Batteries and Solar Electricity

Batteries and Solar Electricity

Bill Hennessy, Berks Solar

In 1749, a few years before he flew his first kite, Ben Franklin brought the word “battery” to the world of electricity. One hundred years later, slavery supporter and anti-immigrant political candidate Samuel Morse used batteries to develop a long-distance telegraph. The new world of telecommunications left pigeons and the Pony Express with little to carry.

Former telegrapher Thomas Edison invented a nickel-iron battery to power electric cars. Edison encouraged one of his employees, Henry Ford, to develop an automobile, but Ford left the company, sticking with gasoline engines started by lead-acid batteries.

Another hundred years and industrialist Elon Musk is promising the world that the Tesla Powerwall–a lithium ion battery–will bring a new era of sustainable electricity to the world.

Though the fuel is always free, when the sun doesn’t shine, solar power needs help. The Tesla battery pack is one of several systems that are rushing to establish the new age of solar power.

But technology developments are struggling to catch up with marketing promises. At its April 26 meeting, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association vice president Bill Hennessy will offer an overview of what’s in store for storage in the next year.

Focusing on residential PV systems with battery storage, we’ll take a look at the different technologies, what they cost and how they fit in a sustainable future.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:00 at TEKPark (9999 Hamilton Boulevard, Breinigsville, PA 18031, between Kutztown and Allentown). Meetings are free and open to the public. After the meeting, please plan to stick around and chat with friends old and new. Light snacks will be served. Hope to see you there!

For questions, contact Vera Cole, [masked].

Interested in being on the MAREA Board of Directors? Let us know!

If you have time, energy and ideas to contribute to MAREA’s work, we’d love to hear from you! Here are details…

All MAREA board members share a deep commitment to renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable living demonstrated in our daily lives. But beyond this, we are all different. Each board member contributes in his or her own way. If you think you may be interested in serving on MAREA’s board, please just drop us a note describing relevant experience or active interest you may have in areas like…

·  Renewable energy technology, application

·  Sustainable living, including agriculture

·  Policy analysis & making (local, state, federal)

·  Energy efficient construction, technology and practices

·  Grid management, infrastructure

·  Alternative transportation

·  Non-profit organization management

·  Communication, outreach, social media

·  Fund raising, grant writing

·  Event planning and management

·  Information technology (web, database)

·  Video, photography

Feel free to include a resume, articles, photos or any other info you think will help us understand what you are all about. It is not required that you have prior Board experience, a particular educational background or specific professional status. Each inquiry will be evaluated on an individual basis. Your submission will be treated confidentially and shared only with current board members. MAREA will respond to every application with interest and appreciation, but please know there are a limited number of openings and all that apply may not be accepted.  

Board positions are for one year and unpaid. We meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 in Kutztown PA. Members need to be able and willing to attend at least most of these meetings. If you are at a distance, please don’t let this stop you—we may be able to arrange car pools or use technology to bridge the gap. Thanks! The amount of time committed is up to individual members and kept manageable.

If you have questions and would like to talk with a current board member, please drop us an email with your contact information and we will give you a call. Thanks for your interest. We hope to hear from you!

CONTACT: [masked]

Need a gift…but don’t want to buy stuff?

If you’d like to make a donation to MAREA or buy someone a membership as a gift, let us know and we’ll handle the acknowledgement thoughtfully, by email or paper mail, with your input. Drop us a note at [masked]. And remember, all new memberships get a free copy of the DVD, “Saving Sunshine”!

Free DVD with MAREA membership  While supplies last, all new and renewing MAREA members will receive a free copy of “Saving Sunshine, Keeping the Lights on with Batteries and Solar Power,” the 30-minute DVD produced by MAREA this year with funding from the Berks Community Foundation and distributed by Bullfrog Films. It’s terrific film, offering an interesting and easily understood explanation of the electricity grid and distribution generation, especially the role of batteries with solar. MAREA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations and memberships are how we keep the lights on. You can join at the meeting or anytime online. Thanks for your help.