INTRODUCTION

A solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a wind turbine system are to be utilized to reduce energy use from the electrical grid consumption at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) through the use of renewable energy. WTAMU's Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) performed the installation of the PV/wind turbine systems.

A 42 kW PV system located at the Palo Duro Research Facility (PDRF) is suitable to offset the energy use of the PDRF since the energy consumed by the facility is primarily during the daytime, with a peak energy use of approximately 225 kW. The expected energy match of 42 kW compared to the typical daily energy consumption of the building (75–80 kW) will have a significant impact on grid energy cost for this office and research space.

A 50 kW wind turbine system located at WTAMU's Nance Ranch produces the energy required by its cattle feedlot operations. It consumed approximately 125,000 kWh of electricity based on data monitored from June 2011 to May 2012. The majority of the energy use at this facility, is consumed on a schedule based upon feeding operations, grinding, mixing, and loading the feed. In addition, there is continual energy used for maintaining proper heat in the feed additives, as well as for the steaming and cracking process for feedstuffs.