For many, the concept of being able to tap into the sun and generate energy that can power their home, business or car is a mysterious phenomenon. Unleashing the power of the sun in just a few simple steps can not only save you thousands on electricity bills, but also help create a more sustainable world by reducing our carbon footprint.
How solar panels work to generate energy
1. Solar panel technology
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity that your home can use, reducing your electric bills. The modules come in a variety of sizes and shapes and use a range of solar cell technologies. The very best panels work harder , maximizing every drop of solar energy available throughout the day. The very best solar panels on the market can produce 70% more energy over 25 years than weaker solar panels. Studies have shown that a solid copper base gives the modules strength and ultra-pure silicon enables optimal conversion of solar energy. In fact, the world record efficiency of 24.2% delivers 44% more power per square meter of solar panels, meaning they produce significantly more solar energy than panels made from other materials. It's also imperative that your panels are designed and tested to withstand the world's harshest conditions, including temperature swings, violent winds, humidity, hail and more. If the design or quality of the solar panel is inferior, it can mean that you are producing significantly less solar energy. A well-certified system has been proven to provide solar energy for more than 40 years.
2. Installing solar panels
Once you have chosen the highest quality solar panel technology, the placement of the solar panels is key to generating solar energy. Some of the most popular places to install modules are on the roof of your home or business, the surrounding areas on the ground, or a solar roof. panneau photovoltaïque Your solar company will enter the dimensions of your home into a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) program to help put together a permitting package. Once the solar company has determined which site will generate the most solar energy and how many panels will be installed, installing a typical solar system takes only a few days.
3. System monitoring
Once your system is installed, you immediately start generating solar energy that can be used to power your lights, computers, machinery and other electrical equipment for your home or business. A utility meter tracks your energy usage and counts both ways. You receive credits for solar power that is produced but not used, as it is fed back into the public power grid. The grid will still power you at night if you're not producing enough solar power, but the credits earned during the day will cover those costs. Keep in mind that the amount of solar energy you produce can change throughout the year depending on where you live and how much sunlight your panels receive each day. To check how much solar energy your panels are producing, you can use your online monitoring system to track production. If you notice a significant discrepancy, notify your solar company to make sure everything is working properly.
Solar Energy - How to choose the right solar panels for your home
Ever since I was a little kid I have always been fascinated by electronics and solar energy. More importantly, how on earth does it work and how can I use it?
The first experimental success with solar energy occurred in 1839. It generated enough electricity to possibly light a single Christmas tree light, but I doubt it.
And to generate enough electricity to charge today's batteries for a solar-powered home, the equipment would weigh about the same as the Queen Mary II.
I am often asked by my article readers and website visitors what they should consider when considering designing a solar powered home. This article focuses on the most important element of the system, the solar panels, in my opinion.
One of the most frequently asked questions about solar energy is choosing the right solar panels for your home installation. Here are some of the factors to consider:
- The cost of the panels
- The efficiency of the panels
- The durability of the plates
- The type of solar electric panels
These are four of the most important factors to consider when choosing solar panels for your home. Some other key factors that you should definitely consider are:
The recommendations of advisors, friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances who have had solar panels installed on their own homes.
How an electric solar panel works
Electric solar modules are often made up of many smaller solar cells and are electrically connected and encapsulated as a module. This module is called a solar panel.
Electric solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) panels, often have a glass pane on the front (sunny side up) that lets light through while protecting the semiconductor elements from the elements.
When photons from sunlight hit the solar cell, electrons are released. They are moved through the silicon and picked up by the electrical contacts. They move along the circuit in the form of direct current (DC) - the type of electric current in a normal battery. The current flows through the load (such as a light bulb or fan) and back into the solar cell on the bottom, completing the circuit.
This direct current can be used in real time during the sunshine hours for anything that requires 12 volts direct current.
Solar cells are also usually connected in series or in a chain in modules, creating an additive voltage. Connecting solar module cells in parallel results in a higher current.
The more panels, the more electricity is generated, Panels are usually placed (installed) on rooftops or in open areas that get the best exposure to sunlight.
This is done so that the modules can absorb the maximum amount of solar energy at all times. The Solar Electric Panels vary in size and this depends on the needs of the house or space.
In order to make sensible use of the solar-generated energy, the electricity is usually fed into the power grid via inverters. In off-grid systems, solar storage batteries are used to store the energy that is not needed immediately. This stored energy can then be used when sunlight is not available.
Solar panels can also be used to power or charge portable devices
Your solar power system consists of a number of solar modules or solar panels that are arranged differently to form a solar field. The configuration you choose determines the amount of power your system produces.
The number of solar panels you need is determined by the amount of charge you need to charge your system during the sunlight hours of each day. For a 12V system, if you need to replace 100A/h of charge for your batteries every day and you have 8 hours of sunshine a day.
