Three-year performance study of the Mead, Nebraska, 25-kWp photovoltaic power system

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6564844

Bullwinkel, H. J.; Hopkinson, R. F.

During the past three years (1978 to 1980), a 25-kWp photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system has provided 107-MW hours of energy to the University of Nebraska's Agricultural Research Station in Mead, Nebraska. Electrical energy produced by the PV system has provided 100% of the power needed throughout the growing season to meet the irrigation requirements for an 80-acre cornfield, as well as significant portions of power required for PV-related crop-drying and fertilizer-manufacturing experiments. Annual array output averaged 21.4 kWh (1978), 20.4 kWh (1979) and 19.0 kWh (1980) for every 1.0 kWh/m/sup 2/ of insolation. Field data indicate that the PV system, developed and maintained jointly by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory and the University of Nebraska under US Department of Energy (DOE) sponsorship, has performed up to expectations, if due allowance is made for component degradation and seasonal soil/snow accumulation on the array.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Lexington (USA). Lincoln Lab.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ET20279
• OSTI ID: 6564844
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/20279-122; CONF-810509-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140600* -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems
CROPS
DRYING
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FERTILIZERS
FIELD TESTS
IRRIGATION
MANUFACTURING
MIDWEST REGION
NEBRASKA
NORTH AMERICA
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
USA