Solar systems built by companies, families or administrations in USA.

1. Photovoltaïc systems in USA.
FL, LO, TX, CO, NM, CA.
Field research about solar systems installed
by companies, administrations and families.
reporter@orange.fr
Other research http://exploration-solar.eu.tc

2. Aim of the research
 Have a look and understand PV solar
facilities for electricity production.

3. Customer's needs
 To produce electricity in remote areas or
create power independance for specific
equipments.
 To enable electric systems to be
functionning where electric network is not
present.

4. Response to customer's needs
 Some kits are more or less responding to
customer's needs, but most of them are
installing their system by assembling
elements.
 Companies are installing solar panels fields
for local needs or creating solr centrals for
production delivered to the public network.

5. Cost of photovoltaïcs
 Famillies say that investment is a problem
for decision. But when the system is setup,
use and power generation is much
appreciated.
 Companies are investing into these solar
central with financial goals. States have
environmental aims in addition to
productivity.

6. Pros and cons
 Photovoltaïc technology evolution enable to
build solar panel of more than 140 watt
each. This performance is already passed
by scientific research results that helps to
reduce installed surface.
 Nevertheless, for people who own larger
areas, middle range solar panels are still a
better choice.

7. Measures to setup
 Financial grants are linked to States and
changing depending to the areas of
residence. Some states like Colorado and
California are helping-out for installing these
systems.
 In Mexico, some famillies have received
batteries and solar panels given by
government during old sea-light tower
rehabilitations.

8. Washington DC
 Parking at center town. This parking was
not equiped with public light before
installing photovoltaïc systems. Washington
DC center town close to Union Station
railway.

11. River Measure
 This measure system is setup into this river
water of Florida and sending data to the
analist office. Autonomous electric
generation is increasing reliability of flow
study and water level. Limit of Florida State.

14. Road sign
 This self-powered road sign is displaying
speed limit. It is installed at sea side zone,
inhabitants are still present while houses
have been all destroyed by Katrina and
Mitch hurricanes. City of Cameron,
Louisiana.

16. Solar car-park appliances
 Numerous car-park appliances in Houston
city and other american States Capitals are
powered by an integrated solar panel.
Houston city, Texas.

18. Equiped trailer
 This trailer is equiped with several solar
panels and an appliance antenna. It is
parked at the edge of the street and can be
used permanently wathever facility is
around. Houston city, Texas.

20. Ranch entrance
 This american property owner have
installed himself a motorised portal for his
ranch as well as lightning for american flag
at the entrance. The system has been
setup by this private person who does not
have electric network along the road. Road
to Houston, Texas.

22. Oil pumping site
 Numerous pumping sites can be seen
along the road toward the north of Texas.
Solar panels enable to genrate power for
the station and sending oil pumping data to
its owners.

24. River measure
 This solar set is providing data about river
flow. The system have been designed to be
reach from the road with a lader.
Maintenance is under Texan commission
for water.

26. Weather road-sign
 This lightning road-sign is displaying ice
persence on a wind-sensitive and rough
weather road in the northern Texas region.
Texas.

28. Water pumping for cattle
 The system is located along a dirt road.
Water is pumped-out for filling-up cattle
bassin. Northern Texas road.

30. Railroad sign
 This railroad sign enables trafic regulation
on a single line toward south-eastern
Colorado. No electric network is available
along this line which have been built by
natural americans. This is an old
Comanche region. Texas.

32. Familly house
 This home have large solar arrays setup on
a roof with ideal inclination and has good
orientation toward sun itinerary. Northern
Texas.

34. Flag lightning
 In front of Baca county library, flag-lightning
is realised by a small solar panel mounted
on facility sign. Northern Texas.

36. Fort Carson
 This military base have used rubish field for
transformation into a solar field. The dome
wich is covering rubish is made of concrete
and joining solar caption and electricity
treatment. Fort Carson close to Colorado
Spring.

38. Natural park
 Cheyenne natural park display is solar
powered. This is avoiding underground
wiring in this touristic and protected area.
Colorado Spring, Colorado.

40. Historic sign
 Historic display in this mining region is
photovoltaïc powered. It is showing-up
ressources in this mountainous region.
Silver Cliff, top of Colorado mountains.

42. Silver Cliff solar central
 This companies keeps on working on this
solar central at Silver Cliff center in
collaboration with the federal
gouvernement. Colorado State.

44. Mobile installation
 This small panel is charging an accumulator
wich is protecting an area with an electric
equipment. It is enable to put some low
voltage current inside the fence for cattle
park. Cattle area of Colorado.

46. Mix installation
 These panels at the edge of the road are
powering water-pumping for cattle and
owner's house. Accumulators can be
reached and are protected inside metalic
box. Silver Cliff way out.

48. Christian Monastery
 This remote place, at the middle of nice
mountains is not equiped with electric
network. Power for lightning, kitchen,
heating et monk's life is only possible with
solar panels. Road of Chama, close to the
Ghost ranch, New Mexico State.

51. River equipment
 A system installed close to the river. Limit of
New Mexico State.

53. First generation solar panels
 In this historic area of Chaco, National
monument of natural americans. This
woman made an investment in first
generation of solar power system. This
equipment is 25 years old and will be
replaced by new panels. Accumulators are
located inside an insulated box burried into
the ground. State of New Mexico.

57. High-tech facility
 This entrepreneur has decided to use solar
panels from a long time ago. He has
designed and setup his own system for
providing power to the house with extra
amount of energy and security equipment.
This is the most sophisticated private facility
i could visit. Desert of Arizona.

67. Public lightning
 This public parking is powered-up with
autonomous solar lamp. This city at the
border of California and Arizona is the place
for games and numerous Casinos. Bullhead
city, California.

69. high technology company
 This company wich is designing processors
for computer industry has setup large sun-
tracking panels along the highway 10.
Californian State.

71. Transmission relay
 This light phone relay system is powered by
a solar panel mounted on the wooden stick.
This volcanic area has few inhabitants
along the famous road 66. Former mining
region at the edge of Mojave desert. State
of California.

73. Railroad sign
 The railroad is going through the desert of
Mojave. Train is loaded with containers
heading to the harbour of Los Angeles.
There is no electric network in this nature
perserve area. California.

75. Solar central
 This wide surface of parabolic solar panels
is using high technology solution. The curve
of these panels is focusing light power
toward specific oil pipes providing heat to
steam powered turbines. Daggett zone,
California.

78. Environmental point of view
 Installing photovoltaïc central in Mojave
desert, California, is creating discussion.
Ecologist's point of view is enlightning the
fact that it would be dammage to wildlife in
the desert.
 After visiting this great region i think that
discussion has much interest because if
solar technology might preserve the planet,
it should not harm the green and animal
species.

79. Equipment for field research
 Chevrolet Blazer 1985 vehicle offered to
Managua, Nicaragua airport firebrigade.
 Laptop computer, 12 volts charger.
 Numeric picture camera 3Mp, GPS & US
road maps.
 American road map book.