Solar Panels are in the news with many conflicting claims, so here is a dose of reality with my ten top facts for Solar Electric Panels
1. Solar Panels are made by mounting solar cells on a backing plate. Some panels are rigid and can be roof mounted while others are flexible and can be rolled up and put into a rucksack
2. Solar Cells are usually made from silica which comes from sand
3. Solar cells are small semiconductors which produce a small voltage and electric current when light shines on them
4. Solar Panels are getting cheaper now. With so much pressure from climate change concerns lots of technological effort is going into producing more cheaply.
5. Solar Panels are also getting more affordable due to central government grants and perhaps local grants too
6. Solar panels are gaining in efficiency in leaps and bounds. Wikipedia has it that the first solar cell was only 1% efficient and commercial cells are commonly 20% efficient. Breaking news is that the latest experimental cells in a laboratory setting are 45% efficient. These cells hold a promise of smaller cheaper panels with even cheaper electric power.
7. Do it Yourself enthusiasts are also building their own panels. The main skill needed for this kind of D.I.Y. project is soldering. You need this skill because the panels consists of, for example, 24 solar cells hooked up electrically and with leads soldered onto each cell. And if you wish to connect to your home electric circuits even a keen D.I.Y. enthusiast would be recommended to call in a qualified electrician experienced in home solar energy to check what they are doing!
8. The cost of a factory made solar panel varies widely with it's size and construction. It may well be in the $800 to $1200 range and the home would need perhaps a dozen of these or more. You can see why the DIY market exists with prices like these!
9. It is true that electric utility companies may buy solar electricity from your home if you are generating more than you are using but not all utilities do this, so check before hand if this is one of your goals
10. A solar survey done by an experienced solar installer can help you and advise on the position and direction of your panels. The panels need to face the sun and in the northern hemisphere they will face South but shade from trees and chimneys may mean that an installation is not practical on that roof. Some people solve that problem by mounting their panels on poles or frames at a distance from their home.
Solar energy is over a hundred years old and is now developing very fast. It is well worth checking to see if it can help you reduce both your impact on the environment your cost of living.
Solar panels utilise the free, natural, renewable resource - solar energy and installing solar panels will reduce your energy bill, your carbon footprint and your dependency on fossil fuels and utility companies.
In this article we will discuss the various types of solar panel systems that you can install on your property. The systems in this article include water heating systems, evacuated solar tubes and PV electric solar panels.
Water Heating Solar Panels
These solar systems work all year round and heat your domestic hot water. A hot water tank or a conventional boiler is used to heat the water even further if required or if there is low solar energy. It is recommended to install a super efficient hot water tank to fully receive the benefits of solar water heating systems and if you have a combination boiler without a hot water tank then solar water heating may not be compatible.
With water heating solar systems it is possible to save over half a ton of CO2 emissions, dependant on the fuel you will be replacing e.g. gas and up to £100 on you water heating bill. Water heating solar systems generally provide higher annual outputs than evacuated tubes.
Evacuated Solar Tubes
These systems are also for heating your water, but use a different technology than the solar panels described above. These use glass solar tubes, rather than the flat glass, and because they are tubes they have the ability to absorb 360 degrees of solar energy, which gives a more even output of power throughout the day.
PV Solar Panels
These systems generate electricity from daylight through a process called photovoltaic's. The "photo" refers to light and "voltaic" refers to electricity. Although these solar panels generate their electricity from light they can still work on cloudy days as the photons penetrate through the clouds. If you want to fully benefit from solar energy then PV solar panels are what you need. Using these panels you can get a Feed-in Tariff where you get paid for every unit of electricity you generate even the ones you use. Because of the feed-in tariff your energy bills will be reduced by up to 100 percent.
Not only will feed-in tariffs benefit you from your PV solar panel installation, the systems can also increase the value of your property. Furthermore the average household uses 3000 kWh per year, so if you install a small 1kW system you will save 25% of your electricity over the year because a PV system generally would generate 750 kWh/year per kW installed.
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