Tag Archive 'solar energy'

Sep 25 2011

Solar Panels : How They Work

Published by under General Contracting

Energy rates are not getting any cheaper. Much of this phenomenon is caused by the seemingly constant fluctuation in price of crude oil. A large portion of the world is powered by means that are directly and indirectly linked to energy sources that are derived from petroleum. That is why there have been pockets forming all over that are investing in alternative forms of energy. Solar energy is one of the oldest forms of this alternative energy, and most of this technology’s energy production is accommodated by solar panels. How do solar panels work to produce electricity and other energy?

Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic modules or photovoltaic panels, are often found in groups that make up a system. A system is often required to create adequate energy for an establishment rather than a single panel. Each panel is comprised of interconnected solar cells that gather the photons from the sun and transform them into usable power. Most of these cells are made of crystalline silicon in wafer-form or cadmium telluride in thin-film form.

As a current is formed by the solar cells, wires conduct it from the panels via copper, silver, and other conductive metals. Most of the time, non-magnetic metals are utilized. In order to maintain a continuous conduit of energy, the solar cells must be connected to each other and every part of the system. Each electrical connection occurs in series until it reaches the predetermined output voltage that supports the desired current capacity.

Some solar collectors are designed using troughs . The troughs are elongated, concave, mirrored surfaces that collect sunlight and focus it onto tubes that span the length of the structure. Inside the tubes is a liquid that conducts the energy and transfers it to a substation that can then serve it to a connected building or into the grid. Heat may be generated using solar panels and mirrors as well as electricity.

Solar panels operate by means of a limitless energy source that costs nothing, and that is the sun. They are not expensive to operate, because the only electricity required is a minimal amount needed to power the motors that reposition the panels and mirrors throughout the day. This current is sometimes produced by the panels to which the motors are attached. Operational costs are thusly kept quite low.

More : Solar Panels On Warehouses Or Solar Panels On Restaurants

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Apr 11 2011

Generating Solar Electricity at Home

Published by under Energy Saving

Even a small ray of the sunlight that reaches the earth surface proves how useful its energy is. It can help a lot in reducing a lot of our day to day expenses in one way or the other. A lot of discussion is happening these days on saving the energy in the household. Necessary steps have to be taken to reduce it. Solar electricity at home helps in saving a lot of energy as well as reducing the carbon footprints.


Using sun energy can be categorized into mainly three groups; which are its use, production and handling. The sun energy can be used for carrying out various activities, which require power. The sun power can be effective and useful for various actions. To promote its use and save power and money, certain incentives should be given.


The popular solar cookers are being used for cooking meals for the entire family, which save fuel such as wood and coal. It is effective and saves time. Some of the other devices include heating and lighting sources, which are required for everyday activities all the time. The glass panels on the roof tops are very useful in utilizing sun power and saving both gas and electricity. The high oils prices are contributing towards promoting the use of sun power.


The fixed installation of the solar lighting system in home environment includes components such as solar cells, fans, lamps, battery system, charge controller etc. It is used for operating various devices such as lamps, fans, lights, pumps, grinders etc. The sun energy is very effective and useful for operating many home appliances.


One of the main challenges is to transfer the sun energy to usable energy and optimizing it with the available technology. The glass panels are used to convert the sun power to usable power, in terms of electricity. As the electricity produced is turbine based, it is a challenge to convert it. New technology is put in place to do the task.


The process of conversion of energy is carried out as the sun power hits the silicon crystals to generate energy, which can be efficiently used for various functions. Several incentives and programs are being implemented to encourage people and make them understand the use of this type of energy like the tax rebates that are being introduced. Interestingly, it has been observed that even on cloudy days, some electricity can be produced.


The green environment is basically living in a balanced environment. This can be achieved by using solar electricity at home, replacing most of the non-renewable and reducing its usage. The reduction will result in protecting the environment and the message for going green can be conveyed to the general masses. I have personally managed to build my own home DIY electricity system simply following a DIY guide online.

Want to learn to build Home Solar Electricity System at home? Gary Ashby has successfully transformed his home to run his home for FREE making his own solar panel! You can learn about this DIY guide at his website http://www.renewableenergysystemreview.com/download.htm!

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Oct 03 2010

Brief Overview of a Grid Tie System – How It Works

Published by under Energy Saving

Once you have installed your solar panels onto the roof or outdoors in a spot where they are able to soak up the energy of the sun, the problem arises of what to do with this energy. A grid tie system simply allows a means of using this energy and converting it into electricity, by connecting with the utility company’s own power grid.


Therefore, you become a source of electricity overall, which the utility company will pay you for. To become part of this system, there are a few different components that are necessary. These include the solar panels, a combiner box that will include connecting devices, a DC breaker box, an inverter, and a disconnect option that allows you to get out of the system.


The solar panels are the most important portion of any solar energy system. They will produce direct current electricity by using the rays of the sun, and then it is run through the inverter and switched over to alternating current electricity. The AC power is the type that is used by the utility company’s own power grid, and can be fed directly into this grid tie system with the use of a combiner box. Those are, in essence, the main functions of this type of system.


There are several different reasons why a person would be interested in becoming part of a grid tie system utilizing solar energy. The primary reason for many is the fact that it drastically reduces your electricity bills, since there are no maintenance fees and you are in essence creating all of your own electricity. You may even be able to make a profit off of it if you are generating a large amount of energy. The government often allows tax breaks or rebates for the cost of construction, in an effort to improve the environment.


This government interest is also one that can be reflected personally. Switching over to alternate energy sources is an important first step in helping to clean up the planet and prepare for the future. Buying into a grid tie system allows people to do just that from the comfort of their own homes, while at the same time saving money and being able to say they made a difference. The first step is to gather more information about solar energy and how it could work within your own household, which is much easier than many people think.

Discover the secrets to building your own solar panels for less than $200 at GreenPoweredHome.net. Get started now.

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Jan 19 2010

Solar Panels – Are They Right For You?

Published by under Energy Saving

Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. Solar panels are dropping in price, but they still aren’t dirt cheap, so if you’re switching to solar it’s a great time to also carefully evaluate your electricity use. Call your utility company and get an “energy audit” and follow the recommendations. Most homeowners can cut their use of electricity or gas by anywhere from 5% to 30%. By cutting your power usage to an absolute minimum you can purchase only the solar panel capacity that is required for your home. PV (photovoltaic) solar panels are made from solar cells which are a semiconductor material.

Electricity

The process for creating electricity from sun light is rather complex, but all you need to know is that photons collide with electrons in the semiconductor material and essentially free them up to flow when hooked up to a battery. This flow of electrons is what makes an electrical current.

The average household uses 30kwh of electricity per day. Electrical utility companies are required by law to accommodate “net metering”. This means that you can sell your excess power back to the power company. Thus, if you are out at work on a sunny day, or go on a two-week skiing vacation and aren’t using any electricity, the power being created by the solar panels is going back into the grid to the utility company. In other words every kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by a solar energy system ends up being used to the advantage of the homeowner, either as power to run appliances when the homeowner is there or as a dollar-for-dollar credit provided by the utility company for power that is not being used.

Cost

The most important component of the PV solar panel system will probably be the amount of subsidy you are eligible for. Since some utility companies need to meet goals for the amount of renewable energy they furnish, there are some very attractive rebates offered at times. These can be large rebates indeed, up to 50% of the cost of a system or even higher. This can make a system that would support the average 30 kwh per day home cost roughly $20,000 rather than $40,000! In addition, there is a $2,000 tax credit offered by the federal government. However, this is not always the case. In our local area of Colorado there are several utility companies that service the region. One offers a 50% rebate as described above. Another offers a 66% rebate, and a third offers no rebate at all. So you need to check with your utility company to see what rebates, if any, apply to your location. You should also contact a solar panel contractor who can give you lots of information about system costs, and of course they will probably know the rebates offered in your local area. Typical PV solar panels cost about $4 per watt before installation. Installation is a major expense, however, and in the example cited above with a 50% rebate, final system costs will amount to about $6.50- $7.00 per watt installed.

Batteries

Batteries are required in stand-alone systems to provide energy during night hours. These can be very expensive, but if you have an isolated cabin, an RV, or some other need for power and don’t have access to the public power grid, a solar system with batteries is certainly a solution.

Conclusion

When you consider the costs of a full blown PV solar system which will cut your electric bill down to zero or close to it, you get one other benefit. The value of your property increases with such a system, and your property taxes will not increase because of this added value. In addition to the satisfaction of cutting down your carbon footprint significantly, your system will eventually pay for itself, and your property will be worth more as well. Keep these factors in mind when you calculate your pay-back period.

Walt Ballenberger is web master for http://www.solarpanelsblog.info/wordpress which has tons of information about solar panels of all sorts. Visit also a companion site http://www.solarlightsblog.com/solarlights to learn about solar lighting and associated products.

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