Solar Power...

The earth’s surface receives more solar energy from the sun in one hour than the entire planet can use in a year!
Solar energy now operates on a global and domestic market. It is an established power source used for numerous commercial and domestic applications. It is renewable, sustainable and non-polluting. It is also highly cost-effective.

Solar power is not just for committed environmentalists or people with large sums of money. It is an accessible tool that is being integrated into more and more of our daily activities and appliances – just by scratching the surface you’ll discover that there is a new world of innovative technology emerging day by day.

What is Solar Power?

• It is a way of converting sunlight into a useful energy source such as heat or electricity, via a small solar panel, that 'collects' the light and stores it for later use.
• It works on the sun’s light, not its heat.

How does Solar Power work?

• A solar cell (or photovoltaic cell) generates electricity from visible light; converting the sunlight it receives directly into electricity.
• Solar panels may be used singly or wired together into an array (predominately a parallel circuit) to provide larger amounts of power.
• The number and size of panels needed is determined by the available light and dependent on the amount of energy that is required.
• The amount of power generated by solar cells is determined by the weather and time of day. In the majority of cases, some form of energy storage will be necessary to regulate a consistent usage.

What are the types of solar cells?

There are three basic solar cells which are in commercial circulation:
• Amorphous solar cells - most often seen in small solar panels (like calculators)
• Monocrystalline cells - cut from a single large crystal of silicon
• Polycrystalline cells - made from a number of crystals

How much power is needed?

• The smallest systems sometimes only require 12 volts, but in bigger systems, 230 volts will probably be needed.
• An inverter is used to transform the low voltage DC generated by the solar panels into mains voltage AC, which can be used to power larger AC appliances (like TVs)

How is the power stored?

• Smaller appliances such as solar lights and solar mobile phone chargers store the energy collected in rechargeable batteries, enabling them to work during darkness.
• Self-contained systems, where no connection to the mains grid is available, charge a lead-acid battery.
• For solar applications, a deep-cycle battery is needed. This is a battery type capable of being discharged hundreds or even thousands of times.

How is the power controlled?

• It is typical for more energy to be collected than is actually needed so most panels are fitted with a voltage regulator that controls the flow of energy and prevents battery damage due to overcharging.
• The voltage regulator prevents damage to the battery by diverting power away once it is fully charged, or switching off any DC appliances when the battery voltage falls
dangerously low.
• Only a very small solar panel will not feature a regulator, and this is only because it does not require a one.

How does using Solar Power benefit me?

• Inexhaustible fuel source – electricity via fossil fuels is a limited power source.
• No power costs - for smaller items such as solar lights, docking systems, radios, battery chargers etc.
• Portable - where mains power does not exist, for example in remote or rural areas, it will often be cheaper to install a solar PV system rather than paying for a mains connection to a national grid network.
• Initial set up costs for more expensive installations (roof solar panels) can be offset with grants and pays for themselves within six years. After that, you get free power.
• Environmentally friendly - no air or noise pollution.
• Aesthetic - solar panels are usually between 25mm and 50mm thick so they can be fitted to a roof or wall without taking anything away from the building’s appearance. Some designs imitate Velux style windows, so they will not look irregular wherever they’re installed

Posted under Articles, How To's & Guides, Renewable Energy