INSTALLATION OF SOLAR- AND HYDRO-POWER SYSTEMS IN THE PIEDMONT OF VIRGINIA

To examine alternate energy systems (wind, solar, water), the Center of Basic and Applied Science (CBAS, INC) constructed two homes in a remote forested area in Virginia. The larger (2000 sq.ft.) home is also the field station office, and is on the typical topography developed on the late Precambrian Lynchburg Formation (rolling hills, thin soil). For electrical power, solar panels were installed. The ranch-style building (1 story, rectangular) is located on a tree-free hill with the longest side facing south. Pedestal-mounted solar panels, whose orientation can be changed to follow the daily and seasonal movements of the sun, were also placed in a shade-free location. The smaller (1000 sq.ft.) home is adjacent to a post-Pleistocene flood plain, in a narrow valley with steep meta-sandstone walls. A 100 foot wide dam forming a three-acre lake (max. depth 15 feet) was constructed in this valley, and since the stream coming into the lake drains almost 1000 acres, the stream always flows. The pipe which prevents water from overflowing the dam is located near the top of the dam, and produces a 10 foot water fall, from which a hydroturbine can produce electrical power. While improvements will be made, at present the solar-power system (rated at 0.5 kilowatts) produces about 3-4 kilowatts during the 6-8 hours that the sun shines. The hydro-power system (also rated at 0.5 kilowatts) can produce over 10 kilowatts because it runs constantly. While more powerful, the hydro-power system requires much more maintenance than the solar-power system.