticipants in the Solar Home Design & Natural HouseBuilding workshop built a load-bearing straw bale shed for alocal Carbondale resident. The shed has a rubble trenchfoundation, with gravel and sand filled earthbags for the firstfour courses. It is finished with natural plasters. SOLAR HOT WATERStudents in the Solar Hot Water workshop helped install asolar hot water system with SEI associate Mike Tierney ofAspen Solar. The system is for domestic hot water andradiant floor space heating.SOLAR WATER PUMPINGParticipants in the Solar Water Pumping workshop installedtwo seperate systems that comprise a complete water systemfor a typical residence. The first system pumps water from ashallow well to multiple storage tanks with two 80-watt ShellPV modules. The second system provides water delivery andpressure to multiple dwellings, with two 102-watt PVmodules, and is battery based in order to provide waterregardless of weather conditions.SEI BOARD OF DIRECTORSBarbe ChamblissBarbe works as a therapist, mediator, and special advocate. She has been the Director of the Center For ConflictResolution in the Roaring Fork Valley and she works with Restorative Justice programs. Formerly, Barbecoordinated the Mesa County Alternative Energy Program in Colorado and was the Director of the Colorado SmallScale Hydropower Program where she published Water Over The Dam, and Guide To Negotiations Between SmallPower Producers and Utiltites. Jeff DickinsonJeff has been a Practitioner of Sustainable Architectural design Alternatives for the past15 years and has designed and built passive solar, super-insulated homes includingstraw-bale and Earthship homes. Jeff is an energy consultant as well as co-author andconsultant for green materials and energy building codes. Jeff is currently on leavesailing around the Caribbean with his family for a year or more.Linda LungLinda is the Education Program Coordinator at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory inGolden, Colorado. She works closely with the Department of Energy to design, develop,implement and evaluate educational programs to improve math, science, and technologyskills of students in grades kindergarten through post-doctoral.Don PhillipsonDon is a lawyer specializing in civil litigation. His work has involved water rights, chlorofluoro-carbon accidents,and patents with electronic fuel injections, lighting fixtures and maintenance free lead acid batteries. He alsoattended SEI’s Hydrogen Workshop and Advanced Photovoltaics Workshop.Randy UdallRandy is currently the director of the Community Office of Resource Efficiency inAspen. He writes for many environmental magazines and is the former editor of theRocky Mountain Institute’s Newsletter.JohnnyWeissJohnny is a co-founder of SEI, and is currently Executive Director. He initiatedand directed SEI’s Renewable Energy Education Program. Johnny currentlyserves on NREL’s Education Advisory Board. From 1980 to 1990 he helpeddevelop and teach the Solar Retrofit Training and Energy Efficicient BuildingTrades Program at Colorado Mountain College.KRIS SUTTONPV Design & Installation InstructorKris has many years of experience working with grid-tied,battery UPS systems, and off-grid renewable energy systems.He also has experience with single and three-phase, high andlow voltage inverters, industrial batteries, and all types ofphotovoltaic systems. He has been employed as a Projectmanager and directed work crews on multiple projects. Heworks with architects, engineers, general contractors, buildingdepartments, and homeowners through all phases of the PVdesign and installation process. Kris has also instructedtechnical trainings for groups of up to 80 students onphotovoltaic systems, commercial and residential electricalsystems, renewable energy overview, and OSHA safety. SOLAR IN THE SCHOOLSSEI’s Solar In the Schools program (SIS) targets gradeschool youth and focuses on experiential learning ofenergy concepts and issues. The goal is to havestudents understand energy as it relates to all livingthings on the planet. SIS emphasizes critical thinkingskills by exploring energy choices, costs, and solutionswithin individual communities. In 2004, SEI presentedin different classrooms throughout the Roaring Forkand North Fork Valleys of Colorado teaching over 600students about renewable energy. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMTravel to the United States has become increasinglyhard for our international students due to visarequirements and the cost of airfare. We try to helpoffset these costs to eligible developing countryresidents by offering partial tuition scholarships. SEIalso offers scholarships to women to attend ourwomen’s program.“Student scholarships at SEI gives an opportunity for thosewho can't afford this valuable education, but have a greatneed for it, such as the majority of the world's populationwho live in developing countries and inner city slums. Idon't think education for a better living should be only forthe elite. I deeply thank SEI's members for this excellentopportunity”- Ilan Adler, Director of International Renewable Resources Institute, Mexico CityINVEST PROGRAMSEI offers alumni of our workshops an opportunity toparticipate in INVEST, International Volunteers inEnvironmentally Sustainable Technologies. SEI alumnican apply to volunteer overseas with one of our partnerorganizations to help bring renewable energytechnologies to communities in the developing world.Volunteers install photovoltaic systems on rural healthcenters, teach rural farmers about solar water pumping,install micro-hydro and wind systems to power ruralcommunities, or help build sustainable houses aroundthe world. All this while meeting new people andlearning new cultures. In 2004, four alumni were placed with internationaldevelopment organizations in the Philippines andHonduras. SEI INSTALLATION PROJECTSSEI & I is a division of SEI offering renewable energysystem design, equipment, installation, and end-usertraining both nationally and internationally. Projects areinstalled by SEI staff, workshop participants, interns,and invited alumni. SEI regularly works with localprofessional RE installers and always promotes codecompliant installations.SEI PROVIDED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GROUPS WORLDWIDEGUEST INSTRUCTORS & INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVESREEP 2004SEI INSTRUCTORS ARE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS, BRINGING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION INRENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES. IN 2004, OVER 100 GUEST INSTRUCTORS AND INDUSTRYREPRESENTATIVES PRESENTED IN OUR WORKSHOPS.DOMESTIC PROJECTS & INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCELYDIA DOLEMANWomen’s Carpentry InstructorLydia Doleman is an SEI alumwho has been working withnatural building technologiessince 1997. She has worked as acarpenter and a woodworker, andhas worked on many strawbalehomes in several states.Lydia currently runs a strawbaleand natural construction company called Flying HammerProductions out of Portland, OR, where she has helped buildlight-straw/clay dwellings for Dignity Village, a communityfor people who might otherwise live on the street.TODD BARTHOLFSuccessful Solar Businesses and Renewable Energy forthe Developing World InstructorTodd is Director of Renewable Energy at CH2M HILL,where he assesses and advances the company’sinvolvement in all areas of renewable energy.Todd has been active in the renewable energy industryfor over 20 years, beginning with the founding of aproject development firm in Colorado that he operatedfrom 1980 through 1986. He then joined NorthernPower Systems, a systems integrator of high reliabilityrenewable energy based systems. He was also a seniorprogram officer with Winrock International’s renewableenergy group where he served as program manager andsolar and wind energy specialist for Winrock andUSAID.Immediately prior to joining CH2M HILL, Toddoperated an independent consulting practice thatspecialized in strategic planning, business developmentand program management for a range of domestic andinternational clients interested in expanding theiractivities in renewable energy. He also served asinternational markets specialist for the NationalRenewable Energy Laboratory’s National WindTechnology Center. HUGH PIGGOTTHomebuilt Wind Generators InstructorHugh Piggott of Scoraig WindElectric is an international authorityon home-built wind generators, andhas been working with small windturbines since 1977. He has designed,built and sold small wind turbines insizes from 3 to 15 feet in diameter tocustomers all over the British Isles.He has also designed small windturbines for companies andindividuals in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka,and Peru.The solarphotovoltaicsysteminstalled onthe Basalt,CO MiddleSchoolGLEN BYROMSolar Home Design & Natural House BuildingInstructorGlen attended SEI’s ‘95 REEP program. Since then hehas been a PV and solarthermal installer, electricianand carpenter. However, hispassion has long beenstrawbale and cobconstruction. Glen is now acontractor specializing instrawbale and naturalbuilding. He has worked onover 25 straw balestructures, and has instructedthe hands-on section inSEI’s natural buildingworkshop for five years.