Creative Energies Blog

Creative Energies has been designing, providing equipment, and installing systems in Antarctica for a number of years. This year we installed and upgraded 5 remote power systems for Antarctic – Logistics and Expeditions. Power in remote areas like Antarctica is important; the system must be reliable and robust for the extreme conditions. As a business we have always worked on remote, small power systems, it is a great application of solar technology. Solar is extremely low maintenance and reliable. The “generator” uses no moving parts and runs on free sunlight (fuel). So Antarctica, space, oilfields, hunting cabins, and bus stops all are remote in their own way, benefiting from free energy from the sun without the burden, cost, and impracticality of an electric grid to connect them to central generation facilities.

Over the last decade electronics have advanced enough to allow all of us to use solar electric energy, even if we are not “remote”, living connected to the electric grid.  Choosing the appropriate energy source for the job will be an increasingly important decision in our growing world. Powering things like lights, computers, kitchen alliances and TV’s with extremely reliable and green solar electricity is available to us all, today. We can all benefit from free fuel, no moving parts and the incredible reliability of solar. 

 (graph is courtesy of NOLS, y-axis is kilowatt-hours)

NOLS Rocky Mountain here in Lander, WY has a 14.3 kW DC grid-interactive solar electric power system.  The system has been in operation for over a year now.  The system produced about 64 kilowatt-hours per day, and more than 23,000 kilowatt-hours for the year.  The system was funded in part by a Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky Grant.  There is more information about electricity usage at NOLS Rocky Mountain on the NOLS blog.  Live performance data is available online.

AJ Linnell, a Creative Energies project manager, recently went on a winter time service trip to a remote cabin in southern Wyoming.  Read his trip report.

by Creative Energies installer Joel Helleso

As an alternative energy practitioner, it’s always important to practice on your family first. They are usually more forgiving when you make mistakes and can be a great way to learn on your own. The foundation, wire runs, and disconnect  were done back in September.
The final install took place on the 18th of December. Production meter was installed on the 8th of January. So far the meter has recorded approximately 180 kWh.  45 kwh have been exported onto the grid since the date of install.  It has been a great psychological
boost for my mom to offset the effects of having such a miserable winter so far. Here are a few photos from the install. Enjoy!

Creative Energies partner Andy Tyson spent a day this Fall installing a small solar electric system at a camp on the Grand Teton in Wyoming.  Click here for the full story and more pics.

Solar direct water pumping is another great use of photovoltaics.  It is a very simple, reliable way to pump water in remote locations.  In this case, the water will be used wildlife and livestock.