Posts Tagged ‘how solar power works’

What Can I Come Up Against With Solar Panel Projects Over the Winter?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

You may be wondering how solar panels can function in an area that experiences long, harsh winters. After all, solar panels do rely on the sun in order to deliver power.

However, the last 10 years have brought much innovation and progress to solar panel technology. Now, even if it’s snowy, cloudy or rainy, solar panels can easily make electricity.

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If you have an off grid system that works independently of a power utility company, your solar energy system will include a set of back-up batteries. These batteries are like the ones used in cars. They are designed to hold any excess electricity that your solar panels make during the sunny part of the day. The back-up storage system should have enough of these batteries to store energy in correspondence to the number of overcast days typical for your geographical region.  

If your system is tied to the grid (connected to the local electric company) it won’t use storage batteries. After the sun goes down or if there are several days of inclement weather blocking the sun, your system will automatically use electricity from your local power company. Of course, during sunny days, your solar panels will be generating your electric power, so you will still be benefitting from lower electric bills.

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Some utility companies may even allow you to sell electricity back to them. This arrangement makes solar panels even more cost effective. The way this is set up is that excess power produces by your solar panels goes back into the company and you received credit for it on your bill.  That way, even if you need to use electricity from the grid during the night or during overcast days, any unused electricity that your solar panels were able to produce will still be lowering your overall energy bills.

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Solar Energy: What’s The Easiest System of Going Off-Grid

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

If you were to fit solar panels on your home, could you just go “off grid” and eliminate the electric company completely?  Not having to rely on an outside company for your electricity is an attractive proposition. No more triple digit power bills. No further dealings with the power company for any reason. Is this possible for you and your family? The answer will depend upon the typical weather in your area and how much money you’re able to invest maintaining your own energy system.

You’ll Wish You Had Looked at Going Off-Grid Earlier

First, consider the dominant weather in your region.  Does your area experience a lot of sunshine, or is it cloudy most of the time?  So you will require batteries for storing electricity to use at night and on cloudy days.

That’s where added expenses come in.  You’ll have to purchase and maintain enough large DC (direct current) batteries to secure enough electricity to get you through a couple of inclement weather.  You’ll have to have sufficient storage space for that many batteries and you’ll also need to plan for the cost of periodically replacing them.

The Off Grid Alternative for the Homeowner

It’s also a good idea to have a backup generator just in case you have an extended period of overcast weather that lasts beyond your battery storage capacity.  The generator will need fuel, so you’ll have to store that, too. Usually generators use gas or diesel fuel.  But these types of fuels are inconsistent with a green lifestyle, so you’ll likely want to use biodiesel. So while it is certainly possible to go “off grid,” the project is not simple or cheap.

For most people, it makes more sense to look into “net metering”.  Determine if this is provided by your local electric utility company. Net metering is a practical way to reduce your power costs, and still have power available at night and during extended periods of overcast weather.  With net metering, the utility company credits your bill for any excess electricity produced during the day by your solar panels. Then you just use the electricity from your local utility company at night and on days when there is not enough direct sunlight. You wouldn’t need to store stacks of DC batteries in your basement or garage. You won’t be completely “off grid”, but you can save a significant amount of money on your monthly electric bills.  Some months you may owe nothing!

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So if you live in a very sunny area, with lots of extra room to store batteries, living “off grid” might be feasible for you. But if you’re part of the world gets little sun and you have no large storage space, “net metering” would be more practical.

Solar Power: What Is Your Domestic Capacity

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

If you are planning to install a residential solar energy system in your home, you will need to know how much energy you are currently using.  This information can usually be obtained from the local electric company. By using this data as a baseline, you can design your solar energy system to correspond to the needs of your home. Your region’s climate will influence how much energy is used, as well as the direction your windows face, the number and placement of your trees, and the types of appliances used.Even the kind of light bulbs used can make a difference. To Discover Ways To Cut or even Rid Your Energy Costs Altogether Visit: A Make Solar Power Domestic Project

Another large factor will be your region’s temperature extremes. If you live in an area with temperature extremes in winter or in summer, you will use more energy to heat or cool your home than if you were in a moderate climate. South facing windows in a cold climate can help lower your heating bills. North facing windows in a hot climate can reduce cooling bills.

Mature trees can supply shade and help lower cooling costs in the summer, while the denuded tree branches allow sunlight in in the winter months. These factors can all contibute to the amount of energy used. In addition, installing adequate insulation in walls, roofs and floors help reduce utility bills in every climate.

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If you can, swap out all of your appliances to energy efficient models. Newer appliance models can use up to 50% less energy than older ones, especially if they need repairs and are not working at top efficiency. An additional way to signifantly reduce electricity consumption is to use compact flourescent light bulbs. After you have evaluated your home for these factors, you can plan your solar photovoltaic system by multiplying your average daily kilowatt hour consumption by about .25. This should provide you with an approximation of the daily kilowatts the solar panels will need to produce to satisfy your current energy requirements.

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The Used Up Energy Resources

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

The growing demand for energy is surpassing the actual supply, heading the world toward a severe energy crisis. Although most of us are aware of the fact that energy resources are limited, we continue to take them for granted. There is no unlimited supply of gas, oil, or even water. Yet, we have not taken enough measures to deal with a possible energy crisis. This isn’t only the government’s concern, but everyone’s.

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Gas and oil have become expensive, and every day they move closer to becoming exhausted. Some ignorant individuals think that energy crisis is a myth. It seems they are not looking at the big picture. There have been three major energy crises that have occurred – the 1973 oil crisis, the 1979 energy crisis, and the 1990 oil-price hike, in addition to several regional crises.

For the last several years, prices have continued to rise, due to the ever-increasing demand for and depletion of our energy sources.

How long will our resources last? Are the doubters right in saying that we are making a mountain of a molehill, or is the energy crisis a valid concern? Well, think about this: Fifty percent of the world’s oil is gone. At the current rate of consumption, the remainder of the oil will finish in 32 years! What if it didn’t just continue at the same rate, but actually increased? And it’s likely to do so. So, even the present generation will face a serious energy crisis in years to come, let alone future generations.

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What are we doing about it?
Are we ready for this impending energy crisis? What can be done to help prevent it, or at least slow it down? Well, to begin with, we need to recognize and appreciate the importance of our energy resources and not take them for granted. We have to slow down the use of our gas, oil and other fuel. People cannot afford to waste any available energy. We need to increase awareness concerning our limited energy resources. Simple measures like joining a car pool, turning off the car at stop lights, and decreasing the use of gas and oil in everyday activities will help a long way in crisis-readiness.

What alternative energy options are there?
As a responsible world citizen, start looking for alternate energy solutions like solar energy and wind energy. Using these alternative power solutions is practical and cost-effective. You will not only cut down your power costs but also contribute to a healthier future of the earth.

Generate electricity at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Learn more:

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Solar Panels: Are They Really A Good Domestic Option?

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

If you have you been wondering if you should install solar panels on your house, there are several things to consider. The direction your roof faces can affect solar panel performance, as well as the placement of your trees. You will also need to know if you want your electrical system tied to the local utility grid. Following is some information to help you decide if solar panels are for you.

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The most important issue is whether your system will be grid tied or off grid. “Grid tied” means that the solar electric system is hooked up to the local utility company. While sunlight is hitting the solar panels, they will be generating electricity to run your appliances. During periods when your solar panels don’t have access to sunlight (nighttime, cloudy days), your appliances would get power from the local utility company.

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An off grid system works independently and is not connected to a utility company. They are more found more in rural areas where utility poles may be too far away and getting hooked up is extremely expensive. With off grid systems, excess electricity is stored in batteries (similar to car batteries) and a back-up generator is usually utilized. The solar panels provide electricity during periods of sunlight, and at night or during inclement weather, the batteries or generator take over.  

For both grid tied and off grid systems, the pitch of the roof and direction it faces, and nearby objects that may block the sun are all factors when determining placement of your solar panels. For optimum efficiency solar panels require direct sunlight for as much of the day as possible. Large trees that cast shadows on the roof as well as taller buildings that might block the sun need to be considered. As each home has various combinations of these factors, each house must be individually evaluated. Accurate measurements and surveys, as well as a site inspection by a qualified installer will provide the necessary information to choose the best solar panel configuration for your home.

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