Austin Pfannenstiel Founder, Engineering and Design Lead; MHK Solar - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Thirteenth Annual Dialog on Sustainability Saturday, July 21, 2018 Austin Pfannenstiel Founder, Engineering and Design Lead; MHK Solar

Background • MHK Solar was founded in October, 2016 • Fourth place award in KSU’s Launch business pitch competition in November 2016 • 2017 award recipient of a $10,000 JumpStart Kansas grant through the Kansas department of Commerce and Washburn University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) • Installations have generated 26.2 MWh of clean energy to date  Offset 19.5 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions

Background Adoption of renewable energy, and specifically solar, is approaching a critical mass • Renewable energy accounted for almost 2/3 of all capacity additions in 2016  https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/04/new‐era‐of‐solar‐power‐is‐now‐upon‐us‐iea‐says.html • 89% of U.S. adults favor expanding use of solar; 42% of homeowners in the Midwest have seriously considered solar in the last year  http://www.pewresearch.org/fact‐tank/2016/10/05/americans‐strongly‐favor‐expanding‐solar‐power‐ to‐help‐address‐costs‐and‐environmental‐concerns/

Background Of over 9,600 solar‐viable roofs just in Manhattan There are only 17 existing solar installations… https://www.google.com/get/sunroof /data‐explorer/place/ChIJLWPDRO‐ 3vYcR78cSc0hdGKk/

Background

Technology status • Module level power electronics → Microinverters, DC optimizers • Panels → Commodity, race to the bottom, theoretical maximum efficiency → “AC” panels • Batteries → Getting there… → Large scale international installations (Australia, Netherlands) – grid support https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/netherlands‐ football‐johan‐cruijff‐stadium‐electric‐car‐batteries /

Policy Status • Politics, Macroeconomic environment → Chinese subsidies on domestic solar installations → Tariffs → Federal tax credits → California solar mandate • Utility policy uncertainty → Net metering credits, tariffs, surcharges

MHK Solar’s vision and goals • Help customers find ways to live in accordance with their principles → Most customers find protecting the environment, supporting their community, and living sustainably very important – need access and right message • Develop a local community of informed solar energy advocates → Begin to replace outdated information and misconceptions with the new realities of solar energy → Informed, happy customers are the best solar advocates

MHK Solar’s path forward • Look to enabling and hybrid solutions → Power for remote/off‐grid locations – enable new activities by using solar power  Solar powered trailers, detached shops, cabins  Camping and tailgating, construction/farming, disaster response → Off grid covered patios/decks → Basements wired separately to solar/battery backup • Push solar into new construction • Rural solar installations

Questions? www.MHKsolar.com www.facebook.com/MHKsolar