Day 1 – Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Solar
7:00–8:15
Paul Helstrom, Minnesota Power
Harborside 302
This session will introduce solar technologies with a concentration on solar electric (photovoltaics). We will introduce the basics of various solar technologies and applications, the policies that are encouraging growth in the solar industry, and programs from around the region that are incentivizing deployment. Complementary technologies such as storage will be introduced, while current events affecting markets will also be explored.
8:30–10:00
Christopher LaForge, Great Northern Solar
Harborside 302
This session continues the review of the current state of development of solar electric design and the equipment changes that affect it. Each year the solar field evolves rapidly and with the changes comes additional design challenges. Understanding the best designs and what advantages each design brings to your clients keeps you in the game with the fast moving solar world. Keeping you up-to-date is the essence of this session so you can participate in this growing sector of the electrical design and construction field. Join us for an exciting time updating your knowledge base.
10:30–12:00
Christopher LaForge, Great Northern Solar
David Shaffer, MnSEIA
Laura Hannah, Fresh Energy
Harborside 302
The changes in the NEC for renewable energy and energy storage systems in 2019 require important and dramatic changes in RE system design. These changes will affect PV and other renewable energy systems design and require significant adjustments to how we approach systems. This session will review the changes for 2019 and present options for making designs compliant with these unusual developments in the 2017 code. Understanding these changes will be vital for all contractors and designers in the renewable energy and energy storage field. In addition to the NEC update by Christopher LaForge, a brief summary of the new Minnesota Interconnection Standards with be presented by David Shaffer and Laura Hannah. Time will be allotted for questions.
1:00–2:30
Christopher LaForge, Great Northern Solar
Harborside 302
Energy storage was the holy grail of renewable energy for decades. Storage is here now and here to stay. Its use will change business, utilities and energy systems greatly. With the advent of many new players in the field, the ability to build storage into a wide range of electrical systems and retrofit existing systems becomes the design challenge. This session will review the current state of the technology and available equipment and show how introducing storage into systems creates a wide range of profit and advantage to buildings, along with a new level of resiliency to our systems.
3:00–4:30
Jukka Kukkonen, PlugInConnect
Harborside 302
There are over a million plug-in vehicles (PEVs) driving on U.S. roads every day and, according to the latest survey from AAA, one in five Americans say they are likely to buy an electric car for their next new vehicle. Owners will charge their PEVs mainly at home, but PEV charging infrastructure will also be needed in other locations like workplaces. New areas of interest are corridor charging that enables long trips with EVs and destination charging that hotels, parks and other destinations can offer to attract more customers and visitors.