Webex meeting and Learn: DC Power & Storage Systems
The Denver Section would like to invite you to join us for the latest presentation in our Meeting and Learn series!
Come join your fellow IEEE members and local engineers for a fun filled evening of networking, while we discover exciting new innovations in technology. Once a month one of your local Denver IEEE Societies will host the event and bring in a unique speaker related to their field to present. This provides you, our members, with a unique opportunity to explore and learn about exciting new technologies being developed around you. Early on in the evening you’ll also have ample opportunity to mingle with your fellow engineers and colleagues delving into a broad range of technical expertise.
If there is a specific speaker or topic you find interesting please let us know and we will try to accommodate it in the schedule.
Upcoming presentations:
Dec: Skip
Jan: TBD
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 10 Nov 2020
- Time: 07:00 PM to 09:00 PM
- All times are (GMT-07:00) US/Mountain
-
Add Event to Calendar
- denver, Colorado
- United States 80020
- Starts 09 November 2020 09:10 AM
- Ends 10 November 2020 09:00 PM
- All times are (GMT-07:00) US/Mountain
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Chris Ebersberg
Meeting and Learn : NEW ENERGY ECONOMY – DC TO DC POWER SYSTEMS
Commercial applications for renewable energy in the current AC grid environment are difficult to justify financially. The best we are seeing for energy efficiency as an immediate positive adjustment is with LED lighting. Most LED lighting fixtures are AC optimized. This means that the actual lighting element, the LED is a native DC appliance. These LED fixtures require drivers that are powered with alternating current, then stepped down to feed the LED direct current.
The immediate choice for commercial renewable energy applications would be solar energy. Utilize the unused roof space to create a DC energy source; then send it downline to an Inverter which converts the current from direct to alternating; then on down the line to the driver to switch back to direct current feed for the LED is the current status quo.
Unfortunately, for business that do opt in for solar energy, those businesses are often thwarted from moving forward due to the fact that most utility companies only allow the solar energy to offset the customers usage but not the demand charges. Therefore, breakeven times are unappealingly long; upwards 13-15 years.
The breakthrough came as our team was challenged with solving efficiency and energy options for a local cannabis warehouse grow operation. Conventional solar would only offset 8% of the usage and less than 4% of the energy bill. In this instance we were looking at a hundred-kilowatt photovoltaic system. Through new technology with native DC lighting we were able to create a 48vdc fixture that would produce the same spectrum and intensity of a conventional high intensity discharge bulb.
We found that moving from a 1,150-watt bulb to 600 watts was a big savings, but with the driverless version of that light we were able to reduce the equivalent solar requirements at a 4:1 factor. We noticed that to be our first financial efficiency gain – no driver on our fixture and no need for an electrician to wire it up due to the schedule 2 wiring. The obvious issue is dealing with energy when the energy source is not available – the sun. Due to this we realized that the energy source would need to be an onsite storage system and that system would be energized through PV, wind, hydro or even drip back from the grid at lower rate times.
Lastly, we integrated intelligence into the system. Our ‘Cortex’ technology allows for the energy management, DC distribution, Monitoring and remote-control options. Having solved a heavy load problem we realized that these applications are ideal for non-cannabis facilities as well. Our experience dictates that 25-50% of a building energy load is lighting. Most commercial lighting is already LED and for us to offer lower installation, product and maintenance costs is the next step in our move to hyper-efficiency and a virtual perpetual lighting system.
Our mission is to continually seek out and deploy native DC appliances and energy sources while looking to offer improvements, optimizations and efficiency upgrades in the AC challenges we cannot solve with our DC applications. Engineers and electricians will welcome these design options for the ease of installation and the value the add to any commercial construction project.
Biography:
Chris Ebersberg – A Colorado native, Chris has been active in the renewable industry since 2002 specifically with focus on photovoltaics and a lesser focus on solar thermal applications. From being a part of the SolarCity/Tesla Top 1% team onto creating the flag ship sales team for Sunrun Solar, USA, Chris’ engagements have resulting in outstanding revenue generation and unparalleled efficiency. As the inaugural recipient of Sunrun Solar’s Edison Award – it was demonstrated that Chris’ understanding of people, process and product allowing him to deliver unexpected results and being recognized the single most valuable manager to the company at large.
After being tasked to assist a local cannabis company address some of their overwhelming energy challenges, it became apparent that the current standard of creating and delivering energy to lighting systems was antiquated at best overlooking obvious solutions. This shift has become Chris’ passion and noble cause. Along with his partner, Matt King they have been able to crack the code to making commercial solar viable and up the ante in powering modern lighting.
Matt King
NEW ENERGY ECONOMY – DC TO DC POWER SYSTEMS
Commercial applications for renewable energy in the current AC grid environment are difficult to justify financially. The best we are seeing for energy efficiency as an immediate positive adjustment is with LED lighting. Most LED lighting fixtures are AC optimized. This means that the actual lighting element, the LED is a native DC appliance. These LED fixtures require drivers that are powered with alternating current, then stepped down to feed the LED direct current.
The immediate choice for commercial renewable energy applications would be solar energy. Utilize the unused roof space to create a DC energy source; then send it downline to an Inverter which converts the current from direct to alternating; then on down the line to the driver to switch back to direct current feed for the LED is the current status quo.
Unfortunately, for business that do opt in for solar energy, those businesses are often thwarted from moving forward due to the fact that most utility companies only allow the solar energy to offset the customers usage but not the demand charges. Therefore, breakeven times are unappealingly long; upwards 13-15 years.
The breakthrough came as our team was challenged with solving efficiency and energy options for a local cannabis warehouse grow operation. Conventional solar would only offset 8% of the usage and less than 4% of the energy bill. In this instance we were looking at a hundred-kilowatt photovoltaic system. Through new technology with native DC lighting we were able to create a 48vdc fixture that would produce the same spectrum and intensity of a conventional high intensity discharge bulb.
We found that moving from a 1,150-watt bulb to 600 watts was a big savings, but with the driverless version of that light we were able to reduce the equivalent solar requirements at a 4:1 factor. We noticed that to be our first financial efficiency gain – no driver on our fixture and no need for an electrician to wire it up due to the schedule 2 wiring. The obvious issue is dealing with energy when the energy source is not available – the sun. Due to this we realized that the energy source would need to be an onsite storage system and that system would be energized through PV, wind, hydro or even drip back from the grid at lower rate times.
Lastly, we integrated intelligence into the system. Our ‘Cortex’ technology allows for the energy management, DC distribution, Monitoring and remote-control options. Having solved a heavy load problem we realized that these applications are ideal for non-cannabis facilities as well. Our experience dictates that 25-50% of a building energy load is lighting. Most commercial lighting is already LED and for us to offer lower installation, product and maintenance costs is the next step in our move to hyper-efficiency and a virtual perpetual lighting system.
Our mission is to continually seek out and deploy native DC appliances and energy sources while looking to offer improvements, optimizations and efficiency upgrades in the AC challenges we cannot solve with our DC applications. Engineers and electricians will welcome these design options for the ease of installation and the value the add to any commercial construction project.
Biography:
Matt King – A long time Coloradan is driven to pursue implementation and integration of advancing technologies in the pursuit of what he and his partner Chris Ebersberg refer to as the Hyper-Grid which employ’s optimizing power consumption and best practices and use of AC & DC energy in live applications.
Matt has a background and career with extensive knowledge in DC/Low Voltage power systems across numerous industries focused on optimization of DC powered systems and practical uses. From creation of OEM products, Manufacturing processes, Sales, and Business Development of cutting-edge technology integration, he is on the relentless pursuit to advance moving away from our world’s “PSI” mentality when it comes to creation, collection, and use of nature’s renewable energy.
Agenda
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm meeting
IEEE ---- Denver Section