Great Lakes Solar & Wind Energies

The Site Assessment

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Fill out our Questionnaire and we will call you

The site assessment is the first step to determine the potential value of a Solar or Wind system to you, our valued customer.  The results of the survey will allow Great Lakes Solar and Wind Energies  to develop a proposal that meets your requirements.   This proposal will be a key ingredient  in your decision making process.

What do we do on a Site Assessment?

 Five key questions will be answered as a result of the survey:

1. What resources are available?

2. How much energy will each produce?

3. How long will the wire runs be?

4. What are the load requirements?

5. How far from the Solar array will the equipment be located?

 For SOLAR

 For a Solar installation the site survey will also cover the geographical issues surrounding such an installation. Specifically;

• We must determine where the sun is seen all day in relation to your structure and is it obstructed by hills, trees, or buildings etc.

•  If the solar array will be shaded, we must determine when will it be shaded and for how long.

•  Will the shading be worse in the winter than in the summer?

Our ‘Solar Pathfinder’ instrument tells us these things.  Once the site has been analyzed with the Solar Pathfinder we will discuss the climate issues that may affect solar;

• Does it get foggy in your area?

• When?

• For how long?

• Do you wish to utilize a battery back-up?

• If yes to the battery back-up, how many days do you want it to provide service?

• For how many cloudy days do you want the batteries to last?

 For WIND

 We need to determine which wind site has unobstructed wind flow for a minimum of a 500 foot radius.

 We must read the signs in the vegetation etc. that help estimate at what speed the wind blows on average.

 For Solar or Wind Systems

 Do a load analysis on everything electrical on the site.

 Measure distances for wire runs.

 THEN WHAT?

 We determine if the site is suitable for a system and what kind(s). If it's not, be confident that we will tell you.  It's in both our best interests to be accurate on this point.

We get you started on a detailed load analysis, needed for the system design.

Then information is brought back to the office and entered into computers so we can use it to design a system.

We design a system for you.

Once you decide to go with a system, we take a deposit and order the equipment.

When we have all the equipment, we contact you to set a date for the installation.

We install the equipment or help you do it.

We teach you how to use it.

We are always there for you as long as you own the system. We will answer questions and advise you on how to use it.

The Site Assessment is a very important step in planning a system. If it saves you from buying even one too many solar panels it pays for itself three or four times.  There is a nominal charge for the site assessment.  Fill out the Questionnaire  or call the office at 906 428 3300 or simply E-Mail Holly at thomp50@upsolarandwind.com to get the details!