"Save Your Children's Future - Use Solar Panels"

By: Linda Allen

Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity. The science behind this conversion is known as photovoltaic technology. Photovoltaic Cells or solar cells as they are more commonly referred to are the major components of any residential solar power system.

Photovoltaic (PV) produces electricity directly from the electrons that are freed when sunlight hits the surface of the PV cell and interacts with the semiconductor material in the PV cell. These cells are wired together to form a PV module, which is the smallest PV component sold commercially. The PV modules range in power from 10 watts to 300 watts.

The raw material for the solar panel is silica (sand). The manufacturing process removes all of the impurities and defects, and results in a solar-grade silica feed stock. From there the silica is coated with Boron or Phosphorus to tweak the frequencies of light silica responds to.

When sunlight hits the solar cell with enough energy the photons in the light knock electrons free in the silicon crystalline structure forcing them through an external circuit or Direct DC Load and then returning them to the other side of the Solar Panel to start the process all over again (thus the renewal source).

The flow of freed electrons results in a voltage output of approximately 0.5v per single crystalline solar cell. The Amperage output is directly proportional to the cells surface area - about 7amps for a 6 inch square solar cell. Typically you will see 30 to 36 cells wired in series or in parallel with other solar modules to from a complete solar array to charge your battery bank, within your solar power system.

The PV module produces direct current (DC) but your home uses alternating current (AC). Therefore, solar panels require that we include a converter in the system to convert the DC current to AC current. This is accomplished with an inverter, a special piece of equipment that converts or changes DC electricity to AC.

Once the solar array (the collection of solar panels wired together in your solar power system) starts producing electricity you can use the electrical power, store it for later use or sell it back to your local utility if your system is connected to the grid. Selling back to the utility is referred to net-metering.

As more and more homes convert to solar power we can expect to see major improvements in the efficiency of solar cells just as we experienced improvements in gas mileage in cars with carburetors, fuel injection, etc.

In order to store the unused electricity for later use, you will need to incorporate batteries into the solar power system. These batteries serve the same purpose as the batteries in a car. Every time you start your car, the ignition is utilizing the stored electrical power in the battery to turn over the starter motor. Have you ever tried to start your car and nothing happens? If the starter is working properly, you know that the battery is dead and there is no electrical current available to power the starter which in turn starts the motor.

Solar batteries store the excess PV electricity until it is needed at a later time to run your appliance or the lights, etc. Once the batteries are fully charged you need to turn off any incoming power or they will be damaged. The solar batteries are DC just as the battery in your car. This means the batteries will be installed in your solar system between the Photovoltaic Cells and the inverter.

Note: You will be better off purchasing the best deep cycle batteries you can afford. Industrial deep cycle batteries can cost $200 each, but have a life expectancy of 5-8 years. Your car battery will only last 1 year in deep cycle applications.

It is worth noting that even though lead acid batteries are not environmentally friendly; the alternative of relying on fossil fuels is a poorer choice.

"Low Cost Thin Film Solar Panels"

By: Noah Stephens

It's an exciting time for solar panels. A new thin polymer photovoltaic layer called Powerglass can be applied to windows, canopies and roofs to turn them into mini power plants to supply electricity to the structure on which they are applied. This is a new concept that involves solar power generation built right into windows that makes use of the structure and surface area that would be perfect for a solar panel array. Huge high rise buildings have much more surface area in the form of windws than they do on top of their roughs. This means that Powerglass is poised to be an attractive idea and potentially can increase the use of solar panels dramatically. This is a very pleasant surprise to the solar panel industry which is just now starting to blossom.Solar panel investors have recently seen a nice surprise in their portfolios. Many small stocks have increased 3 to 4 fold over the last 6 months. Thin film polymer photovoltaic layers can now be layed right onto the glass of windows without any loos in visibility. Large area sheets of thin-film pv can now be spread onto glass in a manner that is cost effective. Currently, companies are racing to make use of this new technology and build factories to output this thin film material to meet the demand that is currently rising as more engineers and building contractors are learning about Power Glass. Perhaps this thin film solar panel will someday soon be produced at such a rate where more and more manufactures will get creative with how to use it. Perhaps it will start to coat the side of trucks who have all that sqaure footage of metal beaming in the sun all day long. These solar panels work not only on window glass, but on any solid surface. As manufacturing steps up, thin film PV will be produced in larger quantities and with a lower price tag to the consumer. Rolled flexible plastic can lead to low cost and high efficiency solar devices that provide an alternative to unflexible glass silicon cells.This is great news because silicon is starting to become expensive as supply is not increasing and keeping up with demand. Patented manufacturing design to produce the Power Glass films will soon reach a multi megawatt level. Multi megawatt factories making thin film solar panels will allow solar power to give your local electric utility some serious competetion.

"An Introduction To Solar Energy Panels"

By: Ross Bainbridge

Solar energy panels are photovoltaic (PV) devices to produce power from sunlight, the ultimate source of energy.

Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic cells. Groups of photovoltaic cells are known as solar modules. There are a range of products using single crystal solar cells producing 30 to 165 watts of power. The modules can be adapted to off-grid or on-grid power generation needs. The modules offer a 20- to 25-year warranty.

The modules based on crystalline silicon are one of the most efficient available on a commercial basis. The modules are formed by a series of cells wired together and are available in complete packages for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes.

The cost structure for various modules is $225 for 30 watt (16.8 Volts), $375 for 50 watts (17.3 volts), $487.50 for 65 watts (16.3 volts), $525 for 70 watts (16.7 volts), $750 for 100 watt (16.1 volts), $825 for 110 watt (16.7 volts), and $1,237.50 for 165 watt (32 volts).

Using solar energy bestows one with up to a thirty percent tax credit from the federal government. More than that, solar power does not release harmful emissions, whereas most other forms of power release effluents leading to global warming, acid rains, and smog. Backup batteries ensure the unlimited supply of power even in the absence of sunlight.

Solar energy panels can use the sun’s energy to heat water for sanitary use at home or for pools and hot tubs. PV panels, on the other hand, convert light into electricity. Most commonly, these panels are placed on the roof. The power generated by PV panels is transmitted to a battery for storage. Household power needs are drawn from this storage.

"What Does It Cost To Put Up Solar Panels?"

By: Richard Chapo

If you are going to take advantage of solar energy, you need to know the full cost. Next to the purchase price, putting them up is the second biggest expense.

"But how much does it cost?" is a common question relating to solar energy. This is a difficult question to answer because the amount is dependent on several factors: where you are in the world, how much sun you get, and how much energy do you use.

Where you live in the world determines how much sun you get each day. Since solar power is dependent on sunlight, you must have a certain amount in order to generate enough power. How much sun you get is also related to where the panels are hung on a structure. Angle, direction and shade are the factors to consider. To work best, solar arrays should face south, at angles ranging from 15 to 40 degrees. How much energy you use can be determined using the following process, which was developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Consumers will need their electric bill to figure out the cost of going 100% solar. The first step is to divide the total number of Kilowatt Hours (KW) by 30 in order to get your daily average use (many bills will already have this number broken out, so in that case you can skip the first step). Once you determine your average KWH usage per day, that number is then divided by the average number of full sun hours per day. That quotient should then be multiplied by 1.15 in order to give you a comfortable margin. An example of this formula looks like this: 500 KWH / 30 = 16.67 KWH per day. 16.67 KWH / 7 = 2.38. 2.38 X 1.15 = 2.74 KW or 2,740 watts needed from solar panels.

According to NREL, the average cost of installing a solar system is around $7.00 per watt or $9.00 if you have it installed by a licensed professional. Since some of the rebates require a licensed contractor, the latter is recommended. This average includes the cost of the solar panels, inverters, mounts, wires, and hardware, but it does not include the price of inspection or costs related to getting on the grid with your local electric company. Using the example above, that system would then cost about $24,660 to install, plus another couple of thousand dollars for inspections and fees.

While this may seem like a huge investment, there are federal, state, and local incentives to go solar. There is a yearly federal tax break of about $2000 for solar users. Most states will rebate part of your installation and purchasing costs. Local energy companies will buy your excess energy, which reduces your overall bill for when you need to be "on the grid." And consumers can still reap some of these incentives, even if they only go partially solar to start.

"A Key Element In Solar Panels - Efficiency"

By: Rick Solares

While solar energy is most often associated with the production of electricity, heating is also a major platform. While heating isn’t particularly difficult, efficiency in doing so is the key to saving wear and tear on your system.

A Key Element In Solar Panels - Efficiency

The sun produces a ton of energy, but solar panel systems have historically been very inefficient at converting it. With improving technology, efficiency has improved to the point where most panel systems can easily produce enough energy to heat water for the home and pools. There are efficient and inefficient ways to go about this process.

To save wear and tear on your panels, you need to consider a flow control system. Older panel systems tend to take a long time to heat up fluid because water more or less randomly circulates through the system. This is very inefficient because the panels are forced to heat up a much larger pool of water than you actually need. This results in wear and tear, not to mention lengthy waits for hot water.

A control flow system attacks the efficiency problem by reducing the amount of water that must be heated. Most are designed to work on temperature differential strategies. They work by using two sensors. The first is located close the panels being used to heat the water or liquid substitute. The second is located on or close to the liquid return valve into the panel system. Put in practical terms, one sensor measures the temperature of liquid set to leave the panel while the other measures the temperature of liquid coming into the panel.

Flow systems work by waiting for the liquid to rise to a temperature determined by you. Once the liquid meets the temperature, the system turns on the circulation pump and moves the liquid to the desired location. Once the return valve sensor notes the temperature of the returning water is within a particular range of the liquid in the panel system, the pump is shut off. This process allows for faster heating times, more efficiency and less wasted energy.

Solar solutions are coming to the front of the energy debate for many residential energy needs. Countries like Germany are making huge investments in solar platforms and technologies. Solar can be a cost-effective solution for you as well. Just keep in mind that flow systems are a must if you are pursuing solar water heating.

"Solar Panels and Your Home"

By: Rick Chapo

Whether you are going on grid or off grid, solar panels are the foundation of harnessing the power of the sun for heating a home or the water you use.

There are many different ways to supply your home with power. Electric power is the most common of these, with most homes throughout the United States and even the world using this form of power. Other types of power or heating fuel for home use include oil or petroleum, natural gas and even coal and wood. All of these power sources are easy to use and obtain, but are not very eco-friendly. Solar power is a much better choice for green energy, and solar panels can make this type of power a possibility for any house.

Solar power involves using solar panels, which are flat crystal structures that catch sunlight, to convert the sun's energy into electricity and heat. These crystals, which are called photovoltaic cells, are used to convert the sun's rays directly into electricity. PV cells create that electricity because when sunlight strikes the cells, electrons are dislodged – creating electrical current. This electrical current is then conducted via wires, and either used to directly power household appliances, or gets stored in large rechargeable batteries.

Solar panels work because they are large collections of PV cells, lined up and made into flat sheets known as panels. These panels are erected on the top of a home's roof, or occasionally on the side of a hill on the home's property, where ever sunlight hits in the strongest way. Solar panels tend to work best in areas and angles where the greatest amount of sun can be absorbed for the longest part of the day, so if you live in a really shady or generally cloudy area of the world, solar panels may not work for your home.

Some states in the US offer discounts on property taxes, as well as incentives to purchase a home solar panel system. Another incentive is the fact that you will no longer have to be connected to the “grid”, or have to purchase electricity or other types of power in order to power your home. At this time, it is debatable whether or not solar power is considerably cheaper than other forms of heating and power, but it is believed that in the long run, solar power will cost you less per year to power your home. Finally, the biggest incentive for most households is the fact that solar power is much more ecologically friendly than the alternatives.

Choosing to purchase solar panels can be a great way to contribute to a greener environment, as well as a way to provide a renewable energy source for your family. The potential for lower energy costs can also be a great reason to choose solar energy for your home and family.

"Why We Should Use Solar Panels"

By: Clean Energy Ideas

There are many reasons why we should all use solar panels to provide a source of clean, cheap and renewable energy for our homes.

One of the many advantages of the use of solar cells is the ability to harness power in remote locations of the earth, such as mountainous regions or in space. These are examples of extreme locations where the use of solar energy to generate electricity is a widely accepted method.

A more simple approach is to use solar panels to influence the capacity of our home power supplies. This method allows us to generate additional electricity which can be fed into our current power systems, which will have the effect of reducing energy consumption from the national grid, saving you money in the process.

Another reason we should use the suns rays to generate electricity is down to the increase of "material product" manufacturing. By this, we mean the must have gadgets, such as mobile phones, mp3 players etc. As more and more of these material possessions are manufactured, the greater the effect on energy demands can be.

There exists some solar powered battery chargers for items as mentioned above, and we should be using more of these to charge up the material possessions to compensate for the increase in energy demand these products have.

Solar energy can be efficient in many locations across the world, yet we are not using this source of free energy on an efficient scale.

For solar energy to make a difference to the quality of our environment and to reduce the threat of global warming, we need to see more home solar panel systems, solar battery chargers, solar power plants and solar heating systems.

Although solar products are considerably expensive at this moment in time, they have the potential to pay off quite considerably over the coming years. If you can afford the initial investment of solar technologies, then the use of such energy harnessing equipment could be a viable option to you.

"Solar Panels -The magic inside this environmentally friendly power generator"

By: Peter Borgner

Solar panels are built to harness the incredible reservoir of power from our sun to another form of energy. Generally the energy that results will be available in the form of heat (to heat water for example) or electricity that might be used to energize anything from a small radio to a complete house.

In this commentary I am going to write about the more substantial residential and commercial panels that are designed to generate power for the home or business, where such panels are most often installed on the top of the home or in close proximity to the building if space permits. We are also going to focus on the type of panels that generate electrical power known collectively as Photovoltaic panels.

Solar panels are a great way to reduce energy costs and to lower your greenhouse gas footprint, and to become more self-sufficient. They are now becoming extremely popular in inner-city areas where clean energy advocates and law makers are creating incentives for this safe and quiet alternative energy source. The state of Nevada, for example, has been offering massive rebates on the up-front expense in acquiring and installing a residential solar system.

After the panels are operational, electricity from the system is used to energize the house, or, when electricity is being generated in excess of demand, diverted back to the grid, where it is purchased back by the electrical power company. There might be situations when you are making income from your system. With rebates figured into the initial cost it will generally take from 17 to twenty-three years to get back the initial cost, at which time the system will essentially be generating electricity from the sun for free.

One little-known fact, however, is that solar panels are, at first, contributory to green-house gas emissions because it requires an input of power to construct the solar panel, that this power is most often carbon-based, and front-end loaded, and that therefore there is a time period during which the solar cell has actually contributed to carbon emissions rather than detracted from them. Until such time as the solar panel has generated electricity equivalent to the power used to manufacture it (its fossil-emission payback period) it is actually a contributor to carbon emissions. This fossil-emission payback period is normally considered to be six to 8 years.

Low power panels are normally available in 12 v or 14 volt configurations, whilst many high power panels are only available as 24 v. As solar panels are DC, you would generally require a power inverter that changes the voltage from one-voltage DC into another-voltage Alternating Current to make it compatible with the power that feeds both the building and the grid.

Todays solar panels are constructed using pairs of sheets of silicon, doped with phosphorus and boron particles. High-tech Amorphous silicon solar panels are a powerful, emerging line of photovoltaics that differ in output, structure, and production than traditional photovoltaics which use crystalline silicon. Another type, H-AS solar panels are manufactured in the same way, but they are just one micrometer thick by laying down polymorphous silicon at very intense pressures and temperatures.

Solar panels are normally maintenance free and many manufacturing companies will supply a warranty of electrical output sometimes for as long as twenty-five years.

Solar panels are installed on whichever side of your house gets the most solar exposure. In locations that are south of the equator this would be the north-facing side, and in locales that are north of the equatorial line its the south-facing aspect.